MLB Player News

Yankees starting pitcher prospect Dellin Betances tossed five shutout innings, leading Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre to a win Sunday over Gwinnett. He didn't allow a hit, walked four batters and struck out three.

"I felt like I battled early on. It was a tough day today and the weather hasn't been the best, but I was able to make pitches when I needed to and my defense had my back," Betances said, per MLB.com. "My changeup kept me in the game the whole time. I was able to throw it early in the count and behind in the count."

After posting a 13.60 ERA in his first three starts, Betances has managed a 1.76 ERA in his last three starts, lowering his ERA to 6.00. Betances is 2-2 with a .213 opponents' batting average in six starts. He has 25 strikeouts to 16 walks in 24 innings.

Betances, who was once a prized prospect in the Yankees' system, is trying to return to form in 2013. 

"My last year was not a good year," he said. "For me, it's about getting that consistency and being able to get to where I was a couple years ago. It's just a matter of trying not to be too aggressive, staying closed and getting that front extension that will allow me to work down in the zone and throw strikes early on. Then I can mix in the off-speed pitches."

Mariners starter Brandon Maurer should benefit from a nice long layoff between starts, MLB.com reports Sunday. Manager Eric Wedge is hoping the 22-year-old will overcome the rough outing he had April 30 against Baltimore when he next takes the hill May 10 against Oakland. 

"We're trying to manage his innings -- and when we have opportunities to do that, we are going to do that," Wedge said. "Just pushing him back."

Maurer gave up six earned runs in each of his first two starts this year before a nice three-start stretch in which he went 2-1 with four runs allowed over 19 innings for an ERA of 1.89 with 13 Ks over that span. 

Yankees reliever David Robertson, who has not pitched since Wednesday due to nagging pain in the area around his left hamstring and knee, believes he'll be available for Tuesday's series opener in Colorado, the Newark Star-Ledger reports Sunday. 

"I don't think I'll need a bullpen to be ready to go," Robertson said before Sunday's game. "I'll probably just throw from flat ground, throw a couple off the mound and see how it feels. And if it feels good, I think I'd be available on Tuesday."

Yankees reliever David Robertson is unavailable Saturday for the second-straight game, ESPN reports. Robertson is dealing with a sore left hamstring. 

"I’m still expecting him Tuesday [in Colorado]," manager Joe Girardi said. Robertson suffered the injury Wednesday against Houston. 

Rays closer Fernando Rodney entered Friday's game against the Rockies in the 10th inning with a three-run advantage.

Rodney permitted a leadoff single to Nolan Arenado and a two-out base hit to Reid Brignac before striking out Eric Young Jr. to end the game. The right-hander gave up two hits and struck out two in a scoreless inning as he picked up his fourth save of the season.

Rodney has four saves and a 3.86 ERA through Tampa Bay's first 28 games of the season. The 36-year-old had nine with a 0.66 ERA at the same point last season.

Rays starter Matt Moore was knocked around but did not factor into the decision during Friday's contest against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Moore, who made his sixth start of the season, surrendered a two-run home run to Michael Cuddyer in the opening frame and a solo shot to Josh Rutledge in the second. The left-hander was charged with four runs and seven hits in five innings of work in a 7-4 victory. He walked four and struck out three in 101 pitches, 53 strikes.

Moore has allowed five home runs in his last four starts. He is 3-0 with a 2.80 ERA over that span.

The 23-year-old is scheduled to start Wednesday at home against Toronto. He went 1-1 with a 3.26 ERA in four starts last season against the Blue Jays.

Yankees reliever David Robertson, who is dealing with soreness in his left hamstring near the knee, has gone through a series of tests, which have all come back clean.

Manager Joe Girardi does not expect Robertson to be ready until Tuesday at Colorado at the earliest. Robertson struck out 13 and allowed five runs in 11 2/3 innings before getting hurt.

"I'll do whatever they let me do," Robertson said. "That's pretty much all I can do, wait a couple of days and see what happens. I was hoping I'd be able to throw today if they'd let me but, not gonna happen."

The White Sox have yet to declare Hector Santiago a full-time member of their starting rotation, but it's likely with Gavin Floyd seemingly destined for season-ending surgery. And given what little we've seen from Santiago as a starter, Fantasy owners stand to benefit.

He showed he could be a bat-misser with access to his full arsenal in four starts last year, striking out 26 in 19 1/3 innings. Of course, he struggled with walks, but perhaps his two in 5 1/3 innings Thursday at Texas are a sign he's improved. As for his stuff, it's good enough that manager Robin Ventura was willing to experiment with him as a closer to begin 2012. That says something.

Again, you shouldn't rush to judgment on him with only five starts to his name, but given the demand for starting pitchers who are eligible at relief pitcher in Head-to-Head leagues, he's worth a flier if you have a roster spot to play with.

The White Sox have reset their rotation in the wake of Friday's rainout against Kansas City. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Dylan Axelrod will pitch Saturday, Jose Quintana will go Sunday and Jake Peavy will pitch the scheduled makeup Monday afternoon if he is recovered from the back injury that scratched him from his last start. 

The report said Peavy is a possibility for Monday. Hector Santiago is the most likely replacement if Peavy can't pitch.

Yankees pitcher David Robertson, sidelined with a hamstring issue, is expected to return Tuesday against Colorado, WFAN reports.

Robertson has been out since tweaking the hamstring Wedneday against Houston. Look for him to return to his setup role against the Rockies.