MLB Player News

Armstrong allowed two runs on two hits and struck out three in 1.1 innings to earn a hold in Wednesday's 6-3 win over Minnesota.

Armstrong got through the seventh inning with little trouble, but he struggled early in the eighth. A Ryan Jeffers triple put a run on Armstrong's line, and Paul Fry allowed an inherited runner to score on a sacrifice fly. With an 8.55 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB in 20 innings, Armstrong continues to see mainly low-leverage work. His hold Wednesday was his first of the year, and he's also been charged with a blown save.

Pressly fired a scoreless ninth inning, allowing two hits while striking out one to earn the save in the win over the Red Sox on Wednesday.

After blowing his first save of the season in his previous outing, Pressly came back Wednesday to record his eight of the campaign. It wasn't perfect, though, with Pressly allowing the tying run to get in scoring position. The 32-year-old has a 2.25 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP with 25 punchouts in 24 innings. He has also done a great job limiting walks, as evidenced by his 1.5 BB/9.

Pivetta (6-1) allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out nine across six innings, taking the loss Wednesday against the Astros.

Pivetta delivered his fourth quality start but took his first loss of the season. The Red Sox offense provided just a single run in support of Pivetta. The 28-year-old leads Boston with six wins and has a 3.77 ERA. He has struck out nine batters in each of his last two starts and carries a 10.3 K/9. He'll look to get back in the win column Monday against the Marlins.

Chapman walked two and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Wednesday against the Rays.

Chapman was called upon to maintain a one-run lead. He walked the first two batters he faced, but then retired three in a row to record his 12th save. Chapman is extremely secure in his role as closer and has also delivered excellent results as he's allowed only one earned run across 22 innings while striking out 42.

Thielbar left Wednesday's game against the Orioles in the seventh inning with a strained groin, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said the team will decide within a day whether they'll place Thielbar on the injured list. Regardless, the lefty will require some time off to recover from the injury, putting further strain on what's been an overworked bullpen of late amidst multiple injuries in the Twins' starting rotation.

Yang has been removed from the starting rotation and will be a reliever going forward, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The lefty's four starts this season have been short and mostly ineffective, and he holds a 5.20 ERA in seven total appearances. Yang will need to drastically improve upon his 1.46 K/BB % if he's to be a viable relief option. Kolby Allard, replacing Yang in the rotation, will start Saturday, likely making Friday a bullpen game for the Rangers.

Santiago, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk over 2.2 innings in a loss to the Athletics on Tuesday. He struck out two.

The veteran right-hander was called on for his Mariners debut after starter Marco Gonzales capped out at 50 pitches in his return from the injured list. Santiago needed a relatively efficient 48 pitches to record his eight outs, but he pitched to plenty of contact while allowing the Athletics to mount a successful comeback. Factoring in Santiago pitched to a bloated 6.68 ERA and 1.90 WHIP with the White Sox and Mets back in 2019 and was then deemed expendable by a team as talent-starved as the Tigers last summer, it's likely he's trusted with nothing more than multi-inning low-leverage scenarios during his time with the big-league club.

Kittredge (5-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on a home run and also issued two walks over 1.2 innings, taking the loss in an extra-innings defeat at the hands of the Yankees on Tuesday.

The right-hander went into the outing with a seven-appearance scoreless streak in tow, but that fell apart when he surrendered a game-winning two-run home run to Clint Frazier in the bottom of the 11th after a shaky 10th frame when he'd navigated around two walks. Kittredge still hasn't been charged with more than one earned run in 19 appearances this season, however, and he sports an impressive 1.38 and 0.92 WHIP across 26 innings.

Brasier (calf) threw Wednesday and will pitch a simulated game Friday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

The righty continues to progress in his recovery from a left calf strain and appears close to beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester. After an inconsistent 2019, Brasier flashed signs of improvement last year and could earn a considerable role in the Red Sox bullpen upon returning.

Harvey (oblique) is expected to be reinstated from the injured list this weekend, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Although manager Brandon Hyde didn't specify which day Harvey will be activated, the right-hander is nearing his 2021 debut after he missed the start of the year due to a strained left oblique. In four appearances (one start) during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk, he's posted a 4.26 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 6.1 innings. Harvey could be in the mix for save chances once he rejoins the major-league bullpen.