MLB Player News

Rodriguez struck out three while allowing two hits and one walk in two innings Friday against the White Sox.

This was the big-league debut for one of the Angels' top pitching prospects. Rodriguez made Yoan Moncada and Adam Eaton look silly with a couple of his punchouts and got an assist from Max Stassi with a good frame job on his other strikeout. Rodriguez could turn into the team's top multi-inning reliever this season, as they look to extract value from him at the big-league level. Ideally he will return to being developed as a starting pitcher next year, but that aspect of his development is a little murky at the moment.

Pressly worked a scoreless ninth inning, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out one in a 9-5 win over Oakland.

For the second straight game to start the season, the potent Houston offense turned a close game into a non-save situation. Pressly didn't enter Thursday's game but got work in Friday.

Abreu (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one over 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win over Oakland on Friday.

Abreu entered for starter Cristian Javier, who labored through 38 pitches in the fourth inning and left with two runners on. Abreu retired Elvis Andrus on a groundout then navigated two uneventful innings. Abreu was stretched out during spring training for scenarios like this. Javier missed time this spring due to quarantining and was not built up as a six- or seven-inning starter.

Yarbrough didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-4 win over the Marlins, scattering four hits over 5.2 scoreless innings while striking out three.

The southpaw dazzled through 65 pitches (41 strikes) but wasn't rewarded with a win for his efforts, as all the scoring in the game came off the bullpens. Yarbrough is expected to transition away from his hybrid role this season and be used exclusively as a traditional starter, but Friday's usage suggests he still won't be allowed to face a batter for a third time in a game very often. He'll face the Red Sox on the road Wednesday in his next scheduled start.

Hendriks picked up a multi-inning save Friday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out two over 1.1 innings in a win over the Angels.

The White Sox were up, 7-6, and the Angels had two on and two out in the eighth when Hendriks entered to get the final out. Chicago then plated five in the ninth in what was looking like an an uneventful save, particularly when Hendriks retired the first two batters in the ninth, but Shohei Ohtani took him deep for a two-run home run. Sometimes, an elite closer can lose his edge when having the cushion of a big lead.

Scott allowed two walks and struck out two in one inning to earn a hold in Friday's 3-0 win over the Red Sox.

The 26-year-old worked the eighth inning after John Means spun seven innings of one-hit ball. Scott wasn't quite as efficient, but he kept runs off the board. The southpaw is expected to be in the mix for saves to start 2021. Cesar Valdez pitched a scoreless ninth inning Friday to earn the save, and Shawn Armstrong (paternity) and Hunter Harvey (oblique) could also eventually challenge for closing duties.

Valdez gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning during Friday's win over the Red Sox to pick up his first save of the season.

The right-hander was warming up as early as the seventh inning in case starter John Means ran into trouble, but after Means finished the seventh and Tanner Scott handled the eighth, Valdez got his turn to protect a 3-0 lead in the final frame. O's manager Brandon Hyde will likely vary who gets save chances for Baltimore just as he has the last couple years, but Valdez is firmly part of the team's high-leverage mix.

Misiewicz (1-0) fired a perfect 10th inning in Thursday's season-opening win over the Giants.

The young southpaw pitched to a 1.08 ERA, 0.48 WHIP and .115 BAA across 8.1 Cactus League frames, and he picked up right where he left off Thursday to help seal Seattle's wild comeback victory. Misiewicz proved reliable last season in middle relief with eight holds, and although he logged a high-leverage opportunity Thursday, that was largely the result of closer Rafael Montero already having pitched the ninth and blown a save opportunity.

Schreiber was outrighted to the Red Sox's alternate training site Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 27-year-old was designated for assignment by Boston earlier in the week and will remain in the organization after clearing waivers. Schreiber appeared in 15 games for the Tigers last season and had a 6.32 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB over 15.2 innings.

Hatch (elbow) resumed throwing Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Hatch left a mid-March start with elbow inflammation but has seemingly avoided any serious issues. He'll have to build his arm strength back up, and his return date still isn't clear, but he doesn't appear to be lined up for an extended absence.