MLB Player News

Red Sox prospect Matt Barnes has delievered a 1.96 ERA over his last four starts with Double-A Portland, WEEI.com reports Saturday.

On Friday, Barnes allowed three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts over six innings. He walked a batter. He has 28 strikeouts with seven walks over his last 23 innings.

Mariners pitcher Brandon Maurer turned in a decent performance but did not factor into the decision Friday night against the Indians.

Maurer, who made his eighth start of the season, surrendered two runs in the second and gave up a solo home run to Drew Stubbs in the fifth. He was charged with three runs and five hits over six innings of work. He struck out six and walked four in a 6-3 defeat in extras.

Maurer has allowedat least three runs in each of his last three starts since his last win on April 25 against the Angels. He is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday on the road against the Angels. He tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his last start against the Angels.

The Mariners have recalled reliever Danny Farquhar from Triple-A Tacoma, MLB.com reports.

Farquhar, 26, owns a 2.25 ERA and 7.5 K/BB in 20 innings for Tacoma. It will be his Seattle debut; he threw two innings for Toronto in 2011 and allowed four runs on four hits.

Worried about Fernando Rodney? It's simple, really: The 36-year-old flamethrower won't get back to being the closer he was last year if he continues to walk batters at his current rate. And even if he walks them at half that rate, he's only back to where he was in his Tigers days.

What allowed Rodney to take a dramatic leap forward last year was his markedly improved control. He issued just 1.8 walks per nine innings. His previous best was 3.5. Not only did it keep runners off base, but it allowed him to use his best pitch, the changeup, more effectively.

So if he wants to get back to being that pitcher, he has a long way to go. That's the bad news. The good news -- and the reason I still rank him 18th among relief pitchers -- is that the Rays don't have any obvious alternatives if he continues to struggle. Joel Peralta is a possibility, but as a 37-year-old career setup man, he's a remote one.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he's "not really concerned yet" about closer Fernando Rodney, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rodney blew the save in Thursday's game against Boston as he walked four batters and allowed three runs to score. His ERA ballooned to 5.28 as a result, and he has already given up four more earned runs this year (nine) than he did last year. 

However, given Rodney's success last year and the good run he was on before Thursday's outing -- a 2.08 ERA and seven saves in eight chances over his last 13 outings -- it will likely take a few more disasters to unseat him.

Rays closer Fernando Rodney, who had recorded saves in three straight appearances, took a step back as he blew his third save and suffered his second loss of the season Thursday night against the Red Sox.

Rodney, who entered the game in the ninth with a two-run lead, struck out two and walked the bases loaded before surrendering a bases-clearing double to Will Middlebrooks that lost the game for the Rays.

Rodney walked four and struck out two as he was charged with three runs on one hit over two-thirds of an inning in a 4-3 defeat. His ERA rose from 3.68 to 5.28 after his ninth inning collapse on Thursday.

The Angels recalled pitcher Ryan Brasier Thursday, MLB.com reports. Brasier made two appearances for the Angels earlier in May, allowing two earned runs on two hits and a walk in two innings while striking out three.

Brasier has made 13 appearances in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this year, posting a 6.88 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB ratio in 17 innings.

Rays manager Joe Maddon told reporters Thursday he's undecided about who will start Monday's game at Toronto in place of the injured David Price (triceps), according to the Tampa Bay Times. Maddon said Jake Odorizzi, Chris Archer, Alex Torres and Alex Colome are under consideration.

Odorizzi is the favorite to be recalled among Rays' beat writers. Archer started Thursday for Triple-A Durham, so he would be pitching on short rest if recalled. Torres was promoted to the majors Thursday and could be used in long relief. Colome last started for Durham Monday.

The Yankees recalled pitcher Dellin Betances from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Thursday and optioned Brett Marshall back to the Triple-A team. Betances, who was once a top starting pitcher prospect, will work in relief.

Betances was recently shifted to the bullpen at Triple-A. He's allowed a run on two hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings as a reliever this year. He also struck out four.

Rays closer Fernando Rodney earned his seventh save on Tuesday at home against the Red Sox. Rodney went 1-2-3 in the ninth inning over 16 pitches. 

The Tampa Bay closer struck out the side against the Red Sox with 11 of his pitches going for strikes. His ERA is 3.68. 

The 36-year-old closer has recorded saves in three straight appearances and has at least two strikeouts in six of his last seven.