MLB Player News

Barlow picked up the save after retiring the side in order in a 3-0 win Tuesday over Tampa Bay.

Barlow needed only nine pitches to close out the game. He is now 9-for-9 in save opportunities on the season with a minuscule 1.56 ERA. The righty capped off an excellent month of May, having allowed one earned run in 12 innings.

Fulmer pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in the Tigers' 4-0 win in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins.

It wasn't a save situation, but Fulmer still effectively shut the door on Minnesota, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side. The righty is behind Gregory Soto in the pecking order for saves at the moment, though he's pitched well with a 2.89 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 18.2 innings this season. Fulmer did have 14 saves a season ago, so it's possible he gets a look in the closer role at some point if Soto stumbles, though the latter has also looked good with a 2.16 ERA and nine saves in 10 chances.

Yarbrough (0-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two hit batsmen while striking out three over 6.2 innings in Texas.

Yarbrough gave up three runs in the fourth inning on homers by Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia. He nearly completed the seventh inning but hit a batter and allowed a bunt single with two outs before being removed. It was his longest outing of the season by more than an inning. While the lefty has demonstrated good control over his career, walking 2.0 batters per nine innings, he has plunked five batters in 27 innings this season after leading the league in hit batsmen two seasons ago.

Baker (1-3) was charged with the loss Tuesday after he pitched 1.1 innings, surrendering three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out a batter against the Mariners.

Baker was tasked with starting Tuesday's contest in what was a bullpen game. He gave up an RBI double in the first inning and two more runs in the second while only recording one out. The three runs surrendered were a season high for the reliever and he has now allowed at least one run in four of his last five appearances. Since May 20, Baker has given up six runs on 10 hits and three walks over 6.2 frames. He'll return to his regular role as a bullpen option following the loss Tuesday.

Saucedo (hip) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Saucedo has been on the 10-day injured list since April 30 due to right hip discomfort, so he'll likely need to complete a minor-league rehab assignment before the Blue Jays activate him. The southpaw is projected to fill a low-leverage role out of the bullpen whenever he's deemed fit to rejoin the Blue Jays.

Mayza (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Based on how Mayza looks during the side session, the Blue Jays will decide whether he needs a brief minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the 15-day injured list. Prior to landing on the shelf with left forearm inflammation, Mayza had emerged as the top setup man for closer Jordan Romano. Over his 15 appearances covering 13 innings, Mayza collected two wins and seven holds and turned in a 2.08 ERA.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Tuesday that Pearson (illness) will shift his rehab assignment from Single-A Dunedin to Triple-A Buffalo, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pearson will move up to the Jays' top affiliate after he struck out a batter and allowed one run on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings in his lone rehab outing for Dunedin. Montoyo noted that he envisions Pearson serving as a multi-inning relief option upon his return from the 10-day injured list, though the 25-year-old right-hander will have to earn his spot with the big club by performing well in Buffalo during his assignment. Pearson has two minor-league options remaining, so the Blue Jays could choose to keep him at Triple-A if there's not a spot for him in the big-league bullpen once his rehab window ends.

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre placed Garcia (finger) on its 7-day injured list Tuesday, Conor Foley of The Scranton Times-Tribune reports.

Garcia was deactivated after he lost feeling in his fingers during his most recent start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday. The right-hander could be dealing with some sort of nerve injury, but the Yankees haven't provided a firm diagnosis at this stage. Once one of the more promising pitching prospects in the organization, Garcia's star has dimmed considerably since he first reached the big leagues in 2020. He's turned in a 10.38 ERA, 2.26 WHIP and 18:16 K:BB across 21.2 innings over his seven starts at Triple-A this season.

Chapman (Achilles) was cleared to resume playing catch Tuesday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

The activity marks the first notable step forward in the recovery process for Chapman since he was placed on the 15-day injured list a week ago due to left Achilles tendinitis. The Yankees have yet to announce a timeline for Chapman's return, but based on his limited activity to date, he seems unlikely to be activated when first eligible June 7.

Strahm was cleared to rejoin the Red Sox on Tuesday, but he wasn't activated from the COVID-19-related injured list prior to the team's series opener with the Reds, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.

Strahm was placed on the COVID-19 IL on Monday, but his presence in the clubhouse a day later suggests he was deactivated as a precaution and never actually contracted the virus. The 30-year-old lefty has handled a more important role out of the bullpen than expected this season, so the Red Sox are unlikely to delay activating him by more than another day or two if there aren't any concerns about his health.