MLB Player News

Jansen grabbed his knee during Tuesday's outing, but manager Alex Cora downplayed the issue, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Jansen pitched through the issue to record his 13th save. "Age, man. Age," Cora joked about the 35-year-old. "He's OK. He was getting treatment." Boston's closer was available for Wednesday's game.

Clase picked up the save in Wednesday's 5-2 victory over the Red Sox. He didn't allow a hit while striking out two and walking one during a scoreless inning.

Clase is the first closer to 20 saves this season and sports a 3.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB across 31 appearances (30 innings). The right-hander has blown five save opportunities already, which is one more than he had across 77 appearances last year, but he's converted his past five chances and remains one of the elite ninth-inning options in MLB.

Murphy allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five over 3.1 scoreless relief innings during Wednesday's 5-2 loss to Cleveland.

Murphy, who was a starter in the minors, was called up this week and made his MLB debut. Spot starts could become available if he remains up with the team, but it looks like long relief may be his role for now. It's role that had been handled by Kutter Crawford, who started Wednesday in place of Chris Sale (shoulder).

Kittredge (elbow) has been throwing off a mound for a few weeks and is expected to face hitters soon, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kittredge's rehab from Tommy John surgery appears to have gone swimmingly to this point. The reliever's goal is to return in late July/early August, and he could provide a real boost to the Rays' bullpen after the All-Star break.

Romano picked up the save in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Astros, allowing one hit over a scoreless inning. He recorded one strikeout and didn't issue a walk.

Romano entered with a 3-2 lead and allowed the tying run to reach base before retiring three straight batters, including a strikeout of Kyle Tucker to end the game. The right-hander has converted his last six save opportunities, posting seven strikeouts during that stretch, and is 16-for-19 on the season with a 2.88 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

Blanco did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings against Toronto. He struck out five.

Blanco allowed two solo home runs but completed a season-high six innings en route to his first career quality start. After operating as a reliever over his first 16 appearances at the big-league level, the right-hander has made back-to-back starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land last Thursday. He's been solid in his new role, giving up four runs over 11.1 innings while striking out 10, but he's walked seven batters and surrendered three home runs. So far, the walks and long balls haven't been detrimental to his overall line, but those issues could certainly become worrisome in the future. It's unclear if Blanco will get another start, as the Astros may opt to move back to a five-man rotation with an off day Monday which ends a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.

Criswell was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Criswell went 3.1 scoreless innings in a bulk relief role in Wednesday's win over the Twins, and his reward is a trip back to the minors. He's being replaced on the 26-man active roster by Yonny Chirinos, who was called up from Triple-A to start Thursday's series finale with Minnesota.

Adam (2-1) blew his fourth save of the season but still picked up the win in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over the Twins, giving up a run in the ninth inning on a hit and a walk while also hitting two batters with pitches.

Tampa Bay deployed a bullpen day and kept Minnesota off the board for eight innings, but Adam's control deserted him in the ninth and nearly led to disaster. After he gave up the tying run and loaded the bases with one out, however, the Rays were able to turn a slick 5-4-3 double play to end the threat, setting the stage for Randy Arozarena to walk it off in the bottom of the frame. Adam is now 9-for-12 in converting save chances since the beginning of May, but he'll continue to hold down the fort as the closer until Pete Fairbanks (hip) is able to get healthy -- or the front office swings a deal for high-leverage reinforcements.

Duran (1-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Twins were downed 2-1 by the Rays, failing to record an out and serving up a game-winning solo home run to Randy Arozarena.

The right-hander looked like he might be warming up to handle a save chance, as Minnesota scored its only run of the game in the top of the ninth inning and threatened to add more with the bases loaded and one out. Tampa Bay turned a slick double play to end the rally, however, and Arozarena then drove the second pitch he saw from Duran over the wall in right field. It's the first earned run the Twins' closer has allowed in over a month and the first time he's been taken deep since April 12, and on the season Duran still sits with a stellar 1.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through 23 innings.

Barria allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs on Wednesday.

Barria struggled in the fifth inning, when he allowed both runs and all three hits, but he escaped trouble with a double play. Across his three starts, Barria's allowed three runs, nine hits and four walks with 15 strikeouts in 15 innings. The right-hander has been effective regardless of role with a 1.85 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB through 39 innings through 14 appearances this season. He worked up to 76 pitches (50 strikes) Wednesday, so he's getting closer to a full workload. Barria's projected for a difficult road start in Texas next week.