MLB Player News

Baker (1-0) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win in Tuesday's 12-8 victory over the Athletics.

Baker kept the game tied at 7-7 with his fourth straight clean outing, and the Orioles' offense rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. This was Baker's first win to go with two holds through six appearances this season. Aside from a three-run blow-up on Opening Day versus the Red Sox, he's been pretty solid, though that outing has him at a 4.26 ERA with a 0.63 WHIP over 6.1 innings. He's added an 8:1 K:BB and should remain in the high-leverage mix as part of the bridge to closer Felix Bautista.

Estevez earned the save Tuesday against the Nationals after he fired a scoreless ninth inning, allowing no hits and one walk with no strikeouts.

The right-hander issued a one-out walk but was otherwise able to close out the save opportunity with minimal fanfare. Estevez and Jose Quijada now each have one save apiece for the Angels, with Jimmy Herget also in the mix for the closer role. Tucker Davidson also has a save this season, but he pitched four frames in that outing and should continue to serve as a long reliever.

Johnson (0-1) was charged with the loss Tuesday against the Cardinals after he allowed three runs on three hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning.

Johnson entered for the ninth inning with the game tied 6-6, only to surrender a home run to Nolan Gorman on his first pitch, and St. Louis then struck for two more runs. The right-hander has served as Colorado's closer to begin the season with Daniel Bard on the injured list due to anxiety, and he has three saves with four runs allowed and a 7:4 K:BB across 4.2 innings.

Helsley earned the save Tuesday in Colorado after he allowed two hits and no walks during a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out two.

Helsley gave up singles to the first two batters he faced, but he rebounded to retire the next three hitters on just 10 pitches. The 28-year-old surrendered two runs and took a blown save in his season debut, but he's been unscored upon with two saves in his past three outings.

The Angels optioned Wantz to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Wantz is being moved down to make room for Griffin Canning (groin), who'll come off the injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Nationals. The right-hander will likely be up as a middle reliever for the Angels in the coming weeks.

Barlow (0-1) was charged with the loss and a blown save Tuesday against the Rangers after he allowed four runs (three earned) on two hits and one walk over two-thirds of an inning. He didn't strike out any batters.

The right-hander entered for the 10th inning with Kansas City leading 5-4 and retired the first two batters he faced, but a single and a walk set up Jonah Heim for a walkoff three-run homer. It's the first time Barlow has been scored on this season, but the outing will balloon his ERA for at least the next couple weeks. Barlow and Aroldis Chapman each have one save for the Royals this season, as wins have been few and far between over the first couple weeks.

Leclerc was charged with a blown save during Tuesday's win over the Royals after he allowed one unearned run on one hit and two walks over 1.1 innings. He did not record a strikeout.

Lefty Will Smith opened the ninth inning by giving up a leadoff single, and Leclerc was stuck with the blown save after allowing the inherited runner to score. He then returned for the 10th and recorded one out before being lifted, and he was charged an unearned run when the designated runner later came around to score. Leclerc and Smith appear to be working as a closer committee and have one save apiece in the early going, with Tuesday marking the first time either reliever has been scored upon this season.

Englert allowed five runs on four hits across two innings of relief in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays. He walked one and struck out four.

Starter Matt Manning was saddled with the loss in the 9-3 defeat, but Englert certainly didn't help Detroit's cause. The righty entered the game having allowed just one earned run across his first 5.1 innings, but after the rough outing, his ERA shot up to 7.36. Englert should remain in a middle-relief role with limited fantasy appeal.

Pressly (0-2) took the loss in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Pirates while giving up a walkoff three-run homer and getting just one out. He struck out one.

Pressly gave up singles to Rodolfo Castro and Andrew McCutchen with a strikeout of Jack Suwinski sandwiched between, and then saw Ji Hwan Bae clobbered a three-run homer off him to give the Pirates the win and Pressly the loss. It has not been a strong start for the Astros closer, as he sees his ERA balloon to 8.44 by allowing five runs over 5.1 innings without picking up a save in his first six appearances.

Bednar (1-0) blew the save, but he picked up the win anyway in Tuesday's 7-4 victory over Houston. He allowed two runs on two hits with one walk while striking out one over one inning.

Bednar was given a two-run lead in the ninth inning, but the right-hander gave up a two-run double to Chas McCormick to blow his first save of the season. Fortunately for Bednar, Ji-Hwan Bae blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning, so it did allow him to pick up his first victory of 2023.