MLB Player News

The Blue Jays are carrying an extra reliever and using a seven-man bullpen to start the season, allowing John Gibbons to postpone a cut.

"Usually this time of the year, early on, you don't need to give (position) guys days off, so you can play a little short," Gibbons said, per MLB.com. "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."

The Jays will likely be able to get away with the extra arms until outfielder Michael Saunders is ready to return from the disabled list. At that point, Liam Hendriks, Colt Hynes and Todd Redmond will likely be battling for two bullpen spots. 

Yankees reliever Dellin Betances has struggled so far this season, but he still has a chance to fill in as the team's closer. 

With Andrew Miller going five outs for a save on Monday, thanks in part to Betances' rough night in set-up, manager Joe Girardi said he may need to give Miller a night off. That would mean Betances would get the call to close, per the Journal News. 

"The big thing is that he understands it’s just a little mechanical thing that he has to fix and he has to get back on track," Girardi said of Betances' six walks in three and a third innings this season. "He’s been able, for the most part, to get through without giving up a lot of damage which is a good thing. We’ve got to get him back on track and we’ll get him there."

Assuming he does, there's still a chance he ends up in the full-time closer role, despite losing the job to Miller coming out of spring. 

"We still haven't made a decision one way or the other ... I’m not sure that’s what we’re going to do all year," Girardi said. "We’ll continue to re-evaluate, but at the beginning of the year we thought that was the best way to handle it."

Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances was able to work out of a bases-loaded jam Monday, striking out Orioles first baseman Chris Davis to preserve a one-run lead in his team's 6-5 win.

"I threw some good ones to Davis," Betances said after the game, per MLB.com. "Those are the way I need to throw it to all of them. I thought those breaking balls I threw to him were really good."

Betances, who has been dealing with control issues, entered the game with two men on base and his team up two runs in the seventh inning. He surrendered a single to load the bases, and a groundout then brought home the first run of the inning, which was charged to the previous pitcher. Betances reloaded the bases with a walk but then rung up Davis to escape the inning with the lead.

Betances went on to pitch into the eighth inning, giving up another hit and another walk before coming out of the game with one out. He has yet to allow a run in 3 1/3 innings but has walked six batters while striking out three.

Rays relief pitcher Brad Boxberger worked through the ninth inning with a strikeout and one walk to earn his third save of the season in Monday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. 

Boxberger walked the lead off hitter Jose Bautista, but he was caught trying to steal second base when Edwin Encarnacion struck out. He then got Josh Donaldson to fly out to right field to end the game. Boxberger now has a 2.08 ERA in four appearances.

It didn't take long for pitcher Ryan Webb to find a new home. 

Only a few hours following his release from the Dodgers, Webb signed a minor-league contract with the Indians, according to FOX Sports Ohio. He is being assigned to Triple-A Columbus. 

The Dodgers acquired Webb from the Orioles a week ago. After outrighting him to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday, the Dodgers decided to part ways with him on Monday. Webb has a career 3.38 ERA in his previous six MLB seasons. 

Twins pitcher Trevor May allowed five runs on eight hits in Minnesota's 12-3 blowout loss to the Royals Monday. 

May, who lasted 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts in the start, surrendered a solo home run in the second to Kendrys Morales. May then ran into more problems in the third when he surrendered three singles and a sacrifice fly to extended Kansas City's lead.

May was then tagged for three consecutive hits to open the sixth inning, including two doubles to Lorenzo Cain and Eric Hosmer before he was pulled. May's ERA ballooned to 8.44 and he will look for his first win of the year Sunday against the Indians.

The Rangers remain undecided on who will start Wednesday's game against the Angels on the mound, reports MLB.com.

Texas is considering using reliever Anthony Bass in the role, but may need him in relief Monday after using most of the bullpen arms in the weekend series against the Astros. Bass has thrown seven innings so far this season with a 1.29 ERA and five strikeouts.

The Red Sox optioned reliever Tommy Layne to Triple-A Pawtucket on Monday to clear a roster spot for closer Koji Uehara, who was activated off the 15-day disabled list. Uehara missed the first week of games due to a hamstring injury he suffered late in spring training.

Manager John Farrell said the decision to demote Layne over Robbie Ross came down to Ross being available for Monday's game against the Nationals. Layne pitched four times since Opening Day, including Sunday against the Yankees.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon remains unwavering in his belief in closer Fernando Rodney, reports The News Tribune.

Rodney came in Sunday in a non-save situation and surrendered four runs on four hits before the Mariners came back in the 10th to pick up the win. McClendon will continue to use Rodney even in non-save situations in the ninth,

"I did it a lot last year," he said, "and I'll do it every time this year. I'll tell you this, you're a fool if you don't put your closer in with a four-run lead.

"Because what happens is, you send somebody (else) out there, and somebody gets on base, then you've burned two guys because you you didn’t use your closer."

If the situation presents itself again Monday, McClendon plans to trot him back out there.

"Everybody flies off the handle when a guy blows a game, but I can't do that. Somebody has to keep their head. I choose to keep mine. So (Rodney) will be back out there tomorrow. Trust me."

Mariners pitcher Yoervis Medina worked one perfect inning Sunday in the 10th inning, leading to his first save of the season in Seattle's 8-7 win over the Athletics.

Medina came on in the 10th for Fernando Rodney, who blew the save in the ninth but finished with a win. Rodney gave up four runs on four hits with two walks in his inning of work.

Medina needed just 12 pitches to wrap up the game in the 10th, including one strikeout.