MLB Player News

The Rays optioned Williams to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Williams went just 3-for-23 with a 1:9 BB:K at the plate through his first seven games this season and has an untenable 40.5 percent strikeout rate so far at the major-league level. With Taylor Walls (oblique) returning from the injured list, the Rays will give Williams some additional seasoning in the minors.

Sandoval (elbow) did not make his scheduled rehab start for Double-A Portland on Sunday, because the game was postponed due to weather, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. The left-hander will now start Wednesday for Triple-A Worcester.

Sandoval is returning from an internal brace procedure that he underwent in 2024 and prevented him from pitching in 2025. The Red Sox will eventually need to decide on a role for Sandoval. Connolly Early is currently the fifth member of the team's rotation, and it's possible that Sandoval works as a long reliever.

Alonso went 1-for-4 with an RBI double Sunday in the Orioles' 8-2 loss to the PIrates.

After leaving the Mets over the winter and joining the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal, Alonso has gotten off to a slow start to his time in Baltimore. The veteran first baseman has struck out at a career-worst 33.3 percent clip through his first nine games, which has played a large part in limiting the career .253 hitter to a .229 batting average thus far. The low average would be more palatable if Alonso were hitting for power, but his double in Sunday's game was just his second extra-base hit of the campaign. Alonso's average exit velocity and hard-hit rate place him in the 93rd and 90th percentile, respectively, of all players in the early going, so fantasy managers should have some hope that the five-time All-Star eventually turns things around.

Carpenter went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Cardinals.

Carpenter stayed hot at the plate, launching his second home run of the season, a 425-foot two-run shot off Kyle Leahy to put Detroit on the board. After driving in just one run over his first seven games, the 28-year-old has now homered in back-to-back contests and has five RBI in those two games. Despite the recent surge, Carpenter is still slashing just .194/.297/.387 with a 5:15 BB:K, leaving room for improvement as the season progresses.

Montero (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out three over 4.1 innings.

Making his first start of the season in place of Justin Verlander (hip), Montero was sharp early, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and holding St. Louis scoreless through four innings. The right-hander ran into trouble in the fifth however, allowing three baserunners, including an RBI single from Pedro Pages that ended his outing. Both inherited runners eventually came around to score, accounting for his final line. Sunday's strong start was an encouraging sign for Montero after he posted a 4.37 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 72 strikeouts across 90.2 innings in 2025 and he'll look to build on the early success in his next outing against a Miami lineup that has started the season swinging well.

Young went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run, a walk and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-7 extra-innings loss against the Angels.

Young delivered a huge swing, blasting a three-run homer in the fifth inning off Brent Suter to give Seattle the lead. It was the 22-year-old's second home run of the season, and he now has eight RBI through the early stretch. After managing just four long balls and 24 RBI across 257 plate appearances last year, Young's power has been an encouraging development early. The second baseman has been a steady presence at the plate, going 10-for-36 while recording a hit in eight of his first 10 games, showing consistency early in his second season at the major-league level.

Bachman blew the save Sunday against the Mariners, allowing one run on two hits while striking out two over two innings.

Bachman entered in the eighth inning with a one-run lead and was dominant early, retiring the side on just seven pitches before returning for the ninth. The right-hander was one out away from securing the save but allowed Seattle to rally with back-to-back hits that brought in the tying run. It marked the first earned run Bachman's allowed this season across four appearances (5.2 innings), but he's now blown all three save opportunities since being recalled in July of last year.

Brash blew the save Sunday against the Angels, allowing one unearned run while striking out one in one inning.

After entering the 10th inning with a one-run lead, Brash was charged with a blown save in his first opportunity of the season, as the Angels capitalized on the extra-innings automatic runner. Following a successful bunt that moved the runner over, Logan O'Hoppe lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home the tying run. The 27-year-old has yet to allow an earned run this season and has recorded four strikeouts across his first four appearances, and though the blown save Sunday won't look good on his stat sheet, it's hardly a concern given how the run against him came about.

Klassen didn't factor into the decision, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks while striking out four over 2.2 innings Sunday against the Mariners.

Making the start on short notice, Klassen's debut was a mixed bag, with him flashing electric stuff but struggling with command and exiting early. The 24-year-old picked up his first career strikeout in a big spot, fanning Julio Rodriguez with a runner on third to escape the first inning. However, Seattle's patience forced him into a long second inning, where he allowed a two-run single before limiting further damage with another punchout. The right-hander's outing ended in the third after a bunt single and wild pitch put another runner in scoring position. Klassen's fastball (97-98 mph) and hard slider (92 mph) highlight his upside, but sharper control will be necessary for him to stick in a starting role anytime soon.

Baker (1-0) was credited with the win Sunday against the Twins, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.

The Rays have a pretty wide open closer competition during the early going of the season. Griffin Jax has an 11.25 ERA through his first four innings, while both Garrett Cleavinger (calf) and Edwin Uceta (shoulder) are on the injured list. That said, the door is open for Baker, who has tossed three scoreless innings with a 4:0 K:BB thus far, to at least claim more high-leverage work.