MLB Player News

Ottavino retired both batters faced on strikeouts in Friday's 6-5 win over the Mariners.

Ottavino entered the eighth inning with men on second and third and one out, then fanned Dylan Moore and Sam Haggerty to earn his third hold. Eight of his 12 pitches were in the zone. It was a nice bounce-back for Ottavino, who had walked a pair and gave up a game-tying run the previous night when just six of 15 offerings were strikes.

Barnes allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one over one inning in Friday's 6-5 win over Seattle.

Barnes entered the ninth inning in a non-save situation with a mission to close out Boston's win and surrendered a three-run home run to Kyle Seager before getting the final out. He'd been sharp in all of his previous outings and entered the night with a 0.90 ERA and a 17:2 K:BB ratio.

Pressly (2-0) gained his second win Friday when the Astros plated three in the bottom of the 10th inning against the Angels. He allowed two unearned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out three over two innings.

Pressly allowed his first two runs of the season in the top half of the extra inning but was spared the loss by Houston's offense. It was the second consecutive game in which he's pitched, so after throwing three innings and 42 pitches the last two nights, Houston's closer may not be available to throw Saturday.

Hendriks allowed one run on one hit and struck out five over 1.2 innings to earn the save in Friday's 9-7 win over the Rangers.

Hendriks worked around an Adolis Garcia solo home run, the third blast he's allowed in 8.1 innings, to log his fourth save in five opportunities. Apparently, manager Tony La Russa is not afraid to use his closer for multiple innings. Hendricks, who had two full days off since he last pitched, had the bullets to quell a two-on, one-out situation in the eighth inning, then close out the ninth. He threw 32 pitches Friday.

Sulser pitched two perfect innings and struck out three in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Athletics.

Sulser retired the side on groundouts in the seventh inning, then struck out the side in the eighth. The 31-year-old right-hander has allowed five hits and struck out 10 over 6.1 scoreless innings to begin 2021. Sulser is expected to mainly work in a low-leverage role, but he's pitched well so far.

Smith struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

The veteran lefty hasn't exactly been untouchable to begin the season, getting charged with runs in four of his 10 appearances so far, but Smith has yet to blow a save and his 14:6 K:BB through nine innings is more encouraging than his 4.00 ERA. As long as he continues to get the job done though, the 31-year-old isn't likely to be challenged for his closing role.

Lopez (1-3) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one in four innings to take the loss against the Athletics on Friday.

Lopez earned his first win of the season in his last outing, but he returned to the loss column against Oakland. The right-hander gave up two runs in the second inning and was removed from the contest after he allowed a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning. Lopez has now posted an 8.15 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 17.2 innings across his first four starts of the season. He'll attempt to turn things around at home against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Reyes earned the save against Cincinnati on Friday, striking out two and walking two over two-thirds of an inning.

Reyes was far from sharp in the outing, throwing only 10 of 23 pitches for strikes and walking a pair. He allowed a pair of inherited runners to score -- one on a bases-loaded walk and the other on a wild pitch. However, the right-hander did enough to extend his season-opening scoreless streak to 8.1 innings while picking up his fourth save. Reyes has treaded in dangerous waters with an 8:8 K:BB, but he has all four of the Cardinals' saves this season and looks to be locked into the closer role for the time being.

Puk (biceps) is slated to resume throwing before the end of the weekend, the Associated Press reports.

The left-hander has been shut down from throwing for the last few days and has yet to start mound work since going on the injured list April 8. However, he had worked up to throwing from 90 feet off flat ground before his recent brief period of inactivity, so it remains to be seen exactly what Puk's expected restart will look like.

Diekman struck out one in a perfect ninth inning to earn a save against the Orioles on Friday.

Lou Trivino had pitched on two of the last three days and gave up two runs (one earned) in Wednesday's win over Minnesota. As a result, Diekman was brought in to preserve a 3-1 lead in the ninth inning of Friday's contest, and he pitched a perfect frame to pick up his second straight save. Trivino could still be the slight favorite for save chances in Oakland, but Diekman has allowed just two hits and one walk while striking out seven in 6.2 innings across his last six appearances.