MLB Player News

Lauer is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in Toronto, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Lauer had been banished to the bullpen last week after logging a 6.75 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 22.2 innings over his first five appearances (four starts) on the season, but he'll get another look in the rotation after the Blue Jays lost Max Scherzer (forearm/ankle) to the injured list Monday. The southpaw's upcoming run in the rotation could be brief, as Jose Berrios (elbow) has already made three rehab starts and may be ready to return from the IL the next time Toronto requires a fifth starter.

Helsley worked a perfect ninth inning Tuesday without striking anyone out to record his seventh save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Astros.

Two flyouts and a failed bunt attempt by Jose Altuve got the job done for Helsley, who's a perfect 7-for-7 in converting save chances to begin the year. The right-hander appears to have put last season's troubles with the Mets mostly behind him, and through 10.2 innings for the Orioles he's delivered a 2.53 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB.

Baz (1-2) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings in the Orioles' 5-3 victory over the Astros. He struck out six.

A solo shot by Brice Matthews in the fifth inning was the only blemish on Baz's line, and he got the hook after 98 pitches (65 strikes), just short of his first quality start of the season. The right-hander has provided Baltimore with at least five innings in all six of his trips to the mound, but length has been about the only area of consistency for the former Ray. Baz will take a 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 29:11 K:BB through 34 innings into his next start, which is set to come on the road this weekend in Yankee Stadium.

Matthews went 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Orioles.

Getting another start in center field and batting ninth, Matthews launched a solo homer off Shane Baz in the fifth inning to get Houston on the board, and give the converted second baseman his second long ball of 2026. The performance snapped an 0-for-10 skid for the 24-year-old, but since becoming a regular member of an injury-thinned outfield back on April 20, Matthews is batting .300 (6-for-20) with three doubles, a homer, a steal, three runs and four RBI.

Teng (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Astros fell 5-3 to the Orioles, giving up two runs on five hits over three innings. He struck out two.

Kicking off a bullpen day for Houston, Teng lasted a season-high 42 pitches (30 strikes) before being lifted, with Ryan Weiss piggybacking him for another 3.2 frames. Teng has provided useful innings so far on a patchwork staff, posting a 2.75 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB over 19.2 innings in 12 appearances (one start), but his current role doesn't carry a lot of fantasy utility -- the 27-year-old right-hander has one win and one hold in that span. If the Teng/Weiss tandem takes another turn in the rotation, it lines up to come on the road this weekend in Boston. If the Astros look to Triple-A Sugar Land instead for a starter, Miguel Ullola would be on turn and threw 5.1 innings Tuesday, albeit with a 5:4 K:BB.

Bibee (0-4) was stuck with the loss Tuesday as the Guardians fell 1-0 to the Rays, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander tossed an inefficient 93 pitches (59 strikes) before being lifted, but Bibee kept the damage to a minimum. While he's winless on the season, his record owes more to a lack of run support than his own performance -- Cleveland has averaged a meager 2.0 runs per game in his seven starts and has been shut out in his last two trips to the mound. Bibee will take a 4.08 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 32:14 K:BB through 35.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Kansas City.

Simpson went 1-for-4 with a walk, a double and a stolen base in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Guardians.

The speedster did his best to set the table from the leadoff spot in a tight pitchers' duel, but Simpson didn't get cashed in either time he got into scoring position. The 10 steals have him tied for third in the American League with Bobby Witt, behind Jose Caballero's 12 and Jose Ramirez's 11, and Simpson's added a .307/.344/.351 slash line with six RBI and 14 runs in 29 games.

Sulser gave up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his first save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Guardians. He struck out two.

Bryan Baker had pitched the prior two days and three of the last four, so Tampa Bay's closer got a breather while Sulser handled the ninth in his place. The 36-year-old righty delivered his sixth straight scoreless appearance, and the save was his first since 2022 when he was a member of the Marlins. Sulser has moved into a high-leverage role in an injury-shortened Rays bullpen, picking up holds in his last two appearances coming into Tuesday, but his 3.24 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 13:8 K:BB through 16.2 innings on the season don't inspire a lot of confidence.

Martinez (2-1) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing three hits and a walk over seven-plus scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory over the Guardians. He struck out four.

The right-hander's bid for a complete game ended after 78 pitches (54 strikes) when he walked Travis Bazzana to lead off the eighth inning, but three Tampa Bay relievers teamed up to complete the combined shutout. Martinez has four quality starts in six trips to the mound to begin the season, and he has yet to give up more than two runs in any outing. He'll take a 1.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 24:9 K:BB through 37 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Blue Jays.

Tolle's fastball averaged 95 mph in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays, a drop from 97.1 during last Thursday's outing, Zack Worden of MLB.com reports.

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy downplayed the drop in velocity, noting that Tolle had extended time between outings when the left-hander started against the Yankees last Thursday. "Keep in mind that he had 10 days off [before throwing against the Yankees], and he went to 93 pitches," Tracy said. "So we knew that, and it was still 95 [mph], mostly. So, it wasn't like he was soft-tossing." With Sonny Gray (hamstring) beginning to throw off a mound Monday, Tolle's time in the rotation could come to a close soon. He should be able to fit in at least one more start, and maybe more if struggling starter Brayan Bello doesn't right his ship when he pitches the series finale Wednesday.