MLB Player News

The Blue Jays have cut ties with reliever Esmil Rogers to make room for fellow pitcher Liam Hendriks, per SB Nation. The former has been designated for assignment.

Rogers has deteriorated after a decent 2013. He owns a 6.97 ERA and has given up 28 hits, including five home runs, in 20 2/3 innings. He has walked seven and fanned 21.

The disenchantment with Rogers confirms a disaster in the trade that brought him from Cleveland for productive and versatile Mike Aviles and Yan Gomes, who has emerged as one of the better offensive catchers in the game.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney closed out Thursday's 3-1 win over the Astros with little trouble.

Rodney tossed a perfect ninth inning, needed just 13 pitches to retire the side on consecutive groundball outs. The veteran is now 12 for 14 in save chances on the season with a 2.95 ERA in 18 1/3 innings of work. 

The Blue Jays will make a small change to the rotation for this weekend, as the National Post reported Thursday.

R.A. Dickey has been pushed back from Friday to Saturday against the Athletics, which means the Blue Jays have to make a callup for Friday's series opener. According to the report, Liam Hendriks will get the call from Triple-A Buffalo to start Friday's game.

Hendriks has a 1.48 ERA at Triple-A this season, going 5-0 in seven starts. 

The reinstatement of Chris Sale into the starting rotation has pushed Scott Carroll out of it for the White Sox, the Chicago Sun-Times has reported.

Carroll, who has made five starts since his promotion from Triple-A Charlotte, has given up six runs in each of his last three outings to raise his earned run average to 6.49. Most disturbing is that he has surrendered 32 hits in 13 innings. He is set to pitch out the bullpen.

Astros pitcher Collin McHugh was the hard-luck loser Wednesday, giving up just two earned runs on four hits and two walks in seven innings while striking out seven in his team's 2-1 loss to the Angels.

McHugh (2-3) gave up a home run for the third straight start Wednesday, and it was the difference-maker, as Albert Pujols' solo shot in the sixth inning gave the Angels the lead for good. McHugh owns a 3.32 ERA and 41:12 K:BB ratio in 38 innings. He's scheduled to face the Royals Monday.

Orioles pitcher Ryan Webb was hit with a loss Wednesday after giving up one earned run on three hits in two innings and striking out one in his team's 9-8 loss to the Pirates.

Webb (2-1) gave up singles to three of the first four batters he faced to watch the decisive run score Wednesday. He owns a 3.66 ERA and 18:5 K:BB ratio in 19 2/3 innings.

Yankees pitcher David Robertson collected his ninth save Wednesday after striking out two in a scoreless 13th inning to finish off his team's 4-2 win over the Cubs.

Robertson has yet to blow a save opportunity this season, his first as the team's closer after the retirement of Mariano Rivera. He owns a 1.42 ERA and Rivera-like 17:2 K:BB ratio in 12 2/3 innings.

The Angels optioned pitcher Hector Santiago to Triple-A Salt Lake Wednesday to clear a roster spot for the return of Kole Calhoun.

Santiago was removed from the rotation after getting rocked in his final start on May 8, and he's been used sparingly in the bullpen since. He is 0-6 with a 4.82 ERA and 31:18 K:BB ratio in 37 1/3 innings.

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz kept up his string of scoreless innings Tuesday, blanking the Rays for five innings while giving up three hits and two walks and striking out three in his team's 3-0 win over the Rays.

Pomeranz (4-1) has turned in five scoreless innings in each of his three starts since joining the rotation to drop his ERA under 1.00. He didn't quite have the strikeout numbers of his previous two starts Tuesday, but he now owns a 0.94 ERA and 27:10 K:BB ratio in 28 2/3 innings. He'll try to keep rolling when he faces the Blue Jays Sunday.

Considering he got the first since John Axford's removal from the closer role May 11 after filling in for him just a few days earlier, Bryan Shaw appeared to be the Indians' go-to guy for the ninth inning in the near term. So when he pitched the eighth inning of a game the Indians led by only one run Monday, it was a bit of a shock.

Granted, coming into the year, Cody Allen was considered the more likely replacement for Axford should anything go wrong, but Shaw had been so effective this season, compiling a 1.71 ERA in 23 appearances, that his ascension to the role wasn't the biggest upset ever.

Considering Allen blew the save Sunday, Terry Francona might want to rethink rethinking who he uses in the ninth inning. His hesitance to commit to either Shaw or Allen is a pretty good indication he hopes to turn the ninth inning back over to Axford at some point. Axford has had four scoreless appearances since being removed from the role, allowing no hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.

If I was ranking the three in terms of how many saves I think they'll get from now to the end of the season, I'd go Axford, Shaw and Allen.