-
Shintaro Fujinami RP | SEA
Athletics' Shintaro Fujinami: Pummeled in big-league debut
Fujinami (0-1) took the loss against the Angels on Saturday, allowing eight runs on five hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 2.1 innings.
After 10 years pitching in Japan with Nippon Professional Baseball's Hanshin Tigers, Fujinami signed on with the Athletics in January. This probably wasn't how he envisioned his first major-league start going, as the Angels chased him after just 2.1 frames. The right-hander actually looked great over his first two innings, striking out four batters without allowing a baserunner. Things completely unraveled for him in the third, however, as Los Angeles put eight of the first nine batters on base, with the only out being recorded on a sacrifice fly. Fujinami will look for much better results the next time he takes the mound, which is tentatively scheduled to be next Saturday in Tampa.
-
Tucker Davidson RP | PHI
Angels' Tucker Davidson: Earns four-inning save
Davidson picked up a save Saturday against Oakland, hurling four scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three batters.
Davidson will presumably be the Angels' sixth starter the first time the team needs a pitcher to fill that role, but with the Angels getting a day off Friday, the left-hander was tabbed to stretch out in long relief for his season debut. He got through four frames on 41 pitches (25 strikes) and looked good in keeping the Athletics off the scoreboard. Fantasy managers shouldn't read into Davidson's save Saturday as any indication of him jumping into the Angels' unsettled closer situation, so those who roster him for his potential future starts and happened to have him in their lineup this weekend should see this as a happy, but probably one-time, bonus.
-
Lou Trivino RP | PHI
Yankees' Lou Trivino: Throws off mound Friday
Trivino (elbow) was able to throw off a mound Friday, James O'Connell of the New York Daily News reports.
Trivino opened the season on the injured list with a ligament strain in his right elbow. The right-hander is expected to miss most of April while recovering, but it's good news that the former Oakland stopper is able to get on the mound in the early part of the month. Because he missed so much of the spring, it's all but assured that Trivino will have to go on a rehab assignment before returning.
-
Tommy Kahnle RP | BOS
Yankees' Tommy Kahnle: Could start throwing next week
Kahnle (biceps) could start throwing as soon as next week, James O'Connell of the New York Daily News reports.
Kahnle is on the 15-day injured list with tendinitis in his right biceps, and it's a positive sign that he's feeling well enough to possibly start his throwing program in the coming days. He'll likely need a rehab assignment because of his missed time, but if things go well, he could be helping the New York bullpen before the end of April.
-
Hector Neris RP | HOU
Astros' Hector Neris: Earns save in Pressly's absence
Neris picked up the save Saturday against the White Sox, allowing one run on two hits and a walk in 1.1 innings while striking out two.
Ryan Pressly's illness led to a save chance for Rafael Montero on Friday and one for Neris on Saturday. Neris struck out Elvis Andrus to clean up Ryne Stanek's mess in the eighth inning, though he got into trouble himself in the next frame. Yasmani Grandal walked to start the inning and came around to score on a pair of two-out singles, but Neris struck out Yoan Moncada to seal the deal. Neris may not add too many more saves to his ledger the rest of the way, however, as both Pressly and Montero are ahead of him on the closer depth chart.
-
Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Unavailable for save Saturday
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that Duran was unavailable for Saturday's game versus the Royals after "sleeping funny," Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Baldelli said that it was nothing serious, but that's why it was Jorge Lopez who received the save chance for Saturday's game rather than Duran. The talented right-hander will likely to be available going forward, and it appears he's the favorite for save chances to begin -- and likely end -- the 2023 campaign.
-
Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Picks up win versus Baltimore
Jansen (1-0) picked up a win with a scoreless ninth inning against the Orioles on Saturday. He allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two.
Jansen came in to pitch in a game that Boston trailed 8-7, so it was unlikely he was going to factor into the decision. The Red Sox were able to score twice in the bottom of the ninth after his scoreless frame, however, so he got his first win as a member of the club. His first chance for a save with the Red Sox should come soon.
-
Felix Bautista RP | BAL
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Blows save after error
Bautista (0-1) allowed two unearned runs on one hit over two-thirds of an inning and picked up a loss and a blown save Saturday against the Red Sox.
Bautista should have picked up his second save of the season, but Ryan McKenna dropped a flyball with two outs. Adam Duvall took Bautista deep to give Boston the victory. It's disappointing for fantasy managers who roster the hard-throwing 27-year-old to pick up the loss and no save, but the runs being unearned won't hurt his ERA.
-
Aroldis Chapman RP | BOS
Royals' Aroldis Chapman: Strikes out side
Chapman struck out the side in the ninth inning of Saturday's 2-0 loss against Minnesota.
Chapman breezed through the Minnesota lineup and needed just 13 pitches to pick up his three strikeouts. The southpaw was making his debut with the Royals, and it's tough to beat the results the 35-year-old had during Saturday's appearance. Chapman could be in line for saves for Kansas City in the 2023 season, but he has a bit of an undefined role to begin the year.