MLB Player News

Thornton was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Thornton was part of the Blue Jays' Opening Day bullpen, and he posted a 3.52 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 15.1 innings over 10 relief appearances. However, he'll head to the minors after Hyun Jin Ryu (forearm) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.

Oller was recalled by the Athletics to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels.

Oller's call-up was expected, as the right-hander will start in the second game of the twin bill. He struggled in his first three major-league starts this year, posting an 11.17 ERA and 2.38 WHIP in 9.2 innings.

Reyes was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Reyes made his major-league debut Friday against the Tigers and struck out two in two scoreless innings. However, he'll head back to the minors after Ryan McKenna was recalled by the Orioles on Saturday.

Manager A.J. Hinch said after Soto was pulled from a save situation Friday that Soto "will pitch the ninth tomorrow with the lead," Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Soto's hold on the ninth-inning job is slipping. He has had little command of his pitches lately, and Friday was no different as he plunked two batters and walked another before getting the hook. Soto has handed out four free passes in his last 1.1 innings, and if the hard-throwing lefty can't rein it in, the Tigers could eventually turn to Will Vest -- who got the save Friday -- or Michael Fulmer for save opportunities.

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.