MLB Player News

Cano struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Monday to record his first career save in a 5-4 win over the Red Sox.

With Felix Bautista having already logged 11 appearances in the O's first 21 games, manager Brandon Hyde elected to reward Cano for his incredible performance so far and give him his first career save opportunity. The 29-year-old didn't disappoint, and he's now retired the first 21 batters he's faced in 2023 -- the second-longest such streak to begin a season in franchise history. With Bautista entrenched as closer, Cano may have to be content with a setup role, but more high-leverage looks should be coming his way -- he has three holds and a save in six appearances, to go along with his unblemished ERA and WHIP and a 9:0 K:BB through seven innings.

Leclerc (0-1) allowed three walks and an unearned run over a third of an inning, picking up the loss in Monday's game against the Reds.

The base on balls -- an old Leclerc bugaboo -- reared itself once again. With the Rangers up, 6-4, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Leclerc entered a bases-loaded, two-out situation and promptly walked the first two batters faced (11 pitches, three strikes). He was eventually pulled after walking the first batter faced in the bottom of the ninth on four pitches. That run came home to score, in part due to a wild pitch by Will Smith, which made it unearned. The blown save was Leclerc's second of the season and second in as many outings.

Chafin (2-0) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out four over 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win over Kansas City on Monday.

Chafin entered with one out and two runners on in the bottom of eighth inning and allowed a game-tying single to Kyle Isbel. That marked his first blown save in four opportunities, but he was able to walk away with the win in the ninth when Nick Ahmed's fielder's choice plated the winning run. After a dominant stretch to open the season, Chafin's run into a rough patch, allowing three runs on five hits (one home run) and two walks over his last 2.1 innings (three games).

Chapman (0-1) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout over one inning, taking the loss Monday versus the Diamondbacks.

Chapman started the year on an eight-inning scoreless streak, but it came to a close Monday. He walked Christian Walker and allowed a single to Gabriel Moreno before Nick Ahmed's fielder's choice plated the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chapman still has an excellent 16:3 K:BB with a 1.00 ERA and 0.67 WHIP through nine innings. However, the Royals' 5-18 start to the season has allowed him to pick up just one save and one hold. Chapman's usage suggests he's still at least slightly behind the struggling Scott Barlow in the closer hierarchy.

Barria (1-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks over two innings Monday against Oakland. He was charged with a blown save and a loss while striking out one.

Barria entered the ninth inning with two runners on base and eventually walked in the game-tying run. He then coughed up three runs in the 10th, including a two-run double by Ryan Noda. Barria had turned in 7.2 consecutive scoreless innings since coughing up four runs in his season debut. He's sporting a 4.05 ERA across 13.1 innings.

Fujinami will be used out of the bullpen until further notice, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Fujinami has struggled as a starter through the first few weeks of the 2023 campaign, accruing a 14.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP with a 12:12 K:BB across 15 frames. "We're going to put him in the pen and try to use him in a leverage role where we could watch him throw strikes and get his fastball command back," said manager Mark Kotsay, per Gallegos. "Not to say he can't return into the rotation, but in the short term, we're going to assess him in that direction."

Cisnero pitched a scoreless inning of relief and earned a hold in Monday's win over the Brewers.

The hold was the second of the season for Cisnero, who lowered his ERA to 4.50 to go along with a 1.38 WHIP and seven strikeouts across eight innings. He pitched the sixth inning in Monday's 4-2 win while Alex Lange closed things out in the ninth, so it seems like Cisnero is firmly in a setup role for the Tigers, which limits his fantasy appeal.

Lange struck out two batters in a perfect inning and earned a save over Milwaukee on Monday.

Lange tossed nine of 14 pitches for strikes in the dominant outing, including four whiffs. He's turned in seven straight scoreless appearances, posting an 11:2 K:BB during that stretch. He lowered his season ERA to 1.64 and has converted his last two save opportunities after blowing his first chance April 3.

Morejon (elbow) is expected to toss a bullpen session in Chicago on Tuesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The bullpen session, if it takes place as scheduled, will mark Morejon's first time on a mound since leaving a spring training game due to left arm discomfort in mid-March. The southpaw underwent a subsequent MRI that came back negative, but he was nonetheless placed on the 60-day IL prior to Opening Day. Morejon isn't eligible to come off the injured list until late May.

Rodriguez (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday during a rehab appearance, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez threw eight pitches in the contest with six landing for strikes. The right-hander was the Cardinals' Rule 5 draft pick in December, and his rehab stint from right shoulder inflammation will expire on May 9. After that, Rodriguez will either need to be promoted to the major-league roster or the Cardinals will have to offer him back to the Yankees.