MLB Player News
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Michael Kopech SP | LAD
White Sox's Michael Kopech: Gets back on track
Kopech threw a scoreless inning during which he didn't allow a baserunner and struck out two Sunday against the Phillies.
Kopech made his first appearance since blowing a save chance Wednesday. While it wasn't in a save situation, Kopech was nevertheless impressive, retiring the side on 13 pitches while generating three swinging strikes. He's now turned in six scoreless performances in nine appearances this season, also maintaining a 17:6 K:BB across 11.1 innings.
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Victor Gonzalez RP | LAA
Yankees' Victor Gonzalez: Fills in for save
Gonzalez earned the save Sunday, allowing one walk and no hits with a strikeout over a scoreless inning.
Gonzalez drew the save opportunity due to Clay Holmes getting a day off, and the former converted for his second save of the campaign. Gonzalez has been a reliable arm for the Yankees thus far, yielding a run in just one of his nine appearances this season (8.1 innings).
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Jose Soriano RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Blanks Reds, stuck with loss
Soriano (0-3) took the loss Sunday, allowing three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts over six scoreless innings against Cincinnati.
Soriano was excellent Sunday, setting a career-high in strikeouts over six scoreless. He's been a solid option for the Angels since moving out of the bullpen, having allowed one run and four hits with 13 strikeouts in his past two appearances (11.0 innings). However, he's had difficulties with control, walking eight batters in that stretch. Soriano's next start is tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Twins.
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Andres Munoz RP | SEA
Mariners' Andres Munoz: Blown save, loss versus Colorado
Munoz (1-2) suffered a blown save and picked up the loss after he failed to record an out while allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits in Seattle's 2-1 extra-inning defeat to the Rockies in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader.
Munoz was called upon to protect a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 10th inning, surrendering three consecutives singles and ultimately being tagged with the loss. The right-hander suffered his first blown save of the year while the runs given up were his first since April 5, ending a streak of four straight scoreless appearances. Munoz now owns a 3.68 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 7.1 innings while going 2-for-3 in save opportunities in eight appearances this season.
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Josh Winckowski RP | BOS
Red Sox's Josh Winckowski: Covers 3.1 innings in start
Winckowski didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's 6-1 win over the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits over 3.1 innings while striking out one.
Winckowski made his first start of the season in place of Garrett Whitlock (oblique), tossing a season-high 3.1 innings while limiting the Pirates to one run. After tossing no more than 28 pitches over his three previous outings, Winckowski was pulled after 46 pitches Sunday. The 25-year-old righty will get a chance to stretch out his arm more, with Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe noting that Winckowski will stick around in the rotation. His next start is expected to come next weekend, when the Red Sox welcome the Cubs to Fenway Park.
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Robert Stephenson RP | LAA
Angels' Robert Stephenson: Shifts to 60-day IL
The Angels transferred Stephenson (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.
It was recently announced Stephenson would undergo season-ending surgery on his right elbow, so it was only a matter of time before he moved to the 60-day IL. The 31-year-old joined the Angels on a three-year, $33 million contract in January but came into spring training injured and has yet to pitch for his new team.
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Carlos Hernandez RP | CLE
Royals' Carlos Hernandez: Nearing rehab assignment
Hernandez (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment later this week, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Hernandez has been throwing since mid-March and is now nearly ready for game action. Given how long he's been out, he'll likely need a handful of rehab outings to get up to speed. Hernandez figures to enter the high-leverage mix fairly quickly once he's healthy, as the Royals' top late-inning options have ranged from fine (James McArthur, John Schreiber) to awful (Will Smith) early in the season.
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Jacob Brentz RP | TB
Royals' Jake Brentz: Beginning rehab assignment
Brentz (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday.
Brentz has missed over a month with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, which follows Tommy John surgery in 2022 and a lat strain in 2023. Given the long layoff, the Royals are likely to ease Brentz back into action, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. Pitchers can spend 30 days on a rehab assignment, so it's unlikely he's back in the majors until mid-May at the earliest.
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Hunter Gaddis SP | CLE
Guardians' Hunter Gaddis: Quickly ascending leverage ladder
Gaddis walked one and struck out two in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn his fifth hold of the season Saturday versus the Athletics.
Gaddis had struggled primarily as a starter over parts of the last two seasons, but he's thriving as a reliever so far. He's got a 15:3 K:BB while allowing just four hits and no runs over 10.2 innings to begin the campaign. Gaddis was expected to be more of a middle reliever initially, but he's looking more like a setup man after his hot start, which is especially impressive considering how strong the Guardians' bullpen has been. Gaddis has also been able to unlock more velocity in shorter outings -- per Statcast, his fastball is averaging 96.3 mph this year after sitting at 93.4 mph over the previous two years. He's also tightened his pitch arsenal, dropping his curveball and cutter while using his slider and changeup as his offspeed offerings.
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Cody Bolton RP | HOU
Mariners' Cody Bolton: Reinstated as 27th man
Bolton (illness) was activated from the 15-day injured list and will serve as the 27th man for Sunday's doubleheader at Colorado.
The right-hander landed on the shelf in early April due to kidney stones but will rejoin the Mariners after the 15-day minimum. Bolton could be sent to Triple-A Tacoma after Sunday's twin bill.