MLB Player News

The Angels optioned Saucedo to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday.

Saucedo made three scoreless appearances during his most recent stint in the big leagues. With Drew Pomeranz (elbow) back from the injured list, Saucedo will head back to Salt Lake.

The Angels activated Pomeranz (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Pomeranz needed just a minimum stay on the IL while recovering from left elbow inflammation. He skipped a rehab assignment and will return to a setup role in the Angels' bullpen. Pomeranz has struggled this season, posting a 7.20 ERA and 12:8 K:BB over 15 frames.

Rogers worked a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a win over the Marlins.

A pop-up and two flyouts took care of Miami's 7-8-9 hitters after Louis Varland had worked the eighth against the heart of the order. Toronto manager John Schneider's willingness to use Varland outside the ninth will open up occasional save chances for other relievers, but Rogers will be competing for those rare opportunities with Jeff Hoffman, and potentially Yimi Garcia (elbow) beginning in early June as well. On the season, Rogers sports a 2.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 15:9 K:BB over 25 innings while also collecting one win and nine holds in 26 appearances.

Hoffman (3-3) picked up the win over the Marlins on Wednesday, giving up two hits in 1.1 scoreless innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The right-hander entered the game with two outs in the sixth inning and got helped along by Tyler Heineman's arm -- the catcher threw out two of three would-be base stealers while Hoffman was on the mound. Hoffman has recorded a win, hold or save in four straight appearances, posting a 0.00 ERA and 7:0 K:BB in four innings during that span as he attempts to turn his season around. Per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic, Hoffman credits his recent success with increased slider usage to match the pitch mix he employed with the Phillies in 2023-24, his most dominant years as a reliever. He still carries a 4.81 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 24.1 innings on the year, however, and he's unlikely to regain the closer role as long as Louis Varland remains effective.

The Cubs re-signed Blach to a minor-league contract Wednesday.

Blach elected free agency earlier this week after being removed from the Cubs' 40-man roster, but he's now back in the organization on a new contract. The lefty threw three scoreless frames in his lone appearance for Chicago and will give the organization swingman depth at Triple-A Iowa.

Hurt struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Rockies.

Tanner Scott was deployed in the eighth inning to handle a high-leverage spot, though that left the middle of the Rockies' order to Hurt in the ninth. Hurt did what he's been doing basically all year and delivered a quality outing, retiring the side on 15 pitches (11 strikes). He saw his scoreless streak end Monday when he served up a solo home run, but that was just the second run he's allowed all season. The right-handed reliever has worked his way into the late-inning mix with a 1.06 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 17 innings, and he's earned a save and three holds over his last eight outings. Hurt won't be the first choice for saves, but he's showing he can be trusted.

De Los Santos struck out three over 1.2 perfect innings to earn the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.

This was De Los Santos' first save in over a month. He got the nod in the eighth inning after Bryan King struggled mightily to open the frame. A rough patch in late April seemingly cost De Los Santos consistent high-leverage work, but he's gotten back in the mix by allowing just two runs (one earned) over 9.2 innings in his last nine appearances. He's at a 3.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 21:4 K:BB with four saves and four holds over 22.2 innings this season. His time competing with King and Bryan Abreu for regular save chances is nearing an end, as Josh Hader (biceps) is expected back in the first week of June.

Williams struck out three and also walked three in a scoreless ninth to steal a save in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Cincinnati.

Williams walked the bases loaded in the top of the ninth with one out but was able to fan Dane Myers and Blake Dunn for his eighth save in nine attempts this season. The right-hander has converted six straight save chances, with his only blemish coming in a loss against Miami on May 24. During this span, Williams has given up four earned runs (all coming in the loss) and has a 13:7 K:BB over nine innings.

Tong (1-0) recorded the win against the Reds on Wednesday, giving up one unearned run on three hits and four walks with one strikeout over 3.2 innings.

After opener Huascar Brazoban delivered a scoreless first inning, Tong entered as the bulk reliever for his second appearance of the season. The 22-year-old dealt with traffic on the basepaths in every inning he pitched but was able to navigate out of it to keep the Mets ahead. With Kodai Senga (back) likely returning to the starting rotation soon, Tong could be headed back to Triple-A despite allowing just one unearned run with a 3:5 K:BB through his first two MLB outings (6.2 innings) of 2026.

Alvarado earned the save Wednesday against the Padres, allowing one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

With Jhoan Duran pitching in four of the previous five days, Alvarado was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning. The left-hander worked around a one-out single by Xander Bogaerts and closed out the game for his first save of the season. It marked Alvarado's first appearance since May 20 after he had allowed runs in three of his previous four outings. The reliever now owns a 5.79 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB to go along with seven holds across 18.2 innings.