MLB Player News

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz shined in a spot start Wednesday, giving up two hits in five scoreless innings while striking out five to earn a win in his team's 2-0 victory over the Mariners in the second leg of a doubleheader.

Pomeranz (2-1) worked well around the zone Wednesday, throwing 47 of his 68 pitches for strikes. Despite his excellent performance, his presence in the rotation was likely a one-time thing caused by a doubleheader. He owns a 1.45 ERA and 16:6 K:BB ratio in 18 2/3 innings.

Mariners closer Fernando Rodney gave up a hit in a scoreless 10th inning Wednesday to pick up nis ninth save in Game 1 of his team's doubleheader against the A's.

Rodney struck out one to put together his fourth straight scoreless appearance in May. He owns a 2.63 ERA and 20:6 K:BB ratio in 13 2/3 innings.

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz will get the start for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mariners, MLB.com reports.

Pomeranz last pitched on Friday, tossing 2 1/3 innings of relief. He is 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA and 11:6 K:BB ratio in 13 2/3 innings.

Disappointing reliever Josh Fields has been optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City by the Astros, who have promoted fellow right-hander Josh Zeid .

Fields has yielded a disturbing 14 runs in the last 3 1/3 innings he's pitched over four appearances.

Angels left-hander Hector Santiago will make his first start this season Wednesday on a normal four-day rest. He is set to start against the Yankees.

"It's been a while," he told the Orange County Register. "I'm definitely excited about it."

Santiago hopes the scheduling will help him perform better than he has so far this season. He is 0-5 with a 5.01 ERA and has given up nine runs in his last 10 1/3 innings.

The Angels have had the first six Thursdays of the season off, leading to Santiago and other starters receiving extra days off between outings.

The Athletics dropped one of Jesse Chavez's starts for the first time all season Tuesday, in an 8-3 loss to the Mariners.

Chavez failed to finish the sixth inning for just the second time in seven starts, as was chased with two out in the sixth. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings of work, while striking out a season-low three batters and walking two, on 97 pitches.

Chavez dropped his first decision of the season, and is now 2-1 to go with his 2.47 ERA. He has 44 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings of work heading into his next start, scheduled for Monday against the White Sox. 

Yankees closer David Robertson continued his stellar play Tuesday, recording his fifth save in a row in a 4-3 win over the Angels.

Robertson retired the Angels in order in the ninth inning, needing just 13 pitches to do so. He struck out one batter and retired the other two on a pair of flyball outs.

Robertson is perfect in five save opportunities to open the season, with a 1.13 ERA in eight innings of work. 

With closer John Axford having pitched on three consecutive nights, Indians reliever Bryan Shaw was tabbed for his first closing opportunity of the season Tuesday against the Twins.

Shaw recorded two quick outs to open the ninth inning, and induced what looked to be a game-ending groundout before shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera's fielding error. He allowed the runner to come around on a double by the next hitter, before ending the game with a harmless pop fly.

Shaw was charged with one unearned run as well as one hit in the inning, as he lowered his ERA to 1.65 on the season. He has 16 strikeouts and just three walks and 11 hits allowed in 16 1/3 innings of work, largely as a setup man. 

Blue Jays reliever Aaron Loup picked up his second save of the season Tuesday against the Phillies, in a 6-5 win in extra innings.

Loup tossed just two-thirds of an inning for the save, picking up a pair of groundball outs to close out the game. He will likely remain the closer until Casey Janssen is able to return from the disabled list, which could happen in the next week. He has a 4.50 ERA with 13 strikeouts and nine walks in 16 innings. 

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz is likely to get the call for the second half of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mariners, according to MLB.com.

Assuming Pomeranz is not needed to pitch out of the bullpen Tuesday, he will likely take the mound as a starter for the first time this season Wednesday. Pomeranz has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time in his career, posting a 1.98 ERA in nine appearances, but could get up to 75 pitches as the team tries to stretch him out.