MLB Player News

Bristo struck out four and walked one over three hitless innings Thursday, earning a save in a 9-3 victory over the Red Sox.

While Bristo shouldn't be expected to receive many three-inning save opportunities, it was quite a debut for the 28-year-old right-hander. Despite the impressive performance, Bristo likely won't serve more than an occasional long-relief role in Tampa Bay. He posted a 4.56 ERA in 53.1 innings last season with Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre before signing a minor-league deal with the Rays in January.

Hearn was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock by the Rangers on Thursday.

Hearn has struggled in a mop-up role, coughing up eight runs in seven innings. The Rangers will make a corresponding move prior to Friday's game in Houston.

Romano (2-0) picked up the win Wednesday, walking one in a scoreless 10th inning during a victory over the Tigers.

The closer needed 18 pitches (12 strikes) to keep the game tied at 3-3 in the top of the 10th, before the Blue Jays walked it off in the bottom of the frame. Romano has four saves in addition to his two wins, recording one or the other in each of his first six appearances, with a 7:3 K:BB through six innings.

Rogers (0-1) took the loss Wednesday versus the Dodgers, allowing four runs on four walks while failing to record an out.

Rogers was called upon in the sixth inning, but he threw just 15 of 30 pitches for strikes. One of his walks came on a pitch clock violation. John Brebbia proceeded to allow three inherited runners to score, leaving Rogers with the loss. Rogers has kept runs off the board just once in five appearances, pitching to an awful 18.90 ERA and 3.00 WHIP across his first 3.1 innings with the Giants. With numbers like that, he may have worked his way out of the high-leverage mix for the immediate future.

Yates (1-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's victory over the Reds, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless eighth inning.

The veteran right-hander hasn't had a regular spot in a big-league bullpen since 2019 due to injuries, tossing only 11.1 big-league innings over the last three seasons, but Yates won a spot in the Atlanta bullpen in camp and recorded his first MLB win since 2018 on Wednesday. The 36-year-old has been far from sharp though, posting a 5.79 ERA and 4:6 K:BB through 4.2 innings to begin the season, and he's unlikely to see consistent high-leverage work without improving his control.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Tate (forearm) remains on track to rejoin the Orioles' bullpen at some point in May, Dan Connolly of The Athletic reports.

Tate was diagnosed with a flexor strain back in February but has been throwing for a little while without issue. It's not clear when he might be ready for a rehab assignment, but it shouldn't be too far off.

Smith (1-0), called up from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier in the day, notched the win against the Orioles on Wednesday, firing two scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and recorded three strikeouts.

Smith had pitched to a 2.25 ERA across four innings over three relief appearances with the Aviators, and he carried over the momentum into his Athletics regular-season debut. Smith benefitted from a favorable decision on his behalf by the official scorer, which declined to award Jeurys Familia -- who preceded Smith and was still in the game when the Athletics went ahead for good in the eighth -- the victory due to his brief and ineffective stint on the mound, per the Associated Press. Smith is likely to remain in lower-leverage scenarios during Domingo Acevedo's (back) stay on the injured list.

Coleman was optioned to Triple-A Omaha by the Royals on Thursday.

Coleman came into the season seemingly poised for an integral late-inning relief role following a nice 2022 campaign. However, he struggled in his first five innings this year, getting pummeled for 10 runs with a 5:7 K:BB. Coleman is a good bet to bounce back but will work out the kinks at Omaha for a while.

Kelly was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Red Sox on Thursday with right elbow inflammation.

Kelly is set to undergo more testing, per Chad Jennings of The Athletic, so the inflammation diagnosis isn't final. The righty reliever was injured during Wednesday's game against Tampa Bay and it looked at the time like it could be something significant.

The Rays selected Bristo's contract from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Bristo has allowed three runs with a 7:1 K:BB over five innings in his first four appearances with Durham. The 28-year-old right-hander will be making his major-league debut when he gets into a game.