MLB Player News

Manager Tony La Russa said Sunday that Lopez will work out of the bullpen for the time being, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Vince Velasquez is Chicago's No. 5 starter to open the campaign with Lance Lynn (knee) out, and Lopez will remain in relief for now despite the fact Lucas Giolito is headed to the injured list after suffering an abdominal strain Opening Day. Lopez is likely to receive some starts at some point this season, but they apparently won't be coming in the immediate future.

Quijada was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strained right oblique. The move is retroactive to April 8.

Quijada apparently picked up the injury Opening Day against the Astros when he retired the only batter he faced on two pitches. It's unclear how long the left-hander will be sidelined, but he'll be eligible to return from the injured list April 18.

Bazardo was outrighted to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Bazardo was designated for assignment on Opening Day to make room on the 40-man roster for Travis Shaw. Bazardo made his big-league debut in 2020 with Boston and threw three shutout innings.

Iglesias earned the save Saturday against the Astros after tossing a scoreless inning, striking out one.

Iglesias was almost perfect when called upon for duty, as he tossed seven of his eight pitches for strikes and got the job done quickly to protect Los Angeles' two-run lead in the top of the ninth. Iglesias has posted an ERA below the 2.75 threshold in each of the last two seasons and is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded 34 saves while posting a 2.57 ERA.

Munoz was credited with the win in a victory over the Twins on Saturday despite allowing two earned runs on a hit and a walk over one inning. He struck out two.

Munoz yielded a leadoff walk to Nick Gordon in the eighth inning before surrendering a go-ahead two-run home run to Byron Buxton. The flamethrowing right-hander settled down after that, retiring Luis Arraez, Carlos Correa and Jorge Polanco in order, the latter two on swinging strikes. His ability to limit the damage would prove critical, as the Mariners were able to mount their own rally in the ninth that would lead to the one-run win. Munoz's ability to focus following his rocky start is likely to help build trust with manager Scott Servais with respect to additional higher-leverage assignments early in the season.

Puk fired a scoreless seventh inning in a loss to the Phillies on Saturday, allowing a walk and recording two strikeouts.

Puk threw 20 pitches during his one frame, and he labored a bit while getting just 11 of 20 pitches into the strike zone. However, the left-hander escaped unscathed, certainly a welcome start to his season after a spring in which he produced a 6.52 ERA across six appearances. Puk will likely continue to draw mostly low-leverage assignments until and unless he can prove trustworthy over an extended period.

Clase (0-1) allowed an unearned run on two hits without recording an out, taking the extra-inning loss Saturday versus the Royals.

Clase wasn't able to navigate the automatic runner in the 10th inning, allowing back-to-back singles to Hunter Dozier and Adalberto Mondesi. It's a tough result to open the season for Clase, but there's little reason to be worried yet. The right-hander posted a stellar 1.29 ERA and 0.96 WHIP while converting 24 saves in 69.2 innings last season, and he'll continue to get looks in high-leverage spots. It'll take more than one rough outing for his closer status to be in danger.

Snider (1-0) allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the win Saturday versus the Guardians.

Snider was tasked with the 10th inning Saturday, and he did his part. He collected the win as Adalberto Mondesi knocked in the lone run in the bottom half of the frame. Saturday was Snider's major-league debut -- he's expected to work out of the bullpen in a multi-inning role after primarily rising through the minors as a reliever.

Chafin (groin) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Chafin suffered a groin strain late in spring training, though he is reportedly feeling much healthier. He may need to go on a rehab outing prior to being activated given that he was able to throw only two exhibition innings before suffering the injury.

Luetge (1-0) was credited with the win over Boston on Saturday, pitching a scoreless inning during which he walked one and struck out two batters.

The southpaw entered the contest with the score tied in the sixth inning and retired Boston on 16 pitches. He earned his first win of the campaign when the Yankees scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Luetge figures to be a key middle-relief arm for New York this season after posting a 2.74 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 78:15 K:BB across 72.1 innings in 2021.