MLB Player News

Rays pitcher Brad Boxberger worked a nearly perfect ninth inning Wednesday to earn his first save of the season in Tampa Bay's 2-0 win over the Orioles.

Boxberger allowed just one hit and struck three in his inning of work. He and the Rays totaled 13 strikeouts of Baltimore hitters in the game. 

Rays pitcher Alex Colome (pneumonia) threw a two-inning simulated game Tuesday and said Wednesday he felt fine, MLB.com reports.

Colome is scheduled to make a minor-league start Saturday. He'll likely make his return to the major-league rotation later this month.

Astros pitcher Josh Fields was able to throw off the mound Wednesday as a part of his rehab stint in Florida and the team hopes to have him throw a simulated game before the end of the week, reports MLB.com.

Fields is battling back from a groin injury that landed him on the 15-day DL to begin the season. 

Red Sox starting pitcher Joe Kelly will not come off the disabled list to start Saturday against the Yankees, as it was announced Wednesday that Steven Wright will take the hill for Boston.

Kelly (biceps) will instead begin a rehab assignment Saturday with Class A Greenville, while closer Koji Uehara (hamstring) will also begin a rehab assignment with Greenville on Saturday.

The Orioles are having ongoing trade discussions involving relief pitchers Brian Matusz and Ryan Webb, FOX Sports reports.

Webb was designated for assignment Monday, so the team is looking to receive something in return for the player after removing him from the 40-man roster. Matusz delivered the best season of his career in 2014, posting a 3.48 ERA and 53:17 K:BB ratio in 51 2/3 innings.

Rays regular starting pitchers Matt Andriese and Erasmo Ramirez will be available out of the bullpen for Tuesday's game against the Orioles, reports the Tampa Bay Times.

Both pitchers are being considered for the back end of the rotation, but manager Kevin Cash has not decided who will start Tampa's fourth game of the season yet.

Mariners pitcher Fernando Rodney made his season debut Monday and picked up his first save of the season.

Rodney came into the ninth inning with a three-run lead and did not surrender a hit during the 4-1 win over the Angels. He did walk one batter, but did not strike anybody out.

Red Sox pitcher Joe Kelly was able to throw 78 pitches during a rehab start Monday, reports the Boston Herald.

Kelly is starting the season on the disabled list with a biceps injury. Manager John Farrell said the team would like Kelly to throw around 95 pitches in an outing before he pitches in a major league game.

The Orioles announced pitcher Ryan Webb has been designated for assignment Monday.

With Webb no longer taking a roster spot, the team purchased the contract of catcher Ryan Lavarnway. Webb has been dealing with a lingering knee injury.

White Sox closer David Robertson wasn't able to throw on consecutive days in spring training, partly due to a forearm injury that sidelined him for a week. However, Robertson isn't concerned about his spring workload.

“Not a big deal to me,” Robertson said Sunday, per the Chicago Sun-Times. “We have Opening Day and then a day off. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of opportunities to get back-to-backs during the season. Just because it didn’t happen in the spring doesn’t mean anything has changed.”

Robertson said his forearm soreness was normal for the spring and he is not worried about the injury as the regular season opens.

“Feeling good, yeah,” he said. “Ready to go.”