MLB Player News

Smith struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn a hold during Saturday's 6-3 win over Kansas City.

With the Guardians up 3-1, Smith opened the top of the eighth inning with the task of getting the lead to closer Emmanuel Clase. He made quick work of the Royals for his fifth hold, before Cleveland stretched the lead with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Smith has allowed two unearned runs over eight outings, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out nine over 7.2 innings.

The Rays optioned Sulser to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Sulser's stint with the big club lasted just two days, with the right-hander making his lone appearance in a 5-4 loss to Atlanta on Saturday, when he was the pitcher of record after giving up two earned runs on four hits and one walk over one inning of relief. In a corresponding move, Tampa Bay recalled right-hander Joe Boyle from Triple-A in advance of his start in Sunday's series finale.

The Rays recalled Boyle from Triple-A Durham to start Sunday against Atlanta, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Tampa Bay doesn't have an opening in its rotation, but Boyle will be called upon to take the hill Sunday in order to provide the team's other five starters with an additional day of rest. The right-hander was unable to secure a roster spot with the Rays coming out of spring training, but he'll get a call-up after allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out 10 over eight innings across his two starts with Durham. However, the control problems that plagued him during his 13 appearances (10 starts) with the Athletics last season once again cropped up at Durham, as Boyle has walked six of the 35 batters he has faced in the minors.

Long allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over an inning Saturday against the Guardians.

Long has struggled to begin the season, giving up 12 runs (10 earned) with five walks in seven innings. He was a productive reliever for the Royals last season with a 3.16 ERA and 44:17 K:BB in 42.2 regular-season innings, so he may get some time to turn his season around. However, he may be limited to low-leverage situations for a while.

Gusto (1-1) took the loss Saturday against the Angels, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk over four innings. He struck out six.

The Angels got to Gusto early, opening the first inning with three straight hits to plate two runs. The 26-year-old Gusto would manage to stop the bleeding until Nolan Schanuel's solo home run in the fourth. Overall, it was an up-and-down effort for Gusto in his first big-league start -- he had allowed just one run in eight innings out of the bullpen while striking out nine prior to Saturday. Gusto figures to remain in the Astros' rotation due to Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) expected to miss the next six weeks. Gusto is tentatively in line for a tough home matchup with the Padres in his next outing.

Jansen earned the save in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Angels, allowing one hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Jansen worked around a one-out single to improve to 4-for-4 in save chances this year. It's been a nice start to the season for the 37-year-old closer -- Jansen has delivered six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out seven in that span.

Cano picked up his second hold of the season Saturday against the Blue Jays after giving up one hit in a scoreless seventh inning.

Cano threw six of his nine pitches Saturday for strikes without registering a punchout, and Toronto was able to scratch an inherited runner across via a Bo Bichette groundout. Although Cano has no save opportunities so far this season, the right-hander has yielded just two hits and zero walks while fanning six across five shutout frames. Cano should remain one of Baltimore's primary setup men ahead of closer Felix Bautista going forward, although that role likely won't translate to much fantasy appeal outside of leagues that record holds.

Miller earned the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Mets. He allowed one hit while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Miller needed 15 pitches (11 strikes) to get through the ninth inning, with his only blemish coming on a two-out single by Tyrone Taylor. Miller has registered a save in each of his last three outings and is up to four on the year. He has yet to give up a run across five innings of work, recording nine strikeouts against just one walk.

Bautista earned the save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays. He allowed two walks while striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.

Bautista got the call from the bullpen to maintain the Orioles' one-run lead. He walked two batters in a row, and after forcing a groundout, he managed to close things out by striking out Bo Bichette. Bautista missed the entire 2024 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery that he underwent October of 2023, and Saturday's save was his first since Aug. 24, 2023, also against the Blue Jays.

Soto picked up a hold Saturday against the Blue Jays after throwing a clean eighth inning, striking out one batter.

Soto made quick work of the heart of Toronto's order to preserve a 5-4 lead, retiring Anthony Santander, Andres Gimenez and George Springer on just nine pitches. It was the first hold of the campaign for Soto, who has now hurled six scoreless innings to go with a 9:2 K:BB so far. The hard-throwing left-hander is one of Baltimore's top setup men and remains a candidate for the occasional save chance when closer Felix Bautista is unavailable, but the Orioles didn't see their first save opportunity of the season until Saturday's contest.