MLB Player News

Underwood (hamstring) threw a side session Monday and is expected to join the Pirates for their weekend road trip in Chicago to face hitters in live batting practice, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pitching in the live batting practice will likely be the final hurdle Underwood needs to clear in his recovery from a sore right hamstring before the Pirates send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. As a reliever, Underwood won't require much ramp-up time, so he could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list before the end of April or in the first week of May.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Kranick (forearm) threw a side session at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Kranick made his first rehab start for Low-A Bradenton on April 12, but he may have suffered a minor setback coming out of that outing, as he hasn't pitched since. The fact that he hasn't been shut down from throwing can be viewed as a positive sign, and he looks poised to throw again this weekend. If all goes well, Kranick could make his second rehab start at some point during the upcoming week for Indianapolis.

De Los Santos' contract was selected by the Guardians on Wednesday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

De Los Santos signed a minor-league deal with Cleveland in early December, but he'll now join the big-league club after several pitchers were placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason Wednesday. The right-hander has made four appearances at Triple-A Columbus to begin the year and has posted a 4.91 ERA and 1.64 WHIP in 3.2 innings.

Jackson struck out the lone batter he faced on four pitches en route to recording his first career save Tuesday in the Athletics' 2-1 win over the Orioles.

Jackson was the recipient of the Athletics' first save chance after Lou Trivino was moved to the COVID-19 injured list Monday. The left-handed Sam Moll initially took the hill to begin the ninth inning and struck out two batters and allowed a base hit, but manager Mark Kotsay opted to summon the right-handed Jackson from the bullpen to record the game's final out. Kotsay could be inclined to play matchups in the late innings while Trivino is sidelined, so Jackson likely won't make for an appealing pickup even for managers who are speculating on saves.

Ottavino (1-0) walked one in a scoreless 10th inning Tuesday to pick up the win in the first game of a doubleheader against the Giants.

It was far from a sharp effort, as Ottavino threw only eight of 17 pitches for strikes, but he escaped danger thanks to a great defensive play at first base by Pete Alonso to snag a wide throw from Francisco Lindor, who subsequently atoned for the miscue by singling home Brandon Nimmo for the winning run in the bottom of the frame. Ottavino has yet to collect a save or a hold through his first five appearances for the Mets, but he's otherwise had a solid start to the season with a 0.00 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through 4.2 innings.

May recorded his first save of the season in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning to secure a 3-1 win over the Giants.

In the matinee, Edwin Diaz worked the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4 while Seth Lugo handled the eighth and Adam Ottavino the 10th, leaving closing duties in May's hands for the nightcap. May stumbled out of the gate to begin the season but has now delivered two straight clean appearances, leaving him with a 4.50 ERA and 2:1 K:BB through four innings. However, he's still looking for his first win or hold.

Robles (1-0) earned the win Tuesday when he struck out two over 1.2 scoreless relief innings in a 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays.

Robles, who was a late addition to spring training due to visa issues and nearly left off the Opening Day roster, has been dominant early on for Boston. He hasn't allowed a run over five innings (four appearances), extending his scoreless streak to 19 appearances (18.2 innings) dating back to last season. Robles has posted a 0.70 WHIP, .098 BAA, 22 strikeouts and seven walks over that span. The back end of Boston's bullpen was unsettled to start the season, but it looks like Robles and Jake Diekman (picked up his fourth hold Tuesday) will be featured prominently in the final third of games.

Finnegan picked up a hold in both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Diamondbacks.

After walking one and striking out one in a scoreless eighth inning in the matinee, Finnegan worked a perfect eighth in the nightcap while fanning another Arizona batter. The right-hander now has three holds and a win through six appearances to begin the season with a 4.76 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB through 5.2 innings, and should Tanner Rainey falter as the closer -- something he nearly did in the second game Tuesday before escaping a no-out, bases-loaded, ninth-inning jam -- Finnegan would likely be the next man up for save chances.

Rainey collected his third save of the season in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Called upon to protect a 1-0 lead, Rainey managed to load the bases with nobody out before escaping the jam he'd created. The right-hander has an unblemished ERA and 4:1 K:BB through four innings to begin the season and has yet to blow a save chance, but Rainey has a long way to go before he should be considered reliable as the Nationals' closer.

Gilbert (0-1) took the loss during the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

It was an impressive season debut for the 28-year-old lefty, who was called up earlier in the day to make a spot start, but unfortunately for Gilbert he had no margin for error as the Diamondbacks got shut out in the nightcap. He will likely be returned to Triple-A Reno, but Gilbert's performance might have been good enough to let him stick around in the majors in a swingman/sixth starter role.