-
Javy Guerra RP | ATL
Rays' Javy Guerra: Joins big club
The Rays will add Guerra to their 26-man roster Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 27-year-old was acquired from the Brewers on Saturday and will officially join his new team ahead of Sunday's series finale versus the White Sox. He finished last season with Tampa Bay before being dealt to Milwaukee during the offseason. Guerra surrendered eight runs on 10 hits with a 5:9 K:BB across 8.1 innings with the Brewers this season, and he should fill a low-leverage role for the Rays.
-
Calvin Faucher RP | MIA
Rays' Calvin Faucher: Sent to Triple-A
Tampa Bay optioned Faucher to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.
With Javy Guerra reporting to the Rays on Sunday after being acquired from Milwaukee, Faucher's demotion is necessary to create room on the 26-man roster. Faucher had been serving as an opener of late for Tampa Bay and had allowed a run in all but one of his appearances in April while registering a 6.43 ERA and 11:6 K:BB across 14 innings. He could be back with Tampa Bay in the coming weeks when the big club requires a fresh arm.
-
Scott Barlow RP | ATH
Royals' Scott Barlow: Picks up fourth save
Barlow gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Twins.
He was dialed in, firing 14 of his 15 pitches for strikes, and after giving up a pair of one-out singles he retired Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach to secure Kansas City's seventh win of the year. A couple implosions have tainted Barlow's ratios, but he remains the preferred option in the ninth inning over Aroldis Chapman despite his 6.10 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB through 10.1 innings.
-
Ryan Brasier RP | TEX
Red Sox's Ryan Brasier: Cedes multiple runs again
Brasier allowed three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's 8-7 extra-inning win over Cleveland.
Brasier was the most egregious part of a bullpen meltdown and has allowed multiple runs in five of 14 appearances. He survived an offseason bullpen purge, largely because he was a strike thrower, but the right-hander has walked eight in 14 innings and sports an 8.36 ERA. With news that Kenley Jansen (back) is unavailable Sunday, Brasier, who saved a game earlier in April when Jansen was unavailable, could be in line for another opportunity to close.
-
Kenley Jansen RP | DET
Red Sox's Kenley Jansen: Unavailable Sunday
Jansen will not be available to pitch Sunday due to back tightness, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Jansen pitched through a back issue that cropped up prior to Saturday's game and was visited by training staff during the ninth inning. "He'll be down tomorrow," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "Hopefully, he'll be back on Monday." If a save situation arises Sunday, Cora could use a returning Chris Martin (shoulder), who's expected to come off the IL before the game, while lefty Richard Bleier and righty John Schreiber are also available. Ryan Brasier, who picked up a save earlier this season, is also an option, but the right-hander threw 21 pitches Saturday and has allowed eight runs over his last 4.2 innings.
-
Alex Lange RP | KC
Tigers' Alex Lange: Nails down third save
Lange recorded his third save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, giving up two hits and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
The right-hander made things interesting, as he needed 23 pitches (15 strikes) to protect a 7-4 lead, but Lange eventually struck out Ryan Mountcastle to end the matinee. Lange hasn't been tagged with a run in eight straight appearances, posting a 13:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings over that stretch, and while Jason Foley has also been effective in a high-leverage role for Detroit, Lange appears to be tightening his hold on the closer job.
-
Felix Bautista RP | BAL
Orioles' Felix Bautista: Nails down seventh save
Bautista recorded his seventh save of the season in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Tigers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
After seeing his control waver Thursday when he walked three batters and needed 31 pitches to secure his sixth save, Bautista's seventh was a relative breeze as he needed only 10 pitches to carve up Detroit's 6-7-8 hitters. The right-hander is showing he was no one-year wonder after breaking out in 2022, and through 13.2 innings this season he sports a 1.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and dominant 43.1 percent strikeout rate.
-
Brusdar Graterol RP | LAD
Dodgers' Brusdar Graterol: Picks up second save of season
Graterol picked up a save in Saturday's 1-0 victory over St. Louis. He allowed one hit over one scoreless inning and did not walk a batter.
Graterol has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances. The right-hander appears to be sharing closer duties with Evan Phillips this year. The former Twin has been a dependable option this season, posting a 1.00 WHIP with no blown saves.
-
Alexis Diaz RP | TEX
Reds' Alexis Diaz: Nabs save Saturday
Diaz picked up a save against the Athletics on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect ninth inning.
The Reds trailed by a run entering the ninth, but they plated a pair to get the ball in Diaz's hands with a one-run lead. The fireballing closer took over from there, needing 14 pitches to retire the side in order, all on punchouts. Diaz is a perfect 4-for-4 in save opportunities this season, posting a 3.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB over nine innings.
-
Tyler Rogers RP | TOR
Giants' Tyler Rogers: Charged with loss
Rogers (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning, taking the loss Saturday versus the Padres.
The game was played at altitude in Mexico City, making this a pitcher's worst nightmare. Rogers was the unlucky one who gave up a two-run home run to Manny Machado in the seventh inning, which put the Padres ahead for good. Rogers had allowed just one run over 14.1 innings prior to Saturday, and he has a still-solid 1.80 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with a 13:3 K:BB through 12 appearances this season. He's also picked up a save and three holds as a high-leverage option in the Giants' bullpen.