MLB Player News

Chapman (0-1) allowed a run on a hit and a walk with one strikeout over one inning, taking the loss Monday versus the Diamondbacks.

Chapman started the year on an eight-inning scoreless streak, but it came to a close Monday. He walked Christian Walker and allowed a single to Gabriel Moreno before Nick Ahmed's fielder's choice plated the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Chapman still has an excellent 16:3 K:BB with a 1.00 ERA and 0.67 WHIP through nine innings. However, the Royals' 5-18 start to the season has allowed him to pick up just one save and one hold. Chapman's usage suggests he's still at least slightly behind the struggling Scott Barlow in the closer hierarchy.

Barria (1-1) allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks over two innings Monday against Oakland. He was charged with a blown save and a loss while striking out one.

Barria entered the ninth inning with two runners on base and eventually walked in the game-tying run. He then coughed up three runs in the 10th, including a two-run double by Ryan Noda. Barria had turned in 7.2 consecutive scoreless innings since coughing up four runs in his season debut. He's sporting a 4.05 ERA across 13.1 innings.

Fujinami will be used out of the bullpen until further notice, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Fujinami has struggled as a starter through the first few weeks of the 2023 campaign, accruing a 14.40 ERA and 2.07 WHIP with a 12:12 K:BB across 15 frames. "We're going to put him in the pen and try to use him in a leverage role where we could watch him throw strikes and get his fastball command back," said manager Mark Kotsay, per Gallegos. "Not to say he can't return into the rotation, but in the short term, we're going to assess him in that direction."

Cisnero pitched a scoreless inning of relief and earned a hold in Monday's win over the Brewers.

The hold was the second of the season for Cisnero, who lowered his ERA to 4.50 to go along with a 1.38 WHIP and seven strikeouts across eight innings. He pitched the sixth inning in Monday's 4-2 win while Alex Lange closed things out in the ninth, so it seems like Cisnero is firmly in a setup role for the Tigers, which limits his fantasy appeal.

Lange struck out two batters in a perfect inning and earned a save over Milwaukee on Monday.

Lange tossed nine of 14 pitches for strikes in the dominant outing, including four whiffs. He's turned in seven straight scoreless appearances, posting an 11:2 K:BB during that stretch. He lowered his season ERA to 1.64 and has converted his last two save opportunities after blowing his first chance April 3.

Morejon (elbow) is expected to toss a bullpen session in Chicago on Tuesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The bullpen session, if it takes place as scheduled, will mark Morejon's first time on a mound since leaving a spring training game due to left arm discomfort in mid-March. The southpaw underwent a subsequent MRI that came back negative, but he was nonetheless placed on the 60-day IL prior to Opening Day. Morejon isn't eligible to come off the injured list until late May.

Rodriguez (shoulder) threw a scoreless inning for Triple-A Memphis on Sunday during a rehab appearance, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez threw eight pitches in the contest with six landing for strikes. The right-hander was the Cardinals' Rule 5 draft pick in December, and his rehab stint from right shoulder inflammation will expire on May 9. After that, Rodriguez will either need to be promoted to the major-league roster or the Cardinals will have to offer him back to the Yankees.

Rodriguez (oblique) threw a bullpen session Monday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Rodriguez has thrown two bullpen sessions over the last few days and appears to be nearing a rehab assignment. He's been on the 15-day injured list since suffering a Grade 2 oblique strain on March 18 and remains without a firm timetable for a return.

Martin (shoulder) threw a bullpen before Monday's game against the Orioles and he could be activated off the injured list this weekend, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Martin was placed on the injured list retroactive to April 13 with shoulder inflammation, and it appears the right-hander will come off the IL right around when he's eligible to be a part of the Red Sox bullpen. He'll likely operate in the middle innings once he's with the club.

Pomeranz (neck/elbow) will need at least one one more rehab outing before being activated from the injured list, per MLB.com.

Pomeranz has appeared in two games with Single-A Lake Elsinore thus far, hurling two perfect innings and notching one strikeout. It appears the veteran hurler could be ready to join the Padres' bullpen after one more rehab outing, which would be a much-needed boost to a relief corps that is currently without Robert Suarez (elbow) and fellow lefty Adrian Morejon (elbow), among others. Pomeranz hasn't pitched in a big-league game since August of 2021, so he may be used in lower-leverage situations initially.