MLB Player News

Helsley picked up the save Monday against the Diamondbacks, throwing a clean ninth inning. He struck out two.

Helsley didn't face much opposition Monday, firing eight of his 12 offerings for strikes. The hard-throwing right-hander is off to a promising start in his Orioles tenure overall, successfully converting each of his first five save chances while posting a 2.84 ERA. That said, Helsley does have a concerning 1.74 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB over 6.1 innings, so he hasn't necessarily been a lights-out closer.

Williams (2-1) earned the win over St. Louis on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters over five-plus innings.

Williams was tagged for a run in the first inning but didn't allow another until serving up a leadoff homer to Jordan Walker in the sixth. Though he wasn't overly efficient, needing 93 pitches to complete five-plus frames, Williams pitched more than well enough to notch the win on a day when Cleveland gave him nine runs of support. The righty hurler began the campaign by giving up three runs over five innings in a loss, but since then Williams has surrendered just three earned runs across 17.2 frames spanning three starts. On the season, he has a 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 29:16 K:BB over 22.2 innings.

Kremer took a no-decision Monday against the Diamondbacks, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out nine.

Making his season debut, Kremer worked rather efficiently while tossing 55 of his 80 pitches for strikes Monday. The right-hander was sharp overall, registering 15 swings and misses while fanning at least nine for the fourth time in his career. Kremer is competing with Cade Povich, who was optioned to the minor leagues earlier Monday, for Zach Eflin's (elbow) rotation spot, and Kremer might have earned another start with Baltimore ahead of his next scheduled turn this weekend versus Cleveland.

Naylor went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Monday's 6-2 win over the Astros.

It was the sixth career multi-homer effort by Naylor, who went deep for the first time this season with his first-inning three-run jack. Naylor also racked up at least five RBI for the seventh time in his career. The first baseman still has plenty of room for improvement, batting .127 with the aforementioned two homers, seven RBI and six walks across his first 63 at-bats.

Langford (quadriceps) is expected to be in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Langford hasn't seen any action since Saturday after suffering a right quadriceps strain, but it seems he'll avoid a trip to the injured list. Grant notes that Tuesday will be a strong spot to shuttle Langford back into the starting nine with a southpaw in Jeffrey Springs scheduled to toe the rubber in the second game of a four-game series.

Burrows (1-3) took the loss Monday against the Mariners, allowing six runs on 11 hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out three.

Although Burrows fired 69 of his 98 pitches for strikes and amassed 17 swinging strikes, he was perhaps a bit too haphazard in targeting the zone Monday. The Mariners tagged him for four-extra base hits, with two leaving the yard off the bat of Josh Naylor, and Burrows wound up giving up a career-high 11 hits and matching a career worst in runs allowed. The 26-year-old right-hander is off to a rocky start in his Astros tenure, posting a 6.55 ERA, 1.82 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB over 22 frames, but he'll have an opportunity to turn things around in a favorable home matchup against the Cardinals this weekend.

Kirby (2-2) earned the win Monday against the Astros, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk in 7.2 innings. He struck out six.

Kirby scattered seven singles Monday, pouring in 69 of his season-high 99 pitches for strikes as well. The star right-hander has been very steady for both the Mariners and fantasy managers alike to begin the new year, working at least six innings in each of his first four outings while recording at least six strikeouts in three of them. Kirby sports a 3.25 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over 27.2 frames ahead of his next scheduled matchup versus the division-rival Rangers over the weekend.

Gordon will start for the Astros in Tuesday's series opener against the Rockies in Houston, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros recalled Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday to give the parent club more depth in the rotation due to Hunter Brown (shoulder), Tatsuya Imai (arm) and Cristian Javier (shoulder) all being placed on the injured list this past week. Gordon appeared in 20 games (14 starts) for the Astros in 2025, posting a 6-4 record with a 5.34 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:19 K:BB across 86 innings. He's been sharp in three starts in Triple-A this season and boasts a 1.76 ERA and 0.98 WHIP over 15.1 frames with Sugar Land.

Jansen is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Athletics on Monday.

Jansen will be on the bench for the start of Monday's series opener while Kyle Higashioka serves behind home plate and bats sixth. In eight games since April 1, Jansen has gone 4-for-23 (.174) with two RBI and nine strikeouts.

Langford (quadriceps) is not in the Rangers' starting lineup against the Athletics on Monday.

Langford will be out of the Rangers' lineup for a third consecutive game due to a right quadriceps strain that he sustained during Friday's game against the Dodgers. Ezequiel Duran will start in left field and bat ninth in Monday's series opener.