MLB Player News

The Orioles optioned Lakins to their alternate training site Wednesday.

Baltimore dropped Lakins from its active roster after he served as the 27th man for Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners. He was used out of the bullpen in the first game of the twin bill, striking out two over a perfect inning.

The Rays recalled Fleming from their alternate training site Wednesday.

Fleming will slot into Tampa Bay's rotation for Wednesday's game against the Rangers as a replacement for Chris Archer (forearm), who was placed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend. As a rookie last season, the 24-year-old southpaw worked as a traditional starter and as a bulk reliever, but manager Kevin Cash suggested that Fleming would fill the former role Wednesday. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Cash said Fleming is built up to handle five or six innings, so if he's performing well, the southpaw should be able to pitch at least half the game before turning things over to the bullpen.

The Red Sox called Bazardo up from their taxi squad ahead of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Twins.

The 25-year-old will be moving up to the big leagues for the first time in his career, but because he's being designated as the 27th man for the twin bill, he'll likely be headed back to the Red Sox's alternate site following the doubleheader. Bazardo will provide Boston with a fresh right-handed arm out of the bullpen Wednesday.

Karinchak picked up the save against the White Sox on Tuesday, pitching a perfect inning and registering one strikeout.

After Cleveland ace Shane Bieber held Chicago scoreless over nine frames, the Tribe put up two in the top of the 10th inning to set the reigning AL Cy Young award winner up for a win. Karinchak was called upon to seal the deal, and he retired Chicago in order on 16 pitches. The save was the first of the season for the right-hander, who has yet to allow a run while striking out six across four innings this season.

Scott (0-1) allowed an unearned run on one hit and struck out two to take an extra-inning loss in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners.

Scott allowed an RBI double to Kyle Seager in the eighth inning, and that was enough to hand the southpaw his first loss of the year. He's yet to give up an earned run in 2021, yielding just two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts across 4.1 innings this season. Scott also has two holds, and he could be in the mix for saves as well.

Valdez (2-0) recorded the win in a 7-6 victory during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mariners, giving up one hit and striking out one in a scoreless seventh inning.

The changeup specialist entered the game after the M's had tied things up off Adam Plutko in the top half of the seventh, and Valdez was rewarded for his efforts when the O's walked it off on a Ramon Urias single. Valdez has a 1.42 ERA and 6:1 K:BB through 6.1 innings to begin the season with two saves in addition to his two wins, and for the moment he's manager Brandon Hyde's most trusted high-leverage arm.

Trivino earned the save during Tuesday's win over the Diamondbacks with one walk and zero strikeouts during a scoreless ninth inning.

The 29-year-old issued a one-out walk to Tim Locastro, but the right-hander quickly induced a double play to close out the game and notch his first save of 2021. Trivino has allowed one run on two hits with a 9:4 K:BB through 8.2 innings this season.

Graveman picked up the first save of his career in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Orioles, tossing a perfect eighth inning in a 4-3 victory.

Rafael Montero got the call in the seventh to protect a 3-2 lead but blew his third save of the season, setting the stage for Graveman to get the job done after Seattle reclaimed the lead in the top of the eighth. The right-hander hasn't given up a run this year in five innings over four appearances with a 5:2 K:BB, and with Montero having trouble in high-pressure spots, Graveman could begin to see more save chances moving forward.

Montero (1-0) got the win in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Orioles after blowing his third save of the season, giving up one run on two hits and a walk in one inning of relief. He struck out one.

Entering the game in the seventh inning to protect a 3-2 lead, Montero instead gave up a two-out run to send the game to extra innings, only for the M's to retake the lead in the top of the eighth. The right-hander is just 2-for-5 on save chances to begin his tenure in Seattle, and while Montero's 4.26 ERA and 8:3 K:BB through 6.1 innings are far from terrible, he could begin to cede save opportunities to Kendall Graveman (who got the save in Game 1 on Tuesday) or Keynan Middleton if he doesn't find some consistency.

Merryweather exited Tuesday's win over the Yankees with left hip irritation, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The right-hander needed only two pitches to record the final out of the eighth inning and was expected to return for the ninth to close out the save, but he was instead pulled due to hip irritation. The severity of the injury remains unclear, so Merryweather should be considered day-to-day until more information is provided. Jordan Romano should be the primary candidate for saves if Merryweather is forced to miss time, though Rafael Dolis could also be in the mix.