MLB Player News

Kelly retired both batters he faced in the seventh inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Milwaukee.

Kelly entered a high-leverage situation that might normally be entrusted to Justin Slaten, but Slaten was unavailable due to an oblique injury. With Boston leading, 3-1, the bases loaded and one out, Kelly limited the damage to one run on a pair of groundouts and recorded his first hold. In three appearances since being called up from Triple-A Worcester last week, the right-handed reliever has allowed one run and one hit while striking out one over 2.2 innings. The 31-year-old Kelly is a well-known commodity in the bullpen, having made 98 appearances for the Red Sox over the previous four seasons.

Helsley picked up the save in Tuesday's win against the White Sox, allowing one walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning.

Helsley entered the ninth with a two-run lead and issued a leadoff walk to Dustin Harris but quickly regained control, retiring the next three batters, including two via strikeout. While the righty has now converted four saves, his 4.15 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 7:4 K:BB in 4.1 innings reflect his inconsistency lately. Still, outings like Tuesday's offer a positive sign as Helsley looks to settle into a more reliable groove moving forward.

The Red Sox placed Slaten on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a right oblique strain.

Boston had previously noted that Slaten wasn't available out of the bullpen for Tuesday's 3-2 win over Milwaukee due to a sore oblique, but the righty reliever will now be shut down for at least two weeks after being diagnosed with a strain. The Red Sox recalled lefty Tyler Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester to take Slaten's spot in the bullpen. For his part, Slaten believes his injury is minor and is hopeful to return from the IL when first eligible April 20, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

The Red Sox recalled Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

Samaniego was a late cut after a nice spring training and didn't have to wait long for a promotion. The lefty has permitted three runs (two earned) with a 3:2 K:BB over 5.1 frames in his first three appearances with Worcester. Samaniego will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.

Leiter (0-1) blew the save and took the loss in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees. He allowed four runs on four hits and no walks with no strikeouts over two-thirds of an inning.

Leiter entered in the eighth inning with a two-run cushion but quickly gave it up -- a two-run homer from Amed Rosario gave the Yankees the lead. The veteran right-hander has now recorded a blown save in both of his past two appearances and owns a 10.38 ERA and 2.54 WHIP through 4.1 innings. Leiter is still the only Athletics reliever to record a save this season, but with a closer-by-committee setup and a lack of defined roles in the bullpen, blow-up outings like Tuesday's hurt his chances of seeing consistent high-leverage opportunities.

Bednar struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-3 win over the A's.

The right-hander leads the majors in saves in the early going, one ahead of a group that includes the Dodgers' Edwin Diaz, the Phillies' Jhoan Duran and the Padres' Mason Miller. Bednar hasn't been quite as sharp as some of his peers, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 5:3 K:BB through 5.1 innings, but he has a firm hold on the closing gig with the Yankees.

The White Sox optioned Smith to Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday.

Smith was Chicago's Opening Day starter but finds himself back in the minors after putting up a 10.80 ERA, 2.52 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB over 8.1 innings in his first three starts. The right-hander should rejoin the Chicago rotation eventually, but he will try to get sorted out at Charlotte first. Jonathan Cannon had been on the same schedule as Smith at Charlotte and could be recalled to take the latter's spot in the big-league rotation Sunday in Kansas City.

Mears allowed no hits and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Tuesday's 2-1 loss against Cleveland.

Mears delivered a clean eighth inning Tuesday, with a Chase DeLauter walk serving as the only blemish in a scoreless frame that kept the game tied heading into the ninth before a Cleveland walk-off. Coming off a 3.49 ERA and 0.97 WHIP across 56.2 regular-season innings last year with Milwaukee, Mears is off to a strong start this campaign with Kansas City, as he's yet to allow a run through five innings while already picking up a win and a hold.

O'Brien allowed an unearned run while striking out two in the 10th inning Tuesday to record his third save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming around to score on a groundout and a wild pitch, but O'Brien fanned CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez to lock down the victory. He's now picked up the Cardinals' last three saves and is emerging as the top option in the bullpen, with JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek in setup roles. Through six appearances this season, O'Brien has a 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB in 6.1 innings, adding a win and two holds to his ledger.

Matsui (groin) has turned in two scoreless rehab appearances at Triple-A El Paso, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Matsui got a late start to the season due to a groin strain that caused him to miss the entire Cactus League slate, but he's looked sharp on his rehab assignment thus far. It's unclear what the Padres' target date is for Matsui's activation from the 15-day injured list, but it could come any day now.