MLB Player News

Varland collected the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Angels, needing just one pitch to collect the final two outs of the ninth inning.

Jeff Hoffman got the call to protect the team's 4-1 lead in the ninth. However, Hoffman's control was all over the place, as he hit two batters and gave up two hits, allowing one run while recording just one out. That prompted Blue Jays manager John Schneider to quickly turn to Varland to get out of a bases-loaded jam, and the right-hander saved the day on just one pitch by getting Nolan Schanuel to ground out into a double play. It was the first save of Varland's career, and the 28-year-old has yet to give up an earned run across 12.2 innings this season. It appears Hoffman's grip on the Blue Jays' closing job is slipping.

Pederson went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-1 win over Pittsburgh.

Pederson, who opened the season hitless over his first 16 at-bats, has seen his average slowly climb since. He's hit safely in 10 of the subsequent 15 games, going 12-for-37 (.324) to raise his season average to .235. Despite the hitting surge, it hasn't improved Pederson's run production. He has just two extra-base hits and three RBI over 21 games.

Garcia went 4-for-5 with a double, a stolen base, three RBI and one run scored in Tuesday's 11-4 win over Atlanta.

Garcia had a total of four hits in his previous 13 games combined, so Tuesday's performance was a big boon to his batting average. After recording multiple hits in three of the Nationals' first eight games, Garcia had been just 5-for-43 (.116) at the plate over the last 14 games prior to Tuesday's season-high four hits. Garcia is now slashing .247/.284/.364 with one home run, 15 RBI, 10 runs scored, two stolen bases and a 4:12 BB:K across 81 trips to the plate.

Wood went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, four walks and three runs scored in Tuesday's 11-4 win over Atlanta.

Wood led off the first inning with a walk, and Atlanta starter Reynaldo Lopez eventually needed 46 pitches to record his first three outs. Wood then tagged Lopez for a leadoff homer in the second inning. Perhaps most impressively, Wood didn't strike out Tuesday, marking just the third time he's accomplished that in a game this season, as he entered play with a league-high 36 punchouts. The 23-year-old is now slashing .242/.390/.558 with eight homers, 18 RBI, 23 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 21:36 BB:K across 118 plate appearances. Wood has drawn multiple walks in six of 24 games and has reached base safely in 20 of 24 contests.

The Red Sox will option Anderson to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Anderson has made three appearances since being called up from Worcester on April 14, giving up three earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six batters over eight innings. Despite his encouraging performance, he'll be sent back to the minors in favor of Eduardo Rivera, who will presumably replace Anderson as a long-relief option.

Lee was removed from Tuesday's game against the Dodgers with an apparent leg injury, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Lee was slow to get up after sliding awkwardly on his left leg while getting thrown out at home plate in the sixth inning, and the Giants made to call to take him out of the game in the eighth. Manager Tony Vitello said after the game that Lee has been a bit banged up recently by a series of hard slides, so he was removed as a precaution, per Pavlovic. If he ends up having to miss a start, Will Brennan or Jerar Encarnacion would be next in line to start in right field.

McLean did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Twins, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out 10 over 6.2 innings.

McLean was electric to start the day, retiring the first 15 batters he faced while racking up eight strikeouts through five perfect innings. However, his no-hit bid was broken up by Matt Wallner to lead off the sixth, and things quickly unraveled from there as Byron Buxton launched a two-run homer later in the inning. After returning for the seventh, McLean allowed back-to-back hits that tied the game and ended his outing. Despite the late fade, the right-hander recorded his third consecutive quality start Tuesday and has now recorded eight or more strikeouts in four of his five starts. McLean holds a 2.67 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 38:8 K:BB across 30.1 innings this season and is set up for a home start against Colorado in his next outing.

Smith batted ninth and went 1-for-2 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Pirates.

Smith has always hit out of the lower half of the order, but Tuesday marked his first time at the very bottom of the order. He's earned that low spot. Smith entered the contest slashing .185/.284/.200 with one extra-base hit and five RBI over 74 plate appearances.

Griffin (3-0) earned the win Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk with three strikeouts across six innings.

After pitching the previous three seasons in Japan, Griffin has been a success story early in the season for the Nationals. He's gone at least five innings in all five starts, and Washington has now won four of those contests. The lefty doesn't throw hard or possess swing-and-miss stuff, but he keeps hitters off balance with a seven-pitch mix. Griffin now owns a 3.38 ERA and 22:8 K:BB across 26.2 innings.

The Red Sox are expected to select Rivera's contract from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Rivera reported to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, but he's now set to join the big-league roster before ever making an appearance with the WooSox. The 22-year-old has allowed just one earned run while compiling a 16:3 K:BB over 10 innings (two starts) at Double-A Portland. The Red Sox have an opening in their rotation, but they could limit Rivera to long-relief duty while he's in the majors.