MLB Player News

Payamps was recalled by the Blue Jays on Friday, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

The Blue Jays sent Payamps to their alternate training site Sunday, but he'll return to the major-league bullpen after Tyler Chatwood (triceps) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Payamps made his team debut against the Yankees on Saturday and allowed no hits and a walk while striking out one in 1.1 scoreless innings.

Borucki was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday due to side effects from the vaccine, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Borucki is dealing with fatigue and a fever after receiving his COVID-19 vaccine and has been sent home by the team to rest. Since there isn't a minimum amount of time that a player needs to spend on the COVID-19 IL, Borucki will be able to return to the team as soon as his symptoms subside. Right-handers Joel Payamps and Ty Tice were called up by Toronto in corresponding moves.

Paredes (side) is likely headed to the 10-day injured list, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

He exited Thursday's game with side discomfort. Manager Dusty Baker is awaiting the MRI results, but he acknowledged Paredes was likely to land on the IL.

Manager Brian Snitker said he hopes to have Martin (finger) available for Saturday's game against the Phillies, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Martin was throwing on the field Friday and Snitker said the team will know more later in the day. He has not appeared in a game since April 4 due to numbness in the fingers of his pitching hand. An MRI was not deemed necessary.

Martin (back) was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

The left-hander spent the first week of the season on the injured list after back spasms surfaced during spring training, but he's ready to make his season debut. Martin had a 1.84 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 8:9 K:BB over 14.2 innings for the Rangers during 2020.

Hand was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

The veteran left-hander was caught up in the Nationals' COVID-19 outbreak that delayed the start of the season, but he only ended up being away from the team for a week as a close contact. Hand may need a day or two before being ready to pitch, but he should take over the closer's role now that he's cleared, relegating Daniel Hudson and Tanner Rainey to setup roles.

Iglesias pitched a perfect 11th inning, striking out all three batters to earn his second save of the season in Thursday's 7-5, extra-innings win over Toronto.

The closer has been extremely inconsistent thus far in 2021, recording flawless saves in two appearances while allowing at least one run in each of the other three outings. Iglesias has a 18.0 K/9 rate through five innings and remains the Angels' best option to close games, but continued struggles may convince manager Joe Maddon to look elsewhere for saves.

Hernandez allowed two runs on three hits and walk in one-third of an inning in Thursday's 6-0 loss to the White Sox.

Hernandez began the sixth inning, but allowed four of the five batters he faced to get on base. He was done after a two-run single allowed to Adam Eaton, and Josh Staumont went on to pitch 1.2 scoreless innings. Hernandez worked in long relief in his previous outing, earning a win on Opening Day versus the Rangers. The 24-year-old's role hasn't been clearly defined yet, but it appears he's been passed over for a spot in the rotation by Jakob Junis. Without much of a chance of joining the closer conversation, Hernandez will carry minimal fantasy value.

Iglesias struck out the side in a perfect inning to earn the save against Toronto on Thursday.

Iglesias entered the contest having blown his previous save attempt and with a shaky 9.00 ERA, but he looked dominant against the Blue Jays, throwing 10 of 14 pitches for strikes and whiffing Teoscar Hernandez, Vladimir Guerrero and Lourdes Gurriel (in that order). The save was Iglesias' second as a member of the Angels.

Romano gave up two hits in two-thirds of an inning Thursday to get charged with a blown save in an extra-innings loss to the Angels.

After Trent Thornton gave up a single to Dexter Fowler with one out in the top of the seventh inning and the Jays leading 5-4, Romano got the call to face the top of the Angels' order and allowed the inherited runner to score on a Shohei Ohtani base hit. Romano has consistently seen high-leverage usage in the late innings to begin the season, but as yet that hasn't translated into save opportunities, and Julian Merryweather's impressive performance so far could be inching him towards locking down the closer role. Romano hasn't pitched poorly though, posting a 0.00 ERA and 3:2 K:BB through his first three appearances (2.2 innings) with a win and a hold.