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  • Cody Ponce RP | TOR

    Blue Jays' Cody Ponce: Set to miss extended time

    Ponce (knee) has been diagnosed with a sprained right ACL and is expected to miss "significant time," Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

    The Blue Jays remain optimistic that Ponce can pitch again this season, but manager John Schneider said doctors will continue to review Ponce's MRI and determine if surgery is needed. It's a brutal blow for Ponce, who inked a three-year, $30 million deal with Toronto this past offseason after spending three seasons overseas. Ponce's injury also further tests the pitching depth of the Blue Jays, who are already dealing with injuries to Jose Berrios (elbow), Shane Bieber (elbow) and Trey Yesavage (shoulder) in the rotation. Ponce is likely to be shut down for quite some time.

  • Matt Brash RP | SEA

    Mariners' Matt Brash: Earns win Monday

    Brash (1-0) earned the win Monday over the Yankees, allowing one hit while logging a strikeout in a scoreless inning.

    Brash kept the Yankees off the board in the top of the ninth inning, working around a Giancarlo Stanton one-out double before the Mariners delivered a walk-off win in the bottom half of the frame. Brash has held opponents scoreless through his first two appearances (two innings) this season, allowing two hits and no walks. The right-hander is a key high-leverage option for Seattle ahead of closer Andres Munoz. Brash posted a 2.47 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB in 47.1 regular-season innings last year, totaling four saves and 21 holds.

  • Rangers' Tyler Alexander: Earns second save

    Alexander earned the save in Monday's 5-2 win over the Orioles, tossing a clean ninth inning while striking out two.

    The 31-year-old has converted both of the chances he's had for saves early on in the season. Both Robert Garcia and Chris Martin had pitched two days in a row entering Monday, so Alexander was called upon to record the last three outs in the ninth and was razor sharp, striking out two batters in a three up, three down ninth. The Rangers' closer situation was unsettled coming into the season, and while Alexander's usage so far suggests he's third in the pecking order for high-leverage usage, continued success when he's called upon could change the equation.

  • Jordan Hicks RP | CHW

    White Sox's Jordan Hicks: Picks up four-out save

    Hicks allowed one walk and struck out one across 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the save Monday against the Marlins.

    Hicks was tasked with protecting a five-run lead, though he tallied the final out in the eighth inning with the bases loaded. He picked up the save as a result, but he still doesn't figure to compete for the closer role for the time being. In addition to Monday's performance not coming in a conventional save situation, Seranthony Dominguez was likely not available after pitching in both of the previous two days.

  • Lazaro Estrada RP | TOR

    Blue Jays' Lazaro Estrada: Promotion on tap

    Estrada will be recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

    This upcoming promotion likely means that Cody Ponce (knee), who exited Monday's start due to injury, is headed for an IL stint. Estrada will be brought up to provide length for Toronto, at least until Trey Yesavage (shoulder), Jose Berrios (elbow) or Shane Bieber (elbow) can return from the injured list, and a number of off days on the Jays' schedule in early April could mean the 26-year-old righty is needed for only one or two starts. Estrada made two relief appearances for the Blue Jays a year ago, allowing seven runs while striking out 10 and walking one over 7.1 regular-season innings.

  • Kevin Kelly RP | TB

    Rays' Kevin Kelly: Picks up save Monday

    Kelly recorded his first save of the season in Monday's 3-2 win over the Brewers, pitching one-third of a hitless and scoreless inning.

    After left-hander Ian Seymour recorded the first two outs of the ninth inning and allowing one walk, manager Kevin Cash called on Kelly to record the 27th out of the game. It was notable that Griffin Jax was used in the seventh inning of a 2-2 game, and he pitched a scoreless and hitless frame while recording one strikeout. Jax struggled in the Rays' opening series against the Cardinals, blowing a pair of saves, so Cash could be moving to more of a committee approach at the end of games.

  • Rays' Nick Martinez: Works six innings in 2026 debut

    Martinez allowed two runs on six hits and didn't walk a batter in Monday's 3-2 win over the Brewers. He struck out three.

    It was Martinez's first start of the season after he dealt with a hamstring issue late in spring training. Signed to a one-year, $13 million deal in February, the 35-year-old is expected to man a spot in the rotation for Tampa Bay this season. However, Martinez has never been a big strikeout pitcher, capping his fantasy upside. Martinez's next start should come Sunday in Minnesota.

  • Griffin Jax RP | TB

    Rays' Griffin Jax: Bounces back Monday

    Jax threw a clean seventh inning Monday against the Brewers. He struck out one.

    Although Jax didn't get the call to work the ninth inning Monday -- it was Kevin Kelly who recorded the final out for the save -- he still worked a high-leverage situation in the seventh frame of a tie game. After the right-hander blew a pair of saves in his first two appearances of the year, it's possible the Rays wanted to deploy Jax in a different setting so that he could try and regain his footing. The expectation entering the season was that Tampa Bay would have a committee approach at closer, and the team still appears to trust Jax to pitch in key spots.

  • Jacob Lopez RP | ATH

    Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Allows five hits and walks five

    Lopez (0-1) took the loss Monday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and five walks without recording a strikeout across four innings.

    Lopez generated just four whiffs on 91 pitches, and his fastball velocity was down 1.4 mph from his 2025 average of 90.8 mph. The 28-year-old started 17 games for the Athletics last season and turned in a respectable 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 113:37 K:BB across 92.2 innings. His stuff will need to improve moving forward if he's going to build on that in 2026. Lopez's next start is scheduled for Sunday at home against the Astros.

  • Royals' John Schreiber: Notches first save

    Schreiber picked up the save Monday against the Twins by allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.

    Lucas Erceg pitched in back-to-back days Saturday and Sunday, so it was Schreiber who got the call in a save situation in Monday's series opener. The right-hander retired the first two batters he faced before giving up a single to Ryan Jeffers. Schreiber was then able to slam the door by getting Matt Wallner to ground out. It's not clear how many save opportunities Schreiber will get this year, as Erceg and Matt Strahm were likely unavailable due to recent workload and Carlos Estevez (ankle) is dealing with an injury, but it was promising to see Schreiber come through when called upon.

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