MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Matzek (oblique) will need "at least a few" more rehab appearances in the minors before being considered an option for the big-league bullpen, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Matzek isn't a member of the Yankees' 40-man roster and currently resides on Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 7-day injured list after he suffered an oblique strain in spring training while attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The veteran southpaw made his first rehab appearance with Single-A Tampa on Sunday, striking out two while allowing one earned run on two hits in one inning. He'll likely make additional appearances with Tampa before eventually reporting to Triple-A, but he may not stick around with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre throughout the season. His minor-league contract contains a clause that would allow him to opt out and become a free agent May 1 if the Yankees don't promote him to the big leagues by then.

The Cubs recalled Roberts from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

He'll be joining the big club as a replacement on the 26-man active roster for left-hander Justin Steele (elbow), who was placed on the 15-day injured list. Roberts will likely work in middle relief for Chicago after getting off to a strong start to the season at Iowa, with whom he struck out seven batters while walking none over three scoreless innings between his two appearances.

Pagan worked a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Giants.

The veteran righty needed only seven pitches (six strikes) to get the job done. Pagan hasn't been a full-time closer since 2019, when he collected 20 saves for the Rays. but he's getting a chance to handle that job while Alexis Diaz (hamstring) gets healthy and tries to get his mechanics back in sync. Through his first five appearances this season, Pagan has a 0.00 ERA and 3:1 K:BB and has allowed only one hit. Tony Santillan, who recorded the final out of Monday's combined shutout after Hunter Greene fired 8.2 innings, has the only other save so far in 2025 for Cincinnati.

Martinez struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his second save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Orioles.

A.J. Puk collected the hold in the eighth before turning things over to Martinez, who plunked Tyler O'Neill with a pitch but was otherwise untouchable. Martinez has a 0.00 ERA and 7:0 K:BB through 4.2 innings while sharing closing duties with Puk.

Clevinger (0-2) took the loss Tuesday against the Guardians after allowing a run on one hit and three walks in just one-third of an inning.

Clevinger came on in relief of Tyler Gilbert with two outs in the eighth and got to the ninth unscathed. However, the Guardians opened up the ninth with an infield single and Clevinger proceeded to eventually walk in the winning run after issuing three consecutive free passes. He has walked five batters and recorded two outs in his last two appearances and likely will find himself in some lower-leverage situations for the time being.

Clase (2-0) got the win over the White Sox on Tuesday after tossing a perfect ninth while recording two strikeouts.

Clase made quick work of the White Sox in the ninth, sending them down in order on nine pitches. He wound up with his second win of the early campaign after the Guardians walked it off in the bottom of the inning. Tuesday was Clase's first appearance in 2025 with multiple strikeouts, though he is still waiting to pick up his first save of the season.

Hurter picked up the save in Tuesday's 5-0 win over the Yankees, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Hurter entered in the seventh protecting a 5-0 lead and went on to blank the Yankees for another three innings. He now has two three-inning saves in his last two appearances, though those came over a week apart. Hurter owns a 3.68 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 6:1 K:BB in 7.1 innings so far this season.

Puk allowed one hit and struck out one over one inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.

Puk worked around a hit and a stolen base to record his second hold of the season. He entered the eighth inning with two lefties due up and served as the bridge to Justin Martinez, who recorded the save. It was the second straight save situation where Puk worked the eighth and Martinez the ninth. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named a closer and appears to be calling on the lefty Puk or righty Martinez depending on the matchups.

Maton picked up a two-out save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Pirates, allowing a hit and striking out a batter in a scoreless appearance.

Ryan Helsley threw 37 pitches Sunday in a blown save attempt, so Maton was called upon to shut the door after JoJo Romero let the Pirates back in it with two runs in the ninth. Maton allowed an RBI double to Joey Bart to make it a two-run game and bring the tying run up to the plate, but he was able to retire Tommy Pham for the win. Maton has now tossed 5.1 scoreless innings with a 7:1 K:BB while picking up his sixth career save in the early going this year.

Peralta struck out one batter in a perfect inning against the Athletics on Tuesday.

Peralta needed just nine pitches to set the A's down in order, and eight of those offerings were strikes. The veteran lefty has yet to give up a run over 6.1 innings this season, and he's yielded just one hit while posting a 4:1 K:BB. Peralta has entered in the seventh inning or later in each of his seven appearances, and while he has just one hold to date, he's also recorded a pair of wins. Robert Suarez has a stranglehold on the Padres' closer role, but Peralta could have some utility in fantasy leagues that count holds if he continues to pitch well and receive late-game opportunities.