MLB Player News

After a shaky spring training, Yankees reliever Dellin Betances has begun 2015 strongly as the 6-8 righty notched the win for the Yankees on Friday in Tampa.

In five appearances this season, Betances is 2-0 with six strike outs and has not allowed an earned run in 5 1/3 innings.

Red Sox starter Joe Kelly allowed two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings on Friday against the Orioles for a no decision.

Kelly gave up a solo homer to O's catcher Caleb Joseph.

Kelly's next start is Wednesday in Tampa.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney has hit a recent rough patch, allowing six earned runs in his last two appearances (1 1/3 innings) with a blown save but said he's put it behind him, reports MLB.com.

"When the game is over, you leave with your head held high, you forget about it," Rodney said. "That's what I have to do."

Some closers study video or engage in psychological sit-downs with their pitching coaches, but not Rodney.

"I don't do any of that stuff," Rodney said.

The Yankees begin a stretch on Friday of 30 games in 31 days, so manager Joe Girardi said the team is considering adding a sixth starter to the rotation, reports MLB.com.

"I wouldn't really call it a six-man rotation. I'd call it more of inserting a sixth man one time through, and my guess is you might see it," Girardi said. "Weather could play a role, so you just have to wait and see, but it's something that's in the back of our minds. We've kind of prepared ourselves for it."

Pitchers Bryan Mitchell , Esmil Rogers and Chase Whitley are among the candidates to fill the potentional sixth-man spot.

Rays starting pitcher Matt Andriese will take the hill Sunday against the Yankees, the team announced Friday, per the Tampa Bay Times.

Andriese made his first career start Tuesday at Toronto. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk. He had two strikeouts.

Rays closer Brad Boxberger earned his fourth save of the season in Thursday night's 4-2 win over the Blue Jays. 

Boxberger gave up an earned run in the ninth inning, with Russell Martin scoring on an RBI double from Devon Travis. Boxberger's three outs were recorded via strikeout and two pop flys. 

Boxberger's ERA is now 3.38 for the season. 

Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to the Orioles. Manager Joe Girardi said he thought Betances looked sharper after the game, per The Journal News.

"I thought he had better break on his curveball," Girardi said. "I thought it had a better shape tonight than it’s had, so that was encouraging too."

Betances walked a pair of batters in each of his first three appearances but was able to get through Wednesday's outing without handing out a free pass. He's given up just one unearned run in 4 1/3 innings while posting a 5:6 K:BB ratio.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh allowed one earned run on six hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out 11 in his team's 6-1 win over the A's Wednesday.

McHugh (2-0) hadn't racked up double-digit strikeouts in a start since doing so in his season debut last April nearly one full year ago. He struck out the side in the first inning Wednesday and was able to limit the A's to one run in the second despite surrendering four hits in the frame. He struck out six batters in an eight-man stretch to push his total up to 11 strikeouts before the end of the fifth inning.

"He had really good stuff tonight, all pitches across the board," manager A.J. Hinch said after the game, per MLB.com. "He came out with his fastball, his breaking ball and obviously set the tone in the first inning when he punched out the side. It's a really, really good performance out of him. Obviously, the pitch count went up and I wasn't going to go extremely far with him, but really good to see that kind of pitching performance out of Collin."

McHugh will look to keep rolling Tuesday against the Mariners in Seattle.

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz took the loss Wednesday, surrendering four earned runs on six hits and one walk in five innings while striking out five in his team's 6-1 loss to the Astros.

Pomeranz (1-1) served up a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning, and the Athletics were unable to scrape together enough offense to catch up over the remainder of the game.

"It's pretty frustrating," Pomeranz said after the game, per the Associated Press. "They got hits at the right time, and they took advantage of them."

Combined with his seven shutout innings in his debut, Pomeranz has posted a 3.00 ERA and 11:1 K:BB ratio in 12 innings. He'll square off with the Angels in his next start.

The Astros are not ready to activate Josh Fields from the disabled list and have no obvious candidates for demotion, the Houston Chronicle reports.

Right-hander Will Harris would be the logical option to lose his roster spot in the event of a Fields activation, but the right-hander has surrendered just one hit in five scoreless innings while striking out five and walking none in three appearances.

"Will Harris has been one of our best relievers," manager A.J. Hinch said. "He’s done very well in his opportunity and we like what he’s done."

The Astros are also looking to give Fields a few more opportunites to get comfortable in rehab games.

"Little bit of both," Hinch said. "You want to make sure he’s fully comfortable and his pitches both have quality and comfort for him. I think it could happen quickly. It also could be a couple more outings."