MLB Player News

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.

Leiter tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to record a hold in Saturday's 4-1 win against Seattle. He struck out one.

Leiter came on in relief of starter Shota Imanaga in the sixth inning, then helped take the team into the seventh. The righty has been excellent so far with a 0.00 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 10 strikeouts across eight innings. Leiter was a trusted member of the bullpen a season ago with 28 holds, four saves and a 3.50 ERA across 69 appearances, and it looks like he'll have a similar role in 2024.

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.

Sands earned the save in game two of Saturday's doubleheader against the Tigers, pitching 2.1 perfect innings while striking out three.

Sands relieved Kody Funderburk with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and was able to retire the final batter on just one pitch to close out the frame. The right-hander returned in the eighth and ninth innings and retired the final six batters in succession, earning his first save of the 2024 campaign. Sands has allowed just one run over 7.2 innings of relief to begin the season, posting a 12:1 K:BB over that early stretch. He's also recorded multiple strikeouts in each of his four appearances.

Hoffman (2-0) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

After shutting Pittsburgh down on 17 pitches (11 strikes) in the top of the ninth to preserve a 3-3 tie, Hoffman got rewarded when Nick Castellanos walked it off with a single in the bottom of the frame. The right-hander has had a strong start to the season in a high-leverage role, being scored upon in only one of his seven appearances while posting a 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB, but the ninth-inning picture for the Phillies could get even more crowded when Orion Kerkering (forearm) gets added to the mix, joining Hoffman (one save) and Jose Alvarado (two saves).

Urena (0-1) picked up the loss to Houston on Saturday. He allowed five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings.

Urena allowed his first runs of the season after throwing 9.1 scoreless frames. He ran into some bad luck during Houston's seven-run seventh inning. Three of the five hits allowed during the inning had expected batting averages of .040, .150 and .180.

Phillips earned a save against the Padres on Saturday, allowing two hits in a scoreless inning of work.

Phillips entered in the ninth inning with Los Angeles holding a three-run lead. He gave up a pair of one-out singles but didn't allow any runs to cross the plate. Phillips has allowed just one run through eight outings so far this season. He has a 1.17 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB over 7.2 innings while collecting five saves, tied for second-most in MLB.

Alzolay earned a save against the Mariners on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless inning.

Alzolay entered in the ninth frame staked to a three-run lead. He surrendered a two-out single but nothing more to pick up his second save this season. Alzolay has also blown two save opportunities, but he's pitched pretty well overall with a 2.70 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB over 6.2 innings.