MLB Player News

The Blue Jays optioned Payamps to their alternate training site Sunday.

Payamps was unlikely to be available for another day or two after he recorded four outs (on 27 pitches) in his team debut in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees, so Toronto elected to swap him out in favor of a fresh arm in Tommy Milone, whose contract was selected ahead of Sunday's series finale. The 26-year-old right-hander will be eligible to rejoin Toronto in 10 days, or if the Blue Jays place another player on the injured list before then.

Fulmer pitched a scoreless inning with one strikeout to record a hold in Saturday's win over Cleveland.

Fulmer has been moved to the bullpen to start 2021, and his first relief appearance of the season was a success. The righty could still work his way back into the rotation at some point, but he didn't pitch very deep into games last season in his return from Tommy John surgery, and it doesn't look like he'll do so in the early going this year.

Thornton is expected to piggyback starter T.J. Zeuch in Sunday's game against the Yankees, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Though Thornton missed out on a spot in the Blue Jays' Opening Day rotation, the coaching staff wants to keep him stretched out in the event the team's starting depth takes more hits as the season goes along. Since Zeuch maxed out at three innings over his four Grapefruit League outings, he likely won't be asked to work deep into his first start of the regular season, leaving the door open for Thornton to work as a bulk reliever. Zeuch isn't expected to make more than one turn through the rotation, so Thornton could transition into more of a multi-inning relief role after Sunday.

Chapman will be able to make his season debut Sunday against the Blue Jays after completing his two-game suspension.

Chad Green ended up picking up the save in Saturday's 5-3 win, but Chapman should step back into his familiar role as closer now that he's served the suspension he received last September for throwing at the Rays' Mike Brosseau. Chapman only pitched 11.2 innings in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, but he was excellent as usual when he was available, giving up four earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out 22.

Crowe was optioned to the Pirates' alternate site Sunday.

The team needed a spot for Kyle Crick (COVID-19 protocols), and Crowe was the roster casualty. Crowe was wild in his Pirates debut Saturday, issuing two walks and uncorking two wild pitches in just two-thirds of an inning against the Cubs.

Crochet struck out three over 2.1 perfect innings in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Angels.

Crochet entered with two outs and two on in the bottom of the fifth and got the final out, then retired the next six batters in order. He pitched exclusively as a one-inning reliever during spring training, but as a collegiate starter, Crochet has the variety of pitches necessary to navigate multiple innings and needed just 26 of them to shut down the Angels. It was the young prospect's first appearance in 2021 after a successful introduction to MLB last year. He has yet to allow a run or walk in 8.1 innings in the majors.

Montero earned the save against San Francisco on Saturday, pitching 1.1 perfect innings and striking out one.

Montero blew his first save opportunity of the season Opening Day, but he rebounded with a spotless outing Saturday to pick up his first save. The right-hander entered in the eighth frame with a pair of runners aboard and induced a lineout to end the inning before breezing through a 1-2-3 ninth. He's locked into a fairly stable role as Seattle's closer after coming over from Texas in an offseason trade.

Weathers earned the save Saturday against Arizona, throwing three scoreless innings and allowing one hit while striking out three.

The rookie looked superb in his regular-season big-league debut, throwing 25 of 38 pitches for strikes and allowing only one hit (a single). He entered the contest in the seventh inning with San Diego staked to a six-run lead and finished out the game to earn the save. Weathers figures to pitch in long relief to start the campaign, though he projects as a starter long term and could be among the first candidates to fill a rotation spot if the need arises.

Jansen picked up the save in Saturday's win over the Rockies. He tossed 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing a walk and striking out one.

Jansen faded away during the 2020 playoffs and there was a chance he could've lost his long-time role as closer, but it seems the organization is committed to him to remain as its ninth-inning guy -- and he responded in his first outing of the current campaign. Jansen recorded a five-out save and was quite sharp, tossing 14 of his 24 pitches for strikes and closing the door on the Rockies after they sniffed a potential comeback. Despite his postseason implosion in 2020, Jansen recorded a 3.33 ERA while going 11-for-13 in save opportunities last season.

Treinen (1-0) gave up two runs on one hit and a walk while fanning one through one inning of work Saturday against the Rockies.

Treinen didn't have his best stuff in this game, tossing just eight of his 17 pitches for strikes and getting punished on a two-run home run from Josh Fuentes, but he was still credited with the win after the Dodgers scored the winning runs in the top of the eighth inning. Treinen had a 1.21 WHIP last season to go along with a 3.86 ERA.