MLB Player News

The Blue Jays got another quality outing out of pitcher Liam Hendriks Wednesday, in a 3-2 win over the Rays.

Hendriks pitched well over six innings of work, limiting the Rays to just two runs, both of which came on a second-inning home run. He settled down from that point, allowing just three hits and no walks, while striking out five and throwing 95 pitches in the game.

Despite the quality start, Hendriks had to settle for a no-decision, as the Blue Jays went ahead lead. He is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA through two starts, and will try to keep his solid run going Tuesday against the Tigers. 

I've been quick to dismiss Collin McHugh during this latest stint in the big leagues even though the results have been dramatically different from previous stints.

I get why they're different. He's a completely different pitcher now, emphasizing his fastball and slider with more of a swing-and-miss mentality than he had as a sinkerballer. Still, with so little to show for himself in either the majors or minors, I figured this new version of McHugh was simply taking the league by surprise and that the word would be out soon enough.

Seven starts in, the word still isn't out. In fact, he had one of his best starts yet Tuesday, recording nine strikeouts in seven shutout innings against a Royals team that doesn't normally strike out much.

I remain skeptical given his lack of track record, poor pedigree and fact that his worst start came against the only team he's faced more than once (Seattle), but there's a difference between being skeptical and being obstinant.

My newest ranking for McHugh -- 85th among starting pitchers in Head-to-Head points leagues -- gives credit where credit is due.

Astros pitcher Jose Cisnero underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday.

Cisnero was slated for the surgery for some time. It was deemed "successful" by the team. Cisnero posted a 9.64 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.

It's not often we get to talk about middle relievers in Fantasy Baseball, but Yankees reliever Dellin Betances deserves some recognition for his performance through the first two months.

In case you were unaware, the former minor-league starter has been nothing short of outstanding. He is 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 21 appearances. He also has 51 strikeouts to nine walks in 30 1/3 innings. That is not a typo. He is striking out 15.1 batters per nine innings. 

Betances had a good strikeout rate in the minors (10.1 K/9), but his high walk rate became a real issue when he got to the high minors, which is why he was converted to a reliever. Betances might not go back to starting and surely is proving he could thrive as a closer, but that role belongs to David Robertson, who could hold it for a very long time.

Betances is proving to be valuable as a versatile right-handed reliever for the Yankees. He does have four holds and might work his way into a setup role later in the season, but his Fantasy value is best left for Rotisserie formats and categories leagues.

White Sox pitcher Scott Carroll was awarded a win after pitching three scoreless innings of relief in his team's 2-1 win over the Indians Tuesday.

Carroll (2-3) was called upon after a lengthy rain delay, and he managed to pitch around five hits in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to keep the Indians off the scoreboard. He owns a 5.74 ERA and 11:10 K:BB ratio in 31 1/3 innings.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh was dominant in his win Tuesday, giving up five hits in seven scoreless innings while striking out nine and walking none in his team's 3-0 victory over the Royals.

McHugh (3-3) has pitched well in a majority of his seven starts, but he was 0-3 in four May starts before securing a win Tuesday. He owns a 2.80 ERA and sparkling 50:12 K:BB ratio in 45 innings. McHugh is on track to face the Orioles Sunday.

The Rays moved pitcher Matt Moore from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list to make room for catcher Ali Solis on the 40-man roster. Moore had Tommy John surgery in April.

Rays pitcher Alex Colome pitched four innings in relief Monday, giving up two earned runs on three hits and three walks in his team's 10-5 loss to the Blue Jays. He was optioned to the minors after the game, the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Monday's outing was Colome's first of the season after being reinstated upon the completion of his 50-game suspension, and he did a solid job of closing things out after Erik Bedard surrenderd eight runs on 12 hits in four-plus innings. The team will bring another player up before Tuesday's game.

Yankees closer David Robertson gave up an uneared run on one hit in the 12th inning Monday but was able to close out his team's 6-4 win over the Cardinals for his 11th save.

Robertson watched the first batter of the inning reach on a throwing error and then score on a double after a strikeout. He then managed a groundout and another strikeout to give the Yankees their 27th win in the first 50 games. Robertson owns a 2.40 ERA and 23:3 K:BB ratio in 15 innings.

The Rays recalled pitcher Alex Colome from Triple-A Durham and reinstated him from his 50-game suspension. Colome was suspended after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Colome will start out in the bullpen.