MLB Player News

The Red Sox recalled Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

Samaniego was a late cut after a nice spring training and didn't have to wait long for a promotion. The lefty has permitted three runs (two earned) with a 3:2 K:BB over 5.1 frames in his first three appearances with Worcester. Samaniego will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.

Leiter (0-1) blew the save and took the loss in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees. He allowed four runs on four hits and no walks with no strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning.

Leiter entered in the eighth inning with a two-run cushion but quickly gave it up -- a two-run homer from Amed Rosario gave the Yankees the lead. The veteran right-hander has now recorded a blown save in both of his past two appearances and owns a 10.38 ERA and 2.54 WHIP through 4.1 innings. Leiter is still the only Athletics reliever to record a save this season, but with a closer-by-committee setup and a lack of defined roles in the bullpen, blow-up outings like Tuesday's hurt his chances of seeing consistent high-leverage opportunities.

Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-3 win over the A's.

The right-hander leads the majors in saves in the early going, one ahead of a group that includes the Dodgers' Edwin Diaz, the Phillies' Jhoan Duran and the Padres' Mason Miller. Bednar hasn't been quite as sharp as some of his peers, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB through 5.1 innings, but he has a firm hold on the closing gig with the Yankees.

The White Sox optioned Smith to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.

Smith was Chicago's Opening Day starter but finds himself back in the minors after putting up a 10.80 ERA, 2.52 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first three starts. The right-hander should rejoin the Chicago rotation eventually, but he will try to get sorted out at Charlotte first. Jonathan Cannon had been on the same schedule as Smith at Charlotte and could be recalled to take the latter's spot in the big-league rotation Sunday in Kansas City.

Mears allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against Cleveland.

Mears delivered a clean eighth inning Tuesday, with a Chase DeLauter walk serving as the only blemish in a scoreless frame that kept the game tied heading into the ninth before a Cleveland walk-off. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears is off to a strong start this campaign with Kansas City, as he's yet to allow a run through five innings while already picking up a win and a hold.

O'Brien allowed an unearned run while striking out two in the 10th inning Tuesday to record his third save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming around to score on a groundout and a wild pitch, but O'Brien fanned CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez to lock down the victory. He's now picked up the Cardinals' last three saves and is emerging as the top option in the bullpen, with JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek in setup roles. Through six appearances this season, O'Brien has a 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB in 6.1 innings, adding a win and two holds to his ledger.

Matsui (groin) has turned in two scoreless rehab appearances at Triple-A El Paso, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Matsui got a late start to the season due to a groin strain that caused him to miss the entire Cactus League slate, but he's looked sharp on his rehab assignment thus far. It's unclear what the Padres' target date is for Matsui's activation from the 15-day injured list, but it could come any day now.

Englert (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over 3.2 innings as the Rays were downed 9-2 by the Cubs. He struck out two.

Tampa Bay rolled out a bullpen game after Drew Rasmussen (personal) was a late scratch, with Englert getting the start and lasting 65 pitches (48 strikes). The right-hander won't be available for long-relief duties for a few days as a result, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he were optioned to Triple-A Durham for a fresh arm. Through four appearances this season, Englert has a 9.45 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 4:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.

The Diamondbacks re-signed Ross to a minor-league contract Tuesday.

Ross elected free agency earlier this week after being removed from the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster, but he's now back in the organization on a new deal. The veteran swingman allowed eight runs on seven hits and four walks over 3.2 frames during his brief time with the big club.

Soto struck out one without allowing a baserunner across one inning of work to earn a hold Tuesday against the Padres.

Soto entered Tuesday's game in the eighth inning with the Pirates holding a one-run advantage. He continued his strong start to the season and has now allowed only one earned run across 7.1 innings. Dennis Santana was likely to work the ninth inning of Tuesday's game before the Pirates scored five runs in the home half of the eighth, eliminating the save opportunity.