MLB Player News

Leiter earned the save in Monday's 5-2 win over Atlanta, allowing two hits while striking out one batter in one inning. He did not issue a walk.

Leiter was brought out for the ninth inning to protect the Athletics' three-run lead. He yielded hits to two of the first three batters he faced but bounced back to strike out Ronald Acuna before getting Drake Baldwin to pop out to second. Leiter is competing against Scott Barlow and Hogan Harris for the Athletics' closer job, but Leiter has earned the first save of the season for the organization, with Barlow blowing his opportunity against the Blue Jays on Saturday.

The Mariners designated Loutos for assignment Tuesday, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

The move opens up a 40-man roster spot for Colt Emerson, who inked an eight-year, $95 million extension earlier Tuesday. Loutos failed to earn a spot on the Mariners' Opening Day roster after allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits across three innings during Cactus League action.

The Blue Jays recalled Estrada from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

The move has been in the works for the last 24 hours after Cody Ponce suffered a sprained right ACL in Monday's start against Colorado. Estrada will be an option to step into Ponce's spot in the rotation this upcoming weekend, but he's also likely available in relief the next couple days. Estrada appeared in two regular-season games with Toronto last season, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits and one walk across 7.1 innings of work. He struck out 10 and hit two batters.

The Blue Jays placed Ponce (knee) on the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Ponce's absence is expected to be much longer than the minimum 15 days, as manager John Schneider said earlier Tuesday that the right-hander will miss "significant time" with a sprained right ACL that he suffered in Monday's start against the Rockies. In a corresponding move, Toronto recalled Lazaro Estrada from Triple-A. The Blue Jays will need to continue to piece their rotation together until some of their starters get healthy.

Ponce (knee) has been diagnosed with a sprained right ACL and is expected to miss "significant time," Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

The Blue Jays remain optimistic that Ponce can pitch again this season, but manager John Schneider said doctors will continue to review Ponce's MRI and determine if surgery is needed. It's a brutal blow for Ponce, who inked a three-year, $30 million deal with Toronto this past offseason after spending three seasons overseas. Ponce's injury also further tests the pitching depth of the Blue Jays, who are already dealing with injuries to Jose Berrios (elbow), Shane Bieber (elbow) and Trey Yesavage (shoulder) in the rotation. Ponce is likely to be shut down for quite some time.

Brash (1-0) earned the win Monday over the Yankees, allowing one hit while logging a strikeout in a scoreless inning.

Brash kept the Yankees off the board in the top of the ninth inning, working around a Giancarlo Stanton one-out double before the Mariners delivered a walk-off win in the bottom half of the frame. Brash has held opponents scoreless through his first two appearances (two innings) this season, allowing two hits and no walks. The right-hander is a key high-leverage option for Seattle ahead of closer Andres Munoz. Brash posted a 2.47 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB in 47.1 regular-season innings last year, totaling four saves and 21 holds.

Alexander earned the save in Monday's 5-2 win over the Orioles, tossing a clean ninth inning while striking out two.

The 31-year-old has converted both of the chances he's had for saves early on in the season. Both Robert Garcia and Chris Martin had pitched two days in a row entering Monday, so Alexander was called upon to record the last three outs in the ninth and was razor sharp, striking out two batters in a three up, three down ninth. The Rangers' closer situation was unsettled coming into the season, and while Alexander's usage so far suggests he's third in the pecking order for high-leverage usage, continued success when he's called upon could change the equation.

Hicks allowed one walk and struck out one across 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save Monday against the Marlins.

Hicks was tasked with protecting a five-run lead, though he tallied the final out in the eighth inning with the bases loaded. He picked up the save as a result, but he still doesn't figure to compete for the closer role for the time being. In addition to Monday's performance not coming in a conventional save situation, Seranthony Dominguez was likely not available after pitching in both of the previous two days.

Estrada will be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

This upcoming promotion likely means that Cody Ponce (knee), who exited Monday's start due to injury, is headed for an IL stint. Estrada will be brought up to provide length for Toronto, at least until Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Jose Berrios (elbow) or Shane Bieber (elbow) can return from the injured list, and a number of off days on the Jays' schedule in early April could mean the 26-year-old righty is needed for only one or two starts. Estrada made two relief appearances for the Blue Jays a year ago, allowing seven runs while striking out 10 and walking one over 7.1 regular-season innings.

Kelly recorded his first save of the season in Monday's 3-2 win over the Brewers, pitching one-third of a hitless and scoreless inning.

After left-hander Ian Seymour recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning and allowing one walk, manager Kevin Cash called on Kelly to record the 27th out of the game. It was notable that Griffin Jax was used in the seventh inning of a 2-2 game, and he pitched a scoreless and hitless frame while recording one strikeout. Jax struggled in the Rays' opening series against the Cardinals, blowing a pair of saves, so Cash could be moving to more of a committee approach at the end of games.