MLB Player News

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said that closer Fernando Rodney will pitch in a save opportunity Wednesday if needed, 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

Rodney has struggled in each of his last two appearances, surrendering a total of six earned runs in 1 1/3 innings while earning one win and one loss. However, McClendon isn't ready to remove Rodney, who saved an MLB-high 48 games in 2014, from ninth-inning duty.

Angels left-hander Hector Santiago bounced back from a mediocre first start to post a strong one Wednesday and earn his first victory of the season.

Santiago could relax a bit when his team tallied six runs in the second inning against Texas. He rolled the rest of the way, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings while walking two and striking out five. His lone mistake was deposited over the fence by Carlos Corporan in the fifth inning.

He will try to make it two straight next Monday against visiting Oakland.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney has struggled in his last two appearances, allowing six runs in 1 1/3 innings. Rodney said the velocity on his pitches are fine, but his pitch location has been an issue.

"My mechanics are not the problem," Rodney said following his first blown save Tuesday against the Dodgers, per MLB.com. "I feel like I'm delivering the ball there. But a couple pitches I missed in the strike zone and, here, you can't miss."

Rodney said he will put his last two outings behind him and move forward. He added he did a good job of keeping the baseball down in the strike zone in spring training and will look to return to that form.

"It's only eight games," he said. "I'm going to prepare myself for tomorrow and try to be ready, because I know I've got my stuff."

David Huff made his first career start for the Dodgers on Tuesday, giving up four runs on seven hits in four innings for a no decision to the Mariners.

Huff was called up from Triple-A on Tuesday. 

Yimi Garcia (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for the Dodgers and took the win. 

Huff's next start for the Dodgers has not been announced as of Tuesday night.

The struggles continued for Mariners closer Fernando Rodney, as he was charged with a loss and a blown save in Tuesday's game against the Dodgers. It was his first blown save since July 20, 2014.

Rodney (1-1) allowed back-to-back singles to Justin Turner and Jimmy Rollins, respectively to start the ninth inning. Carl Crawford reached on a fielder's choice after Kyle Seager and Mike Zunino caught Justin Turner out between third base and home. Rodney walked Adrian Gonzalez to load the bases before surrendering a broken-bat, two-run walkoff single to Howie Kendrick to end the game and give Los Angeles a 6-5 victory.

Rodney has allowed seven hits, four walks and six runs in 3 1/3 innings, with one strikeout to start the season. He owns a 16.20 ERA despite converting two of three save opportunities.

Matt Andriese made his first career start for the Rays on Tuesday, but he didn't make it four innings. 

Andriese pitches three and two thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out two. Andriese threw 72 pitches, 39 for strikes. 

The Rays optioned pitcher Kirby Yates down to Triple-A Durham following Tuesday's contest against Toronto, per the team's official website. A corresponding move will be made the following day.

Yates pitched two scoreless innings of relief on Tuesday. He owns a 4.15 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP and 5:0 K:BB ratio over 4 1/3 innings of work this season.

Rangers pitcher Nick Martinez put together a dominant outing to earn his second win of the season Tuesday night against the Angels.

"Plus command tonight," manager Jeff Banister said. "[Martinez] has bought into being able to pitch inside for strikes and pitch inside for effect, to open up the outside part of the plate."

Martinez (2-0) tossed six scoreless frames before allowing an unearned run to score on a Johnny Giavotella sacrifice fly in the seventh inning for his only blemish of the evening. He was charged with one unearned run on five hits and three walks while striking out one over seven innings of an 8-2 victory.

"It definitely felt great," Martinez said, per MLB.com. "We needed a big win. Everybody came out hot and we played good defense tonight."

Martinez has yet to surrender an earned run through his first 14 innings pitched. He is scheduled to make his Tuesday at Arizona. He went 4-5 with a 4.09 ERA over 83 2/3 innings of work away from Globe Life Park last season.

White Sox closer David Robertson struck out the side in the ninth to preserve a 4-1 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday. Robertson needed only 12 pitches in the final frame for his second save of the season. He has allowed only one hit and owns an 8:1 K:BB ratio through his first four innings of work.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters he would like to take a longer look at his relievers before returning to a seven-man bullpen. With Miguel Castro, Brett Cecil, Roberto Osuna, Aaron Loup and Marco Estrada likely safe, Todd Redmond, Liam Hendriks and Colt Hynes appear to be on the bubble, per MLB.com.

"Usually this time of the year, early on, you don't need to give guys days off, so you can play a little short," Gibbons said. "Being an American League team, there's not a whole lot going on anyways. We want to see the production out of the 'pen too, see how they pitch."