MLB Player News

Jax allowed a run on a home run and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning Thursday against the Cardinals.

Jax wasn't sharp in his first outing of the season as he was pulled after 21 pitches. Jax will reprise his late inning setup role again this season and should see some save chances when Jhoan Duran is used earlier in the game or unavailable.

Romano blew the save after allowing two runs on one hit and one walk in one inning during Thursday's game against the Nationals. He struck out one.

Summoned in the eighth inning to protect a 3-1 lead, Romano struggled with his command as he threw just 15 of 29 pitches for strikes and also plunked a batter. Philly could give Romano some leeway when it comes to future save opportunities, although they aren't short on high-leverage arms, and the right-hander's usage in the eighth frame suggests he may not solely see ninth-inning work anyway. Jose Alvarado, who ended up getting the win Thursday, and Matt Strahm pitched clean ninth and 10th innings, respectively, to preserve the win for Philadelphia.

Tinoco (1-0) was credited with the win for Thursday's game against Pittsburgh. He allowed one one walk and one hit while striking out a batter across one scoreless frame.

The 29-year-old right-hander was called from the bullpen for the top of the ninth inning, and after giving up a double and walk to Tommy Pham and Bryan Reynolds, respectively, Tinoco managed to escape the frame by striking out Joey Bart. It's worth noting that Tinoco got the call for the top of the ninth in a tie game instead of Calvin Faucher, suggesting the latter was being reserved for a potential save situation Friday.

Bednar (0-1) was charged with the loss in Thursday's contest against the Marlins after he allowed one earned run off two hits and one walk while failing to record an out.

Bednar was called out of the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth with the game tied 4-4, and he surrendered the lead on just eight pitches via a triple, an intentional walk and a single. The 30-year-old opened the season as Pittsburgh's presumed closer despite his 5.77 ERA last year, and though Thursday wasn't a save situation, his rocky start to 2025 puts him on even shakier ground.

Chapman (1-0) allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning to pick up the win over Texas on Thursday.

Chapman, who was named Boston's primary closer earlier this week, entered a 2-2 game in the eighth inning. It appears the decision to use the closer in the eighth was because the Rangers had the top of the order due up. Chapman worked around a one-out, broken-bat single, throwing seven strikes among his 11 pitches. After the Red Sox took a 5-2 lead in the top of the ninth, Justin Slaten shut the door for Boston.

Suarez earned the save in Thursday's 7-4 win over Atlanta, issuing one walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

It was an encouraging start to the year for Suarez after he struggled to an ugly 15.43 ERA in spring training. Despite the rough spring, Suarez entered 2025 entrenched as San Diego's closer after converting 36 saves while posting a 2.77 ERA in 65 innings last year.

Walker earned the save in Thursday's 6-4 win over the Reds, allowing a run on one hit in the ninth inning.

Walker recorded the first two outs in the ninth before hitting Jacob Hurtubise with a pitch, who then came around to score on a TJ Friedl single. However, Walker would rebound and record the final out to close out the Giants' Opening Day victory. The 29-year-old Walker is coming off an impressive 2024 campaign, during which he posted a 1.91 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across 80 innings. He logged 10 saves after taking over the closer job late in the year and should have pretty good job security to begin 2025.

Gibaut (0-1) was charged with the loss and a blown save Thursday against the Giants after giving up four runs on three hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out two.

Gibaut was literally the last pitcher added to the Reds' roster after Alexis Diaz (hamstring) was placed on the IL earlier this week, so it was a major surprise he was called upon for the save Opening Day. It's noteworthy that potential fill-in closers Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagan and Tony Santillan pitched the sixth-through-eighth innings, but that still left Taylor Rogers and Graham Ashcraft available. Gibaut had a 3.33 ERA and 23 holds in 74 outings for Cincinnati in 2023, but he has a 4.33 ERA in his MLB career and isn't likely to see consistent high-leverage opportunities.

Sewald earned the save in Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning win over the Royals, striking out one in a perfect 10th inning.

After Kansas City tied the game off Emmanuel Clase in the bottom of the ninth, Sewald successfully preserved a three-run lead in the 10th to earn the save in his first appearance with the Guardians. Sewald, who signed a one-year deal with Cleveland in the offseason, started the 2024 season as the Diamondbacks' closer, though he struggled in the second half before eventually losing the ninth-inning job. While Sewald won't overtake Clase, it looks like the 34-year-old right-hander will be trusted with a high-leverage role.

Hendriks was diagnosed with a compressed nerve in his right elbow and expects to resume throwing early next week, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Hendriks landed on the injured list Thursday after a tough spring, though the team was optimistic his absence would be brief. The initial diagnosis confirms that outlook, and Hendriks could be back after the 15-day minimum if his recovery goes smoothly.