MLB Player News

Kimbrel struck out two batters over a perfect inning to log the save Wednesday against the Red Sox.

After blowing the save in his first appearance of 2024, Kimbrel has logged three straight perfect innings to bring his season ERA down to 2.25. After finishing between 20 and 25 saves the past three seasons, Kimbrel will look to surpass the 30-save mark for the first time since 2018.

Martin (1-1) was charged with Wednesday's loss to Baltimore. He allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out two over one inning.

Martin was one of two relievers that combined to cough up a 5-0 lead during the sixth and seventh innings. He also threw two wild pitches and gave up a three-run home run. Martin, who was Boston's best bullpen arm in 2023, has been tagged with blown saves in each of his last two outings.

Hoffman earned the save Wednesday against the Cardinals, working around a hit in a scoreless ninth inning.

After allowing two runs in his last outing Monday, Hoffman rebounded with a scoreless frame Wednesday to earn his first save of the season and third of his career. The 31-year-old right-hander figures to be in the ninth-inning mix for the Phillies going forward, though Jose Alvarado is likely still the preferred closing option. Overall, Hoffman has a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB through his first six appearances this year.

The Pirates reinstated Mlodzinski (elbow) from the 15-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Mlodzinski suffered an elbow/forearm injury during spring training and has been on the IL since the beginning of the season. He made two rehab appearances, giving up one run across two total innings, but he will remain at Indianapolis despite being fully recovered. The 25-year-old reliever posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 36 MLB innings last season, so there's a good chance he makes a return to Pittsburgh's bullpen if he continues to succeed in the minors.

Okert earned the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers, allowing one hit while recording a strikeout in a scoreless inning.

It's the first save in seven big-league seasons for Okert. The Twins appear to be utilizing a committee approach in the late innings with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the injured list. Griffin Jax, Minnesota's primary high-leverage option, worked the eighth inning Wednesday against the middle of the Dodgers' lineup. The left-hander Okert has allowed one run on five hits and a pair of walks while logging seven strikeouts through his first four innings this season.

Santos (lat) has started a throwing program and is getting closer to beginning mound work, MLB.com reports. "I don't want to get into much more detail on timelines like that, but it has been very positive," manager Scott Servais said.

Servais added that Santos is a "little bit" behind fellow sidelined reliever Matt Brash (elbow) in terms of his progress, but the Mariners' skipper seems encouraged overall by Santos' trajectory. Santos never did see Cactus League action this spring, so he'll be in line for what could be a full-length rehab assignment whenever he reaches that point in his recovery.

Brash (elbow) recently threw a live batting practice session in Arizona that went "very well," per manager Scott Servais, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The valued right-hander remains without a timetable for return, but Servais appeared to be encouraged by the progress Brash has been making in recent throwing sessions. Brash went on the injured list March 29, and considering he never made it into Cactus League action, he'll project for a fairly lengthy rehab assignment whenever he reaches that benchmark.

Reds manager David Bell said Wednesday that he anticipates Young (back) being sidelined until late May, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Young is dealing with a low back disc degeneration, an injury he came into spring training with. He then suffered a setback with the injury in mid-March. It's unclear whether the left-hander has begun a throwing program yet. Young will occupy a lefty relief role for the Reds once he's ready.

Patterson (elbow) struck out one and allowed one earned run on three hits over one inning Sunday in Single-A Myrtle Beach's 10-2 loss to Fayetteville.

Patterson's results weren't anything worth writing home about, but the 28-year-old was likely just happy to get back on the mound again and open the Single-A season healthy. His appearance Sunday was his first in affiliated ball since 2019, as Patterson had missed extensive time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2021 and presumably suffering some sort of setback in his recovery along the way.

Suero was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Suero faced one batter in his one day with the Astros, surrendering a walk-off RBI single in Tuesday's extra-innings loss to the Royals. His roster spot is being absorbed by Wednesday's starter, Spencer Arrighetti.