MLB Player News

Graveman completed five innings Thursday against the Angels, allowing five earned runs on seven hits and no walks while recording one strikeout.

Graveman wasn't fooling any Angels' hitters Thursday, as he got touched up for three home runs. In order to be successful, Graveman has to limit his walks and home runs. When he is unable to do so, he doesn't have the strikeout stuff to avoid disastrous stat-lines like the one he posted Thursday. As a result, his fantasy value is limited to the fact that he can eat innings which is only valuable in very deep mixed leagues or AL-only leagues.

Kelly allowed four runs on one hit and three walks in a third of an inning in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Rays.

Kelly came on to do what he was projected to do: caretake a lead through the eighth inning. But an old bugaboo -- command -- did him in. He ranked second among relievers last season in fastball velocity, but can't always harness that power. The bullpen meltdown is exaggerated because it was Opening Day, but Kelly will continue to get setup work.

Smith (0-1) walked the first batter faced and allowed two runs on two hits while striking out one in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Rays.

The game was in good hands over the first seven innings -- thanks to Chris Sale and Matt Barnes -- but manager Alex Cora's eighth-inning decisions blew up. Smith was brought in to squelch a dumpster fire created by Joe Kelly (three walks), but he was no fireman. Cora never once thought of using closer Craig Kimbrel as the wheels came off, nor was lefty Bobby Poyner considered to face left-handed batter Denard Span, who turned on a Smith fastball for a bases-clearing triple. Cora will not overreact to one game -- both Smith and Kelly should be in the setup mix -- but command his paramount in these situations.

Colome tossed a scoreless inning Thursday against the Red Sox to pick up his first save of the season.

A combination of low strikeout rate and trade rumors drove down Colome's value during draft season. He doesn't have the prototypical strikeout rate of a closer, (career 8.0 K/9), but that has not held him back from being an effective closer as he has successfully converted 84 of 93 opportunities spanning the last two seasons. So long as he remains on the Rays, he should continue to see save opportunities and hold fantasy value as a result.

Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two batters during Thursday's 6-1 win over Toronto.

Dellin Betances allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth, so manager Aaron Boone took no chances and sent Chapman to the bump for the ninth. The lefty has a dominant arsenal and projects to have a bounce-back campaign after posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a career-low 12.3 K/9 while battling multiple injuries last season.

Rodney took the loss after allowing one run on two hits while recording just two outs Thursday against the Orioles.

Rodney got the Twins out of a jam in the 10th inning by getting Jonathan Schoop to ground into a double play, but Adam Jones ended things quickly the next inning with a walkoff solo homer on the first pitch. This is certainly not an ideal start to the season for the Twins' new closer, who was brought in on a one-year deal in the offseason. If his struggles continue, manager Paul Molitor may not take long to turn to Addison Reed, a more-than capable ninth-inning option who tossed a pair of scoreless innings Thursday.

Giles allowed a run on two hits and struck out a batter during the ninth inning of Thursday's 4-1 win over Texas.

It was a little surprising to see Giles take the hill in a non-save situation, but manager A.J. Hinch clearly didn't want to take any chances with a 4-0 lead in the season opener. There was offseason chatter about the reliever pitching in high-leverage situations outside the ninth inning, as well as a potential closer committee out of the Houston bullpen. However, Giles projects to be the primary option for the final frame, and he should be viewed as a sound option after recording 34 saves with a 2.30 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 11.9 K/9 last year.

Kelly was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Thursday.

The Orioles made a bunch of moves prior to Thursday's game, which included casting Kelly off the 40-man roster. He will report to Triple-A Norfolk unless claimed off waivers.

Pomeranz (forearm) tossed 60 pitches during a minor-league game in Florida on Wednesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Pomeranz was officially placed on the 10-day DL on Monday as he continues to recover from a forearm flexor strain. There's a chance that he could be ready to return to Boston in two weeks, but a precise target date should come into focus in the near future.

Hill earned a place on the Royals' Opening Day roster, Maria Torres of The Kansas City Star reports.

Hill spent a majority of the 2017 season at the Double-A level, posting a 4.17 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with a 75:19 K:BB over 69 innings. The left-hander has yet to toe the rubber in the majors at this point in his career and will likely be utilized in low-leverage situations.