MLB Player News
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Michael Tonkin RP | MIN
Mets' Michael Tonkin: Makes Opening day bullpen
Tonkin will begin the season on the Mets' 26-man roster, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
With Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder) landing on the injured list, the Mets were able to find room for both Tonkin and Yohan Ramirez in the bullpen. Tonkin saw his first big-league action since 2017 last season with Atlanta, posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 75:23 K:BB over 80 innings and winning seven games. The 34-year-old righty is expected to fill a long-relief role in New York.
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Tanner Scott RP | LAD
Marlins' Tanner Scott: Shaky control to begin season
Scott struck out two and walked two in a scoreless ninth inning Thursday, as the Marlins fell 6-5 to the Pirates in 12 innings on Opening Day.
The 29-year-old left-hander had trouble finding the plate for most of the spring and those issues carried forward into the regular season, as Scott threw only 11 of 26 pitches for strikes in his first appearance of 2024. He remains Miami's closer for now, and potential replacement Andrew Nardi gave up two runs including a homer in the seventh inning Thursday, but Scott will need to sharpen his control if he's going to hang onto the job.
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Robert Suarez RP | ATL
Padres' Robert Suarez: Lands second save
Suarez earned a save during Thursday's win over the Giants, allowing one run on one hit across one inning. He struck out one.
With two outs in the ninth inning, Suarez gave up a solo homer to Michael Conforto but still was able to snare his second save in as many appearances. It appears Suarez has a comfortable hold on the Padres' closer role, but with arms like Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta also earning high-leverage work, the right-hander could be on a short leash.
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Frankie Montas RP | NYM
Reds' Frankie Montas: Impresses in Opening Day win
Montas (1-0) tossed six scoreless innings and allowed four hits and no walks while striking out four to earn the win Thursday win against the Nationals.
While the Nats offense isn't expected to light MLB on fire this season, Montas going six scoreless in Great American Ballpark is a noteworthy accomplishment -- especially after logging a 5.94 ERA this spring. Although Montas doesn't have the stuff he had in prior years, he should be in a solid position to succeed if he can keep walks allowed to a minimum. He'll likely have a tougher time in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Phillies.
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Jose Hernandez RP | LAD
Pirates' Jose Hernandez: Surprises with first career save
Hernandez tossed a scoreless 12th inning to earn his first save in Thursday's Opening Day win over Miami.
The lefty reliever had been called up from Triple-A earlier in the day and with closer David Bednar unavailable due to a lingering lat issue, Hernandez took advantage of his opportunity by throwing nine of 11 pitches for strikes in a blemish-free 12th to pick up his first career save. The Pirates are currently missing a couple of bullpen arms to start the season, putting Hernandez in position to help the bullpen prior to a likely return trip to Triple-A once the Bucco bullpen returns to full capacity.
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Mark Leiter RP | ATH
Cubs' Mark Leiter: Effective on Opening Day
Leiter tossed 1.2 scoreless innings of relief in Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Rangers. He struck out three.
With Justin Steele (hamstring) getting pulled after only 4.2 innings, the Cubs needed some length from their bullpen, and Leiter stepped up. The righty was solid in 2023, and while he should help the team this year, he has limited fantasy upside working in front of Hector Neris and closer Adbert Alzolay.
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Mets' Max Kranick: Heads to IL
The Mets placed Kranick (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Kranick is recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, which he sustained in his only Grapefruit League start back on Feb. 26. It's unclear where Kranick stands in his recovery at this point, but the injury cost him any chance he had of making a case for a back-end spot in the New York rotation. Kranick has a minor-league option remaining, so if the Mets want to have him stay stretched out as a starter, he could be sent to Triple-A Syracuse once he's reinstated from the IL.
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Adbert Alzolay RP | NYM
Cubs' Adbert Alzolay: Struggles in 2024 debut
Alzolay allowed a run on a hit and a walk to blow the save in Thursday's 4-3, 10-inning loss to the Rangers.
Alzolay entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning staked to a 3-2 lead but promptly allowed a tying home run to pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski. He walked another hitter before escaping the frame. Alzolay only blew three saves in 25 opportunities last season and posted a strong 2.67 ERA, so he should have some leeway in the early going. However, veteran Hector Neris is now on the roster, and he could push Alzolay for closing duties at some point this year if the struggles persist.
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Taylor Clarke RP | ARI
Brewers' Taylor Clarke: Goes on IL with meniscus tear
The Brewers placed Clarke (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right meniscus tear.
According to MLB.com, Clarke is expected to miss at least 6-to-8 weeks due to the injury, which he suffered during a workout in the final week of spring training. Surgery apparently isn't off the table for Clarke, which would extend his recovery timeline and potentially put him at risk of missing the season. For the time being, Clarke looks like he'll try to treat the injury with rest and rehab, so he'll pause his baseball activities for the next two weeks before likely beginning a throwing program. Before suffering the injury, Clarke had been expected to fill a middle-relief role after posting a 5.95 ERA and 1.61 WHIP over 59 innings with the Royals in 2023.
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Devin Williams RP | NYM
Brewers' Devin Williams: Heads to IL
The Brewers placed Williams (back) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Williams isn't expected to resume throwing for another month and likely won't be ready for game action until around midseason while he recovers from two stress fractures in his back, so he could be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL the next time the Brewers need to open up room on the 40-man roster. The Brewers have yet to anoint a new closer in place of Williams, but Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe and Joel Payamps look to be the early frontrunners to contend for save chances.