MLB Player News

Smeltzer was optioned to the Twins' alternate training site following Saturday's loss to the Pirates, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Smeltzer made his season debut Saturday and saved the Twins' bullpen by tossing 4.2 relief innings. He allowed one run (zero earned) on one hit and one walk while striking out three. Smeltzer will head back to the alternate training site after he spent a week on the major-league roster, and the Twins reportedly plan to call up a fresh arm ahead of Sunday's matchup.

Garcia will likely start Monday's game against the Orioles, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Manager Aaron Boone confirmed Saturday that the Yankees plan to start Garcia on Monday since the team is likely to utilize a six-man rotation in the near future. Boone said that it's possible that the plan could change ahead of Monday's game, but Garcia is currently penciled in as the starter. The right-hander made six starts for the Yankees last year and posted a 4.98 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 34.1 innings.

Akin recently received stitches on his left index finger after he cut himself with a knife at home, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Akin was in consideration to start Saturday's matchup against Oakland, but he was unable to do so following his finger injury. Wade LeBlanc will instead take the mound for Baltimore to begin Saturday's game. Akin has been working at the Orioles' alternate training site to begin the season, and it's not yet clear when he'll be able to resume throwing.

Romano (elbow) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Romano will return to the Blue Jays' bullpen after he spent the minimum of 10 days on the injured list due to right elbow neuritis. The right-hander should now be in the mix for closing duties for Toronto since manager Charlie Montoyo hasn't yet settled on a clear ninth-inning option. Prior to his injury, Romano posted a 2.70 ERA and 2.10 WHIP in 3.1 innings.

Neris (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Rockies, surrendering a home run and registering a strikeout while only securing one out.

Neris entered a tie ballgame in the bottom of the ninth inning. He was able to retire the first batter, but promptly served up a walk-off home run to Raimel Tapia. Through the 2021 campaign, the 31-year-old owns a 2.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 7.2 innings. With Archie Bradley (oblique) on the 10-day injured list, Neris should continue to see plenty of late-inning work and save opportunities.

Heuer (2-1) earned the win Friday against the Rangers, allowing two hits and striking out one across 1.1 scoreless innings.

After back-to-back ugly outings, Heuer put together a solid performance Friday, successfully setting down the Rangers' batters in the seventh inning. After allowing two singles in the eighth inning, Heuer was pulled in favor of closer Liam Hendricks. The 24-year-old has only walked one batter across 11 innings this year and owns a 4.91 ERA, inflated by two poor recent outings.

Padres manager Jayce Tingler stated Friday that Weathers will remain in the starting rotation for the time being, Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Weathers has shone in his five appearances this season, yielding only one earned run over 15.1 innings while registering a 16:5 K:BB. In two starts against the division-rival Dodgers, the left-hander has given up no runs on only two hits across 9.1 frames. Weathers has been getting a look in the rotation with Adrian Morejon (elbow) out for the season and Dinelson Lamet (forearm) going to the 10-day IL after only one start. Even when Lamet returns, Weathers could remain a starter if he continues dominating opposing offenses.

Garcia is in consideration for a start Monday against the Orioles, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The Yankees have yet to confirm their starting-pitcher plans for the upcoming series at Baltimore, and manager Aaron Boone recently hinted that New York is likely to go to a six-man rotation soon. That leaves Garcia squarely in the mix for an opportunity to start, though he is not currently on the 26-man roster. The right-hander is traveling with the team as part of the taxi squad, however, so he would be available on short notice if the decision were made to insert him in the rotation.

Patino was added to the Rays' taxi squad Saturday and is expected to be active for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino was sent down by the Rays in mid-March, but he could be in line to make his team debut in Sunday's series finale. The right-hander made his major-league debut with the Padres last year and posted a 5.19 ERA and 21:14 K:BB in 17.1 innings across 11 appearances (one start). Patino will likely join the bullpen once he's added to the Rays' big-league roster, but he could be an option to serve as a starter at some point this year.

Betances (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Persistent injury problems have derailed the 33-year-old's career in recent seasons. He's thrown just 13.1 innings over the last three years, including just one this season before being shut down with a shoulder impingement. He'll now be out of action until at least early June.