MLB Player News

Red Sox starter Joe Kelly needed a couple Houdini acts to escape unscathed Wednesday night against Cleveland, but in the end he emerged with his fourth consecutive victory.

The double play was his best friend. He induced three in the first five innings to prevent any earned runs from scoring against him. He allowed five hits in six innings with three walks and five strikeouts. The lone run he gave up was unearned and scored, ironically, on a double play.

Kelly has been far from sensational in his four wins. He has surrendered eight runs over 22 1/3 innings during that time. But he has evened his record to 6-6 in the process.

Athletics relief pitcher Drew Pomeranz recorded his second save of the season during his team's win over the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Pomeranz closed out the ninth inning of the 5-2 victory without allowing any walks or hits. He now has a 3.67 ERA in 73 2/3 innings this season.

Athletics starting pitcher Jesse Chavez looked good during his start against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Chavez allowed two runs on two hits in eight solid innings of work. He struck out six batters and allowed only two walks. Chavez's lone mistake in tge game came on a two-run home run he allowed to Jimmy Rollins in the second inning.

With the win, Chavez improves to 7-12 on the season with a 3.75 ERA.

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances picked up his eighth save of the season in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Twins. Betances needed 15 pitches to retire the side in order in the ninth inning, striking out two along the way.

Closer Andrew Miller had been used each of the past two games, including a four-out save on Tuesday. So Betances was called upon to give Miller a day to rest. 

Rays closer Brad Boxberger stranded the winning run on base in the ninth inning, but he surrendered a walk-off homer in the 10th to fall to 4-9 with a loss to Houston on Tuesday.

Boxberger gave up his third career walk-off. His last two homers allowed have both been walk-off shots. He gave up a leadoff homer in the tenth on Tuesday. On July 7, he surrendered a walk-off grand slam.

Mariners reliever Carson Smith earned his 13th save of the year with a perfect ninth inning against Texas on Tuesday.

Smith bounced back from a blown save two days earlier. After converting his first nine save opportunities this year, Smith has blown two of six opportunities in August.

With Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright still dealing with concussion symptoms and unlikely to be available for his next start, the team may turn to pitcher Matt Barnes, reports MLB.com.

"At this point, I think we haven't quite determined that," interim manager Torey Lovullo said. "We feel like Matt threw the ball well enough, and if Steven's not ready, I think that's a direction we would consider."

Barnes allowed six runs over five innings during his lone start this season.

The Yankees recalled RHP Nick Rumbelow from Triple-A Scranton, the team announced on Tuesday.

Rumbelow was 2-3 with a 4.09 ERA and seven saves in 35 relief appearances at Scranton.

To make room, the Yankees optioned RHP Caleb Cotham.

Cotham had a 7.36 ERA in two games with the Yankees.

The fourth inning was not kind to Red Sox pitcher Matt Barnes during Monday's 8-2 loss to the Indians.

Barnes allowed five runs in the fourth inning en route to giving up six runs over five innings. He also struck out seven and walked three. He is now 3-3 with a 6.59 ERA.

Monday was the first start of his Major League career. He replaced Steven Wright, who was placed on the 7-day concussion list on Friday.

Twins pitcher Ryan Pressly recently suffered a setback in his rehab from a strained lat muscle and will not pitch this season, reports MLB.com.

Pressly had been long tossing, but suffered the setback, which ended his season. He went 3-2 with a 2.93 ERA over 27 2/3 innings before sustaining the injury.