MLB Player News

Swanson (1-1) took the loss against the Red Sox on Tuesday, striking out one and allowing a solo home run in the eighth inning.

Connor Wong lofted the fourth pitch Swanson threw over the Green Monster for what proved to be the game-winning run. The long ball snapped an eight-appearance scoreless streak for the right-hander, and overall the former Mariner has been exactly as advertised in a setup role for the Blue Jays, posting a 1.84 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB through 14.2 innings with eight holds. Should Jordan Romano be unavailable at some point, Swanson seems the most likely candidate to step in and handle ninth-inning duties.

King will soon be available to pitch more frequently and in shorter bursts, Andy Martino of SNY.tv reports.

The Yankees have been careful with King's usage so far this season after a fractured pitching elbow ended his 2022 campaign. However, his arm has bounced back well and he has pitched his way into being one of manager Aaron Boone's most trusted relievers. King picked up a 1.2-inning save Tuesday versus the Guardians and, with Clay Holmes struggling, could be asked to shoulder more of the closing load.

May (personal) was credited with a hold in Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Sacramento on Tuesday, firing a scoreless sixth inning in which he allowed a hit and issued a walk.

May fired 17 pitches overall while working around some minor trouble. The veteran right-hander, who'd struggled to a 12.00 ERA and 3.17 WHIP across six innings with the Athletics before being placed on the injured list with anxiety-related issues, may be given at least a couple more opportunities to reset himself with the Aviators before being deemed ready to return to the big-league club.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed Wednesday that Will Smith rather than Leclerc will see the majority of the team's save opportunities moving forward, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Bochy's pronouncement comes after Leclerc was bypassed for the save opportunity in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Diamondbacks in favor of Smith, who recorded the game's final four outs en route to notching his fourth save in as many chances. Leclerc and Smith had opened the season in something of a closing committee, and despite posting a strong 0.93 ERA and 1.14 WHIP through his first 10 appearances of the season, Leclerc's 18.4 percent walk rate didn't bode well for his chances of avoiding a blowup somewhere down the line. Until Leclerc shows he can throw strikes with more consistency, Smith looks like he'll maintain a firm grip on the closer's gig.

Smith will receive the bulk of the save opportunities for the Rangers moving forward, manager Bruce Bochy told Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday.

Smith collected his team-leading fourth save Tuesday in the Rangers' win over the Diamondbacks. He's recorded each of the club's last three saves to emerge as Bochy's clear lead option. Jose Leclerc entered the season seemingly at the top of the pecking order, and while he has a 0.93 ERA, his velocity has been down and he's walked seven in 9.2 innings.

Karinchak (0-4) allowed a run on two hits and a walk with one strikeout in 1.1 innings, taking the loss and a blown save Tuesday versus the Yankees.

Karinchak relieved starter Tanner Bibee with one out in the sixth inning and promptly allowed an inherited runner to score on Anthony Rizzo's single. Willie Calhoun added a one-out solo home run in the seventh, putting the Yankees ahead and saddling Karinchak with his fourth loss in 16 appearances. The right-handed reliever has given up six runs over 7.1 innings in his last seven appearances, and he now has a poor 5.87 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB through 15.1 innings overall. To make matters worse, Karinchak's got a 6.89 FIP and .212 BABIP, which suggests that he's not a victim of bad luck here. He may be at risk of losing a high-leverage role once Sam Hentges (shoulder) is ready to return.

Double-A New Hampshire reinstated Danner (forearm) from its 7-day injured list Wednesday.

The 24-year-old reliever was sidelined for just under a month to begin the season due to right forearm inflammation. He received the green light to join New Hampshire after he made a pair of one-inning rehab appearances at Single-A Dunedin, striking out five while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks.

White was called up from Triple-A Toledo ahead of the Tigers' doubleheader with the Mets on Wednesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

White will serve as an additional bullpen arm Wednesday, operating as Detroit's 27th man on the roster. The right-hander has produced a 2.08 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 13 innings in nine appearances with Toledo this season. White will likely be returned to Triple-A following Wednesday's action, though his minor-league numbers may warrant a longer look at the big-league level down the road.

King walked one and struck out three over 1.2 scoreless innings to record his second save of the season in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Guardians.

Clay Holmes blew his second save of the year Monday, opening the door for King to collect a save in his second straight appearance. Yankees manager Aaron Boone gave Holmes the dreaded vote of confidence after Monday's performance, but King is making a strong push for more save opportunities with a 1.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB through 17.1 innings. The 27-year-old right-hander has recorded at least four outs in each of his nine appearances to begin the season, so even if Holmes' grip on the closer role slips further, King could still find himself in a high-leverage fireman role rather than limited to the ninth inning.

Winckowski allowed one hit over a scoreless inning to pick up the save in Tuesday's 7-6 win over Toronto.

The Red Sox were working with a short bullpen Tuesday. Kenley Jansen (back spasms) was unavailable, Kutter Crawford threw four innings Friday, Chris Martin was just off the injured list and wasn't going to be used on back-to-back nights, and Brennan Bernardino had pitched three days in a row. As such, manager Alex Cora turned to Winckowski to close out the game. He recorded the save on seven pitches, which was needed after the right-hander threw 30 pitches to record a win the night before. It was the first save in the majors for Winckowski, who was used mostly as a starter in the minors and majors until assuming a multi-inning relief role for Boston in 2023.