MLB Player News

Kimbrel allowed one run on two hits while striking out two batters Friday. He notched a save in the win over Colorado.

The newly acquired Kimbrel was immediately handed a save chance and converted it despite coughing up an RBI double to Charlie Blackmon. The Dodgers will use the 33-year-old as a traditional closer barring any extended troubles. Prior to him entering in the ninth, Brusdar Graterol, Daniel Hudson and Blake Treinen each tossed a scoreless frame. Kimbrel posted a 2.26 ERA with 24 saves and 100 strikeouts through 59.2 innings with the White Sox and the Cubs last season.

King (1-0) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out three in two innings to earn the win Friday against the Red Sox.

King entered Friday's matchup in the 10th inning and allowed the runner on second base to come across, but he remained in the game after the Yankees tied it up in the bottom half of the inning. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the 11th and was rewarded with his fourth career win. In spite of Friday's outing, the 26-year-old is expected to serve mainly in low-leverage situations in 2022.

Doval gave up three runs on three hits in one inning during Friday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Marlins.

After Tyler Rogers had gotten the final two outs of the seventh inning and Jake McGee worked a scoreless eighth to protect a Giants lead, Doval got the call for the team's first save opportunity of the season. The young right-hander blew it in spectacular fashion, with Miami's rally being capped by a two-run blast from Jazz Chisholm, but San Francisco was able to tie it back up in the bottom of the ninth and win it in the 10th to take Doval off the hook for a loss. Manager Gabe Kapler suggested late in spring training that McGee would get most of the saves this season, and Friday's performance didn't do much for Doval's chances of changing that.

Pagan will be part of a closer committee that could include Joe Smith, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Alcala and Danny Coulombe, manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "It's not a situation where we're just going to fill that role with someone and say, 'That's how it's going to work,' " Baldelli said. "We will use the quality arms in the back end of our 'pen to match up, try to put them in position to get outs."

Baldelli is likely still sorting out his bullpen after the trade of Taylor Rogers to San Diego, so he could narrow down his options to finish games early in the season. Pagan figures to be one of his first choices, but Baldelli has ignored traditional closer patterns in managing his bullpen. Still, if Pagan starts strong with the Twins he should see consistent high-leverage work.

Bass (0-1) gave up a run on a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss Friday against the Giants.

Anthony Bender blew the save in the ninth inning, but Bass fared no better in the 10th, allowing the winning run to cross the plate on an Austin Slater walkoff double. Bass is in the late-inning mix for the Marlins, but after going 0-for-4 on save chances in 2021, he remains a risky play for anyone looking for help in that category.

Duran threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts and a walk in his MLB debut in Friday's loss to Seattle. He reached 100 mph with his fastball on six pitches. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said he plans to use Duran in the middle innings while he adjusts to the majors, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Duran gave up hits to the first two batters he faced and then struck out the side in his first inning. The 24-year-old entered the game in the fifth inning and may be used in similar lower-leverage situations in the short term, but given his dominant arsenal he could be closing games before too long.

Bender struck out one and gave up a solo home run in an inning of work during Friday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Giants.

The Marlins put together a rally in the top of the ninth inning to take their first lead of the game and give Bender his first save opportunity of the season. Unfortunately, a Thairo Estrada solo shot sent the game to extras, and San Francisco pushed across the winning run in the 10th inning against Anthony Bass. Cole Sulser, another potential closing option for the Marlins, worked a scoreless seventh inning. Manager Don Mattingly seemed willing to give Bender a chance to establish himself prior to the season starting, but as he showed with Bass last year, he isn't afraid to make a quick switch in the ninth either.

Raley struck out the only batter he faced and earned a save over the Orioles on Friday.

J.P. Feyereisen was lifted from the game after coughing up a two-out single to Rougned Odor in the ninth inning. Raley took over and fanned Cedric Mullins on six pitches to secure the 2-1 victory. The 33-year-old southpaw posted a 1.93 ERA in four spring appearances and it looks like he'll be part of the Rays' late-inning mix to start the 2022 campaign.

Barnes didn't pitch in Friday's loss to the Yankees due to back tightness, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Although Friday's matchup lasted 11 innings, Barnes didn't enter the game. Manager Alex Cora said after the loss that the right-hander was unavailable due to his back issue. It's not yet clear when Barnes will be able to return to action.

Underwood (hamstring) landed on the 10-day injured list Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Underwood (hamstring) left Thursday's season opener against the Cardinals with hamstring discomfort, an issue evidently serious enough to keep him out for at least 10 days. Roansy Contreras was called up to take his place on the roster.