MLB Player News

Romano (elbow) has completed his minor-league rehab assignment and is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list by Tuesday at the latest, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Chad Green (two) and Yimi Garcia (one) have collected the Blue Jays' three saves so far, but Romano is the clear-cut closer for the team so long as he's healthy. Fantasy managers that took a chance on rostering him after his elbow issue cropped up in mid-March may now get five and a half months of possible elite closing numbers, provided the two-time All-Star can regain the form he displayed the past two seasons. For what it's worth, Romano wasn't at his sharpest over his two rehab appearances with Triple-A Buffalo, retiring just three of the eight total batters he faced while giving up one hit and issuing four walks. Those setting weekly lineups will want to see if the Blue Jays make any further announcements regarding whether Romano will be activated ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Yankees, as well as whether he'll be eased into action or take over high-leverage work immediately.

Ferguson (0-2) yielded three runs (two earned) on two hits against the Guardians on Sunday. He blew a save chance and took a loss while recording just two outs.

Ferguson entered a 7-5 game in the 10th inning and allowed Cleveland to secure the walk-off win. He'd allowed just one run through six innings entering Sunday's game but saw his ERA climb to 4.05 after the poor outing. Ferguson has converted one of his two save chances while picking up three holds so far this season.

Clase allowed a run on two hits in one inning during Sunday's win over the Yankees. He blew a save opportunity and did not strike out a batter.

Clase coughed up a run on a double by Anthony Volpe before the Guardians eventually won in the 10th inning. It was Clase's first blown save of the year after converting his first four chances. It was also the first run he allowed after beginning the season with a six-inning scoreless streak. This blown save won't impact his role as Cleveland's closer.

Kimbrel earned the save Sunday against Milwaukee, allowing two hits and no walks with three strikeouts over a scoreless inning.

Kimbrel allowed multiple hits for the first time all season, allowing runners to reach first and third off of a pair of singles before striking out back-to-back batters to close out the game. Since blowing a save chance in his first appearance of 2024, Kimbrel has rattled off five scoreless innings and has 11 strikeouts with no walks on the season.

Single-A Dunedin placed Barriera (arm) on its 7-day injured list Tuesday.

Barriera landed on the IL just three days after he exited his season debut with Dunedin midway through the second inning due to an apparent left arm injury. The 20-year-old southpaw is facing an unclear timeline for a return to the mound.

The Guardians will activate Curry (illness) from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Red Sox, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Cleveland will be welcoming two new additions to its rotation this week, as Ben Lively (illness) is in line to return from the IL to start Wednesday's game in Boston. The Guardians are expected to have room for only one of the two pitchers in the rotation after the four-game series with the Red Sox, however, as a doubleheader with the Yankees on Saturday created a temporary need for a sixth starter. Curry, who stretched out to 4.1 innings in his latest rehab start with Triple-A Columbus this past Wednesday, would likely serve in a long-relief role if he's moved to the bullpen following Monday's start.

Armstrong will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against the Giants, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Armstrong isn't expected to work more than an inning or two before turning the game over to Tyler Alexander, who is slated to work as a bulk reliever. Through four appearances (one start) this season, Armstrong has covered 6.1 innings while striking out five and allowing four earned runs on six hits and four walks.

The Twins optioned Alcala to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

The right-hander has given up just one unearned run on three hits through six appearances this season, but he'll be the odd man out of the bullpen with Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) making his return from the injured list. Alcala should rejoin Minnesota once additional bullpen help is needed.

The Twins activated Thielbar (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Sunday.

Thielbar opened the season on the injured list with a hamstring strain but is ready to join the big club after two rehab appearances with Triple-A St. Paul. The left-hander recorded 14 holds and had a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB across 30.2 innings last season, and he should fill a high-leverage role for the Twins now that he's healthy.

Wentz logged 2.1 scoreless innings of relief in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. He allowed two hits and a walk while striking out four.

So far so good for Wentz as a long reliever, as the lefty now has a 1.17 ERA and 10 strikeouts across 7.2 innings. His stuff has played up a bit in relief, with his average fastball velocity this year sitting at 94.3 mph, up from 93.4 mph in 2023, and his K/9 has increased from 8.3 to 11.7. Wentz looks like a useful bullpen option for the Tigers, and he could parlay that into more high-leverage work at some point.