MLB Player News

Soto retired just one batter in Friday's win over the Orioles, and he hit two others and issued a walk, but was also credited with his first hold of the season.

Soto was brought on in the top of the ninth inning in a save situation with the Tigers up 4-2, but the lefty struggled with his control right away. He hit the first two batters he faced before recording a strikeout. Soto then walked the bases loaded with one out, and manager A.J. Hinch turned to Will Vest, who struck out the next two batters to end the game. That left Soto with his first hold of the season, though he clearly didn't pitch well. He now has a 3.86 ERA and 1.71 WHIP for the season, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Tigers turn to someone like Vest or Michael Fulmer for future save opportunities.

Pressly allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning Friday against the Nationals.

Pressly pitched in his familiar ninth-inning role, though it wasn't in a save situation. Even so, it was positive to see him turn in a scoreless effort, his second in three appearances since he was activated from the injured list. Pressly has maintained the closer role in Houston to this point, though he'll need to be effective as Rafael Montero has pitched very well to begin the campaign.

Adam struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his first career save in a 5-2 win over the Blue Jays.

Andrew Kittredge, who wound up getting the win, and Brooks Raley both worked in the eighth inning, and manager Kevin Cash chose Adam to handle the ninth against the middle of the Toronto order. The 30-year-old needed 17 pitches (nine strikes), but he got the job done. Adam has been sharp this season while primarily working in middle relief, adding two holds to his save over 14 appearances with a 1.26 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB through 14.1 innings.

The Twins will call up Smeltzer from Triple-A St. Paul to start Saturday's game against the Guardians in Minnesota, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

He'll be making his first MLB start since Aug. 7, 2020, after he was sidelined for the majority of the 2021 campaign with an elbow injury. The Twins outrighted Smeltzer off the 40-man roster in November, but he stuck around in the organization and reported to St. Paul coming out of spring training. In his five starts for St. Paul this season, Smeltzer has turned in a 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 18:6 K:BB in 21 innings. Smeltzer will likely head back to the minors following Saturday's start, as the Twins should get one or both of Dylan Bundy (illness) and Bailey Ober (groin) back from the injured list next week.

Vest struck out both batters he faced to record his first career save in Friday's 4-2 win over the Orioles.

Gregory Soto got the call to begin the ninth inning and protect a two-run lead, but after he hit two batters and walked another around a strikeout, manager A.J. Hinch decided to turn things over to Vest with a stretch of right-handed batters due up for Baltimore. Despite having not pitched with a lead all season, the 26-year-old coolly got Ramon Urias and Rylan Bannon to flail away at sliders to secure the save. Vest has been something of a revelation in the Tigers' bullpen so far in 2022, posting a 1.17 ERA, 0.46 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB through 15.1 innings, and he appears to have earned a high-leverage role -- one which could result in more save chances given Soto's struggles so far.

Sborz allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 7-1 loss to the Red Sox.

Sborz made his first appearance since coming off the injured list, mopping up a lopsided loss. The right-hander, who appeared in 63 games for the Rangers in 2021, projects to be a low-leverage arm out of the bullpen, but that could change.

Staumont has allowed two runs in his last 3.2 innings.

Staumont has seen inconsistency creep into his pitching since late April -- he's allowed runs in four of his last seven outings. Two of those instances resulted in blown saves, which has allowed Scott Barlow to reclaim a stronger grip on the closer role. Staumont has a 4.26 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB while adding two saves and a hold through 12.2 innings this season.

Coleman (1-1) earned the win Friday versus the Rockies. He walked two in a scoreless inning.

Coleman successfully navigated Coors Field after starter Zack Greinke came up one out short of qualifying for the win. In his last four outings, Coleman has allowed one hit and four walks with five strikeouts over five scoreless innings. He's posted a 2.19 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 16:11 K:BB and a hold through 14 appearances this season, mainly in a low-leverage role.

Barlow saved Friday's 14-10 victory over the Rockies on Friday, striking out one in 1.1 innings.

Barlow earned his keep in the eighth inning when he induced a Brendan Rodgers flyout with the bases loaded and retired the side in order in the ninth to lock down his third save. Manager Mike Matheny notably had to pull co-closer Josh Staumont in the eighth after he loaded the bases. Barlow has received the last four Kansas City save chances. He now owns a 1.23 ERA and 0.99 WHIP through 14.2 innings.

Iglesias saved Friday's 2-0 win against the Athletics, striking out one in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Iglesias was tasked with protecting a 2-0 lead and retired the Athletics in order on 13 pitches. Aside from a hiccup May 1, the 32-year-old has gone 10 outings and 9.1 innings without surrendering a run and boasts a 2.13 ERA and 0.71 WHIP.