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Hansel Robles RP | LAD
Red Sox's Hansel Robles: Gets game into extras
Robles allowed a hit and an intentional walk while striking out two over one inning in Friday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Yankees.
Robles entered the game in the ninth inning of a 4-4 game and worked out of a two-on jam by striking out Giancarlo Stanton on three pitches. The pitcher was a late arrival to camp and made just two Grapefruit League appearances before being added to the Opening Day roster. There had been some discussion about leaving him off the roster for a short period of time, but the Red Sox determined he was ready to pitch and, apparently, deserved usage in key situations. Boston manager Alex Cora has not named a closer, but it's clear Robles will be entrusted with important innings.
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Luis Ortiz RP | NYM
Orioles' Luis A. Ortiz: On injured list in Low-A
Oritz (undisclosed) was assigned to Low-A Delmarva on Friday and placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
It's unclear what kind of injury the 19-year-old southpaw is dealing with. Ortiz allowed nine runs with a 17:6 K:BB in 14.2 innings in rookie ball last season.
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Andrew Kittredge RP | BAL
Rays' Andrew Kittredge: Pitches in eighth inning, earns win
Kittredge (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one across a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win Friday against the Orioles.
Kittredge was among the candidates to close out games for the Rays once Pete Fairbanks (lat) was played on the injured list. While his exact usage is likely to fluctuate, Kittredge should serve in a consistent high-leverage role. He entered Friday's game in the eighth inning with the score tied at 1-1. After allowing two runners to reach base, Kittredge ultimately escaped from the jam and was able to earn the win as a result. One frame later Brooks Raley earned a one-out save, though J.P. Feyereisen was on the mound to begin the ninth inning.
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Dillon Tate RP | TOR
Orioles' Dillon Tate: Charged with loss
Tate (0-1) allowed one run and one hit with one strikeout in an inning-plus of relief Friday, taking the loss versus the Rays.
Tate pitched a perfect seventh inning, but he allowed leadoff hitter Wander Franco to reach on a single to begin the eighth. Jorge Lopez then worked into a jam after taking over from Tate, who wound up being charged with the decisive run in the 2-1 loss. Both Tate and Lopez, as well as Paul Fry, are expected to compete for save chances early in the season, though the Orioles aren't expected to generate many late leads. Last season, Tate posted a 4.39 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 49:23 K:BB through 67.2 innings. He went 0-6 with three saves in five chances and seven holds.
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Gregory Soto RP | PIT
Tigers' Gregory Soto: Earns win Friday
Soto (1-0) allowed a run on a hit and a walk in one inning to earn the win over the White Sox on Friday.
Soto entered Friday's matchup with the score tied in the top of the ninth inning, and he gave up the lead via a solo home run with one out. However, he was able to earn the win when the Tigers rallied to score two runs in the bottom half of the frame. The southpaw made a career-high 62 appearances last year and converted 18 of 19 save chances while posting a 3.39 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 63.2 innings. He has decent job security as the Tigers' closer to begin the 2022 campaign.
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Liam Hendriks RP | CHC
White Sox's Liam Hendriks: Struggles on Opening Day
Hendriks (0-1) allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out two in one inning to take the loss in Friday's matchup against Detroit.
Hendriks entered Friday's game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning and remained in the matchup with a one-run lead in the ninth, but he was unable to pick up the save in his 2022 debut. The right-hander allowed a solo home run with one out before giving up a triple and a single to end the game. The 33-year-old's appearance isn't what fantasy managers are accustomed to after Hendriks converted 38 of 44 save chances last year. However, the right-hander remains among the best closers in baseball and has plenty of job security in 2022 after the White Sox traded Craig Kimbrel to the Dodgers.
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Michael King SP | SD
Yankees' Michael King: Picks up Opening Day win
King (1-0) allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk while striking out three in two innings to earn the win Friday against the Red Sox.
King entered Friday's matchup in the 10th inning and allowed the runner on second base to come across, but he remained in the game after the Yankees tied it up in the bottom half of the inning. He struck out two of the three batters he faced in the top of the 11th and was rewarded with his fourth career win. In spite of Friday's outing, the 26-year-old is expected to serve mainly in low-leverage situations in 2022.
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Emilio Pagan RP | CIN
Twins' Emilio Pagan: Part of closer committee
Pagan will be part of a closer committee that could include Joe Smith, Tyler Duffey, Caleb Thielbar, Jorge Alcala and Danny Coulombe, manager Rocco Baldelli told the St. Paul Pioneer Press. "It's not a situation where we're just going to fill that role with someone and say, 'That's how it's going to work,' " Baldelli said. "We will use the quality arms in the back end of our 'pen to match up, try to put them in position to get outs."
Baldelli is likely still sorting out his bullpen after the trade of Taylor Rogers to San Diego, so he could narrow down his options to finish games early in the season. Pagan figures to be one of his first choices, but Baldelli has ignored traditional closer patterns in managing his bullpen. Still, if Pagan starts strong with the Twins he should see consistent high-leverage work.
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Jhoan Duran RP | PHI
Twins' Jhoan Duran: Electric in MLB debut
Duran threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts and a walk in his MLB debut in Friday's loss to Seattle. He reached 100 mph with his fastball on six pitches. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said he plans to use Duran in the middle innings while he adjusts to the majors, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Duran gave up hits to the first two batters he faced and then struck out the side in his first inning. The 24-year-old entered the game in the fifth inning and may be used in similar lower-leverage situations in the short term, but given his dominant arsenal he could be closing games before too long.
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Brooks Raley RP | PHI
Rays' Brooks Raley: Notches one-out save
Raley struck out the only batter he faced and earned a save over the Orioles on Friday.
J.P. Feyereisen was lifted from the game after coughing up a two-out single to Rougned Odor in the ninth inning. Raley took over and fanned Cedric Mullins on six pitches to secure the 2-1 victory. The 33-year-old southpaw posted a 1.93 ERA in four spring appearances and it looks like he'll be part of the Rays' late-inning mix to start the 2022 campaign.