MLB Player News

Tampa Bay recalled Lopez from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Lopez has been starting at Durham, posting a 7.59 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The Rays need him for relief help, though, as the left-hander will offer them some potential length in the bullpen for Thursday's series finale versus the Angels.

The Rays optioned Kelly to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Tampa Bay will swap Kelly out of its bullpen for a left-handed option, as Jacob Lopez was called up from Durham in a corresponding move. Kelly has made four appearances for the Rays this season, giving up four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over 4.2 innings.

Robertson gave up a run on two hits and a walk over 1.1 innings Wednesday, getting charged with his second blown save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Tigers. He struck out one.

The veteran right-hander entered the game with one on and one out in the seventh inning to protect a 4-3 lead, and while he escaped that small jam, Robertson couldn't stop Detroit from tying things up in the bottom of the eighth. It's only the second run he's allowed this season, and the 39-year-old has been busy to begin the year, posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB through 10.2 innings. Despite those strong ratios, he's 0-for-2 in converting save chances while adding a win and six holds in his 10 appearances, while Kirby Yates seems to be strengthening his grip on the closer role for Texas.

Yates (2-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's 5-4 victory over the Tigers. He walked one and struck out four over 1.1 scoreless innings.

The Rangers had a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning but allowed Detroit to score single runs in the next three frames to tie the game. Yates entered to get the final out of the eighth inning and was the pitcher of record when Josh Smith doubled in the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. Yates, who has not allowed a run over 7.1 innings, has become the closer following the removal of Jose Leclerc from that role.

Miller pitched a scoreless ninth inning against the Cardinals to record his fourth save Wednesday, striking out two and walking one while not allowing any hits.

Miller entered the contest with a three-run lead in the top of the ninth and proceeded to walk the leadoff man before getting two of the next three batters to go down on strikes, both swinging. The right-hander needed only nine pitches to retire the final three batters and record his fourth save in as many chances. Miller has not allowed a hit over his last four appearances, posting a 9:1 K:BB over that stretch.

Miller (3-1) allowed a run on two hits across an inning of relief to take the loss Wednesday against the Rangers.

After starting the season with seven scoreless innings, Miller has now allowed runs in both of his last two appearances, suffering a blown save and a loss in the process. The righty still has a 1.93 ERA, and despite the hiccup, he should remain one of the top bullpen options for the Tigers moving forward.

Fairbanks (0-2) blew the save and took the loss Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over one inning against the Angels. He didn't generate a strikeout.

Fairbanks entered the ninth frame with a one-run advantage but was unable to come away with his fourth save of the campaign. Instead, he surrendered a pair of runs before ultimately stranding a pair of Angels in scoring position by getting Logan O'Hoppe to fly out and end the inning. Fairbanks has endured a shaky start to 2024, having given up a run in five of his eight appearances. However, Wednesday's outing marked his first blown save of the season.

Garcia earned the save in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Kansas City after allowing a hit and a walk over two scoreless innings.

Closer Michael Kopech and setup men Jordan Leasure and Steven Wilson all pitched in Wednesday's matinee, and Garcia was called upon for the multi-inning save in Game 2. It's just the second save of Garcia's career, and the scoreless outing brings his ERA down to 7.27 and WHIP to 1.62. The 24-year-old is pitching better of late with four straight scoreless appearances, though he likely has a lot more work to do in order to be in the mix regularly for high-leverage chances.

Holmes earned the save in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

Holmes has yet to allow an earned run through nine appearances this year and he improved to 7-for-8 in save chances, tying Kyle Finnegan and Ryan Helsley for the league lead. The 31-year-old Holmes is establishing himself as one of the better closing options in baseball, earning a firm grasp on the ninth-inning job in New York after pitching to sub-3.00 ERAs in each of his previous two campaigns.

Stephenson will miss the entire 2024 season due to an elbow injury, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports,

The Angels will announce more details regarding Stephenson's injury Thursday, but his elbow issue is apparently significant enough to rule him out for the remainder of the year. The 31-year-old righty had been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Salt Lake but was removed from his appearance Saturday after facing just one batter.