MLB Player News

Legumina will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Legumina will make his first start of the season after posting a 2.04 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 17.2 innings since the Rays acquired him from the Mariners in late April. The right-hander will likely cover an inning or two Sunday before giving way to the bullpen, with Ian Seymour likely to work as the Rays' primary pitcher.

Seymour won't start Sunday's game against the Angels but is expected to work behind opener Casey Legumina, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Seymour made his second start of the season in his previous appearance Monday versus Boston, where he allowed just one run while setting season highs in pitches (55) and innings (four). The left-hander is expected to fill the bulk role Sunday, though the Rays haven't officially confirmed those plans and could go in a different direction. It's been an up-and-down campaign for Seymour, who has a 4.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 38:16 K:BB over 35 innings.

Hudson is slated to serve as the White Sox's opener in front of bulk reliever Erick Fedde in Sunday's game against the Dodgers, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Hudson will be deployed as an opener for the fourth time this season, with his most recent such assignment having come May 23 against the Giants. The left-hander is expected to work an inning or two before Fedde takes over.

Jansen pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians.

Jansen was reinstated Friday after landing on the injured list in late May due to right pelvic inflammation, and he looked good in his first game action since returning. The veteran reliever had blown four saves and seen his ERA climb to 4.80 before getting shut down, but it's possible he wasn't quite right mechanically. Now that he's had time to rest and recover, Jansen should slot back in as Detroit's closer, and he can still be an effective pitcher at this stage of his long career when healthy, as he demonstrated last season with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 59 innings with the Angels.

Lange (0-4) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Astros after allowing a run on one hit and a walk across 1.2 innings. He struck out one.

The right-hander replaced Matt Strahm in the top of the eighth inning and retired Jake Meyers and Brice Matthews to keep the game tied. However, Lange couldn't do it again in the ninth and allowed the game-winning run on an RBI groundout from Christian Walker. Lange enjoyed a run of nine straight appearances without allowing a run between May 20 and June 9, but he's given up three over his last two outings (2.2 innings) since moving into a higher-leverage role. He owns a 4.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP this season across 32.2 frames.

King (1-1) earned the win Saturday against the Royals after pitching a perfect eighth inning, striking out one.

King entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-7 tie, but he needed just 17 pitches (10 strikes) to retire Nick Loftin, Lane Thomas and Kameron Misner. King, who's back in a setup role now that Josh Hader has come off the IL, hasn't given up a run in each of his last seven appearances. He owns a 1.05 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB across 6.2 innings over that stretch.

Smith earned the save in Saturday's win over the Tigers after allowing a hit and a walk across 1.1 innings, striking out two.

Smith hasn't blown a save since April 14 and leads the majors in that category with 23. The star closer has a 2.48 ERA and 1.04 WHIP across 32.2 innings and 31 outings this season, and he's been one of the best relievers in the majors with a 12.3 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and 0.1 HR/9 thus far.

Abreu recorded the save Saturday against the Royals after tossing a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit.

Josh Hader earned the save Friday, but since he recently returned from the injured list, it seems the Astros are not comfortable using him on back-to-back days. Abreu had no problem stepping in for the ninth to secure his fifth save of the season. The right-hander might have a 6.56 ERA across 27 appearances and 23.1 innings this season, but he's gone 5-for-5 in save chances and also has five holds. He should remain a reliable late-inning option for the Astros.

Varland (3-2) took the loss Saturday, giving up two runs on two hits in the ninth inning as the Blue Jays fell 3-1 to the Yankees. He struck out one.

Brought in for the top of the ninth inning in a 1-1 tie, Varland couldn't get the game to extras as Cody Bellinger led off the frame with a single before Paul Goldschmidt hooked a game-winning two-run homer to left field. It was the first long ball Varland has served up all year, and one stumble isn't going to cost him his spot as Toronto's closer. On the season, the right-hander sports a 0.96 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 49:10 K:BB through 37.2 innings, and he's a perfect 12-for-12 in converting save chances.

Bednar struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his 14th save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Blue Jays.

The Yankees closer got Andres Gimenez and Nathan Lukes to flail away at splitters, while he fanned George Springer on a 97.5 mph fastball. Bednar held a 5.14 ERA on May 18, but since then he's reeled off seven straight scoreless appearances, allowing just two hits in 7.2 innings with an 11:3 K:BB over that span to lower his ERA to a more palatable 3.77.