MLB Player News

Closer Brad Boxberger (S,5) threw a 3-up, 3-down ninth inning on Saturday to earn the save in the Rays' comeback victory over the Blue Jays. 

The Rays trailed 2-1 before scoring three in the bottom of the eighth and turn over the ninth to Boxberger.

Right-hander Matt Barnes has been promoted by the Red Sox from Triple-A Pawtucket to take the place of shelved outfielder Shane Victorino.

Barnes, who was one of the last cuts off the big-league roster before the regular season, has struggled in the minors this year to the tune of five earned runs in eight innings in two starts. He pitched five games in relief late last year with the Red Sox.

Rays fireballer Alex Colome will likely make one more rehab start at Triple-A Durham before joining the big-league rotation, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Colome has been dealing with pneumonia, which landed him on the disabled list to start the season. With ace Alex Cobb also working his way back, however, Colome must perform well with the Rays to maintain his spot in the rotation.

Rays pitcher Matt Andriese picked up his first career save Friday against the Blue Jays, as he pitched the final three innings of a 12-3 blowout win.

The right-hander allowed his only run on a one-out home run to Justin Smoak in the ninth inning. He gave up two hits and no walks, while striking out one.

Andriese's previous two appearances had been starts.

"The bullpen's been incredible. Matt Andriese, what he did tonight, asking a young pitcher that's been a starter to come in and provide three innings of relief is not the easiest thing to do. He got his first major-league save. It worked out. He helped us out a lot," manager Kevin Cash said, per MLB.com.

With the Rays having a variety of options to choose from when it comes to closing games, manager Kevin Cash said the closer for each game will be based on the matchup, reports MLB Network Radio.

While pitcher Brad Boxberger is a perfect 4 for 4 during save opportunities with a  2.45 ERA, Cash said he won't always close games.

"We don't view us as having a closer," Cash said. "We feel we have a strong bullpen and we'll select [the] best matchups."

Although Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly was viewed as a No. 5 starter to begin the season, his start to the season has some within the organization envisioning him as the team's future ace, reports CBSSpoorts.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

In three starts this season, Kelly is 1-0 with a 4.08 ERA. He has struck out 18 batters, while walking five.

Rays closer Brad Boxberger earned his second win in as many nights Thursday, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning in his team's 2-1 victory over the Red Sox.

Boxberger (2-1) struck out the side in the seventh inning Wednesday then came back to put together a perfect frame in the top of the ninth Thursday before his offense delivered a walkoff RBI single in the bottom half of the inning. He owns a 2.45 ERA and 12:3 K:BB ratio in 7 1/3 innings to go along with his two wins and four saves.

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez was stuck with a loss in Thursday's spot start, giving up two runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks in six innings while striking out four in his team's 2-0 defeat against the Angels.

"To give up one hit on a moment’s notice to start, I don’t know how you can ask for much more than that," manager Bob Melvin said after the game, per MLB.com.

Chavez (0-1) had racked up 6 2/3 scoreless innings in relief coming into Thursday's start and gave up just one hit on the night, but that one mistake turned out to be a two-run home run by Kole Calhoun, providing the Angels with all the offense they would need for the win. Chavez owns a 0.71 ERA and 13:4 K:BB ratio in 12 2/3 innings. He'll likely head back to the bullpen, provided Jesse Hahn is healthy enough to make his next start.

Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances struck out two batters in 1 1/3 perfect innings to earn the win in his team's 2-1 victory over the Tigers Thursday.

Betances (3-0) struggled to open up the season, issuing multiple walks in each of his first three outings. He's since started to round into the form that made him an All-Star last season, manager Joe Girardi incidated after the game, NJ.com reports.

"I mean, he's really starting to," Girardi said. "And I even think it's going to get better. But it was really good today."

Betances hit 97 mph on the radar gun to strike out Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler and end the eighth inning. Despite his early control issues, he has yet to allow an earned run in 9 1/3 innings while racking up 12 strikeouts.

"I feel good. I mean, the confidence is there," Betances said. "I'm making pitches when I need to and I"m just following (catcher Brian) McCann's game plan and trying to help the team win. I feel better the more I pitch and I'm just getting into a good rhythm."

What was anticipated is now set in stone. Athletics right-hander Jesse Hahn has been scratched from his start Thursday against the Angels and will be replaced by namesake Jesse Chavez.

Hahn, who is dealing with a blister on his finger, has been suberb in three starts despite a 1-1 record. He has yielded just four earned runs on 13 hits and three walks in 17 innings. Chavez has yet to surrender a run this season in 6 2/3 innings and has struck out nine.