MLB Player News
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Ben Joyce RP | LAA
Angels' Ben Joyce: Joins big club
Joyce was recalled from Double-A Rocket City on Sunday.
Joyce was unable to earn place on the Halos' Opening Day roster but will join the MLB club early in June. He has a mediocre 4.26 ERA and 5.2 BB/9 at Rocket City this season but has been much better since early May, posting a 1.59 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 21:3 K:BB over his last 10 appearances covering 11.1 innings.
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Jose Quijada RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Quijada: Will resume throwing Monday
Quijada (elbow) didn't throw from May 27 to June 2 but will resume doing so Monday, per MLB.com.
The week off was part of Quijada's rehab plan, so he didn't experience a setback. The lefty reliever is making his way back from undergoing Tommy John surgery last May and isn't likely to return until at least July. He tossed two bullpen sessions before the scheduled break in throwing.
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Sam Bachman RP | LAA
Angels' Sam Bachman: Dealing with neck stiffness
Bachman (shoulder) pulled himself from a rehab outing Thursday due to a stiff neck, per MLB.com.
Bachman is attempting to return from offseason shoulder surgery and began a rehab assignment May 25. His second appearance was slated to last two frames, but the neck issue instead limited Bachman to just two-thirds of an inning. The right-hander said he felt better the following day, but it's unclear when his next rehab outing may take place.
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Jacob Webb RP | CHC
Orioles' Jacob Webb: Secures first win
Webb (1-3) walked one and struck out one over 2.1 scoreless and hitless innings to earn the win over the Rays on Saturday.
Webb has kept runs off the board over his last 5.2 innings. He was called on early Saturday as Kyle Bradish struggled over 2.2 innings, but Webb was able to set the tone as the Orioles' five relievers gave up just four baserunners over the rest of the contest. Webb is at a 2.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 24:13 K:BB with two saves and five holds across 26 innings this season. He continues to see some work as a setup man while also often pitching in the middle innings.
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Michael Kelly RP | ATH
Athletics' Michael Kelly: Picks up third win Saturday
Kelly (3-2) picked up the win over Atlanta on Saturday, firing a scoreless inning during which he issued two walks and uncorked a wild pitch.
Kelly's somewhat unorthodox line was befitting of the wild game it occurred in, but the veteran ultimately emerged with his third win of the season. Kelly came in to record the final out of the sixth with Jarred Kelenic on third and the Athletics clinging to a one-run lead, but he then handed Scott Alexander a two-on, two-out jam in next frame that the latter was able to wiggle out of to keep Kelly as the pitcher of record. Kelly has now turned in scoreless efforts in seven of his last eight appearances, bringing his ERA (2.59) down to its lowest point since April 20.
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Elijah Morgan RP | KC
Guardians' Eli Morgan: Back on IL with elbow inflammation
The Guardians placed Morgan on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right elbow inflammation.
He'll hit the IL for the second time this season after he was previously on the shelf from April 17 through this past Tuesday due to right shoulder inflammation. During his latest stint on the 26-man active roster, Morgan made one appearance, as he tossed 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Wednesday in Colorado. Carlos Carrasco (neck) was reinstated from the 15-day IL in a corresponding move and will take Morgan's spot on the active roster.
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Michael Kopech SP | LAD
White Sox's Michael Kopech: Takes fifth loss
Kopech (1-5) allowed one run (none earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out two to take the loss Saturday against the Brewers.
Kopech entered the game in the 10th inning with the game tied at three. He intentionally walked the first batter he faced to put a pair of runners on base before throwing a wild pitch and allowing an infield single to take the loss. Kopech has had an inconsistent season, though he did turn in scoreless efforts in eight of his nine appearances in May. The White Sox haven't converted a save since May 15, but he should be considered the team's primary closer for the time being.
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Josh Hader RP | HOU
Astros' Josh Hader: Earns eighth save
Hader picked up a save against the Twins on Saturday, striking out one batter over a scoreless inning.
It was a relatively easy save chance for Hader, as he entered with a three-run lead. The southpaw had worked in a non-save situation in each of his previous three appearances, though he's clearly still in control of Houston's closer role. Hader has had a few rough outings this season but is 8-for-9 in save chances and has allowed just three earned runs and struck out 33 batters over his past 19.1 innings.
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Colin Poche RP | NYM
Rays' Colin Poche: Set for rehab assignment
Poche (back) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Poche's last documented activity was May 22, when he threw a 15-pitch bullpen session. He'll likely only need a couple of appearances in Durham before being activated.
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Will Smith RP | KC
Royals' Will Smith: Handling low-leverage role well
Smith has allowed two runs over nine innings since the start of May.
Smith doesn't have the best control, having allowed six hits and three walks with just five strikeouts in that span. He's also picked up two of his four holds in that stretch, though manager Matt Quatraro has mostly kept Smith out of high-leverage situations since early April. The left-hander's season-long numbers remain poor (6.38 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 12:8 K:BB), but he's been less volatile recently. With James McArthur, John Schreiber and Chris Stratton all pitching at a mediocre level in May, there could eventually be a path to high-leverage chances for Smith if he can keep performing well.