MLB Player News

Hoffman blew his save opportunity during the Blue Jays' 9-7 extra-inning win over the Brewers on Tuesday, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning.

The Blue Jays' bats rallied with three runs at the top of the ninth inning, prompting manager John Schneider to bring out Hoffman to protect a 6-4 lead. However, Hoffman lacked command during Tuesday's outing, recording just 14 strikes on 32 pitches (43.8 percent), and the two runs he yielded tied things up at 6-6. He was pulled after walking Garrett Mitchell to load the bases, but fortunately for Hoffman, he did not take the loss after Louis Varland struck out Joey Ortiz on three pitches. Hoffman has struck out 18 batters across 8.1 innings this season but has blown three of five save opportunities, and his grip on Toronto's closer job might be loosening. If he can't turn things around, then Schneider may turn closing duties over to candidates like Varland, Tyler Rogers and, when he returns from the 15-day injured list, Yimi Garcia (elbow).

Sulser will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

Sulser has given up eight runs (six earned) over nine innings to begin the season, but the Rays will look to him to get through the first inning of Wednesday's contest. Jesse Scholtens is expected to work in bulk relief once Sulser is taken out of the game.

The Yankees optioned De Los Santos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

De Los Santos was brought up from Triple-A before Tuesday's game against the Angels, and he'll now head back to the minors after giving up one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out one batter over two innings. The 28-year-old made 25 appearances for the Yankees last season and could be called upon again later in the year to provide the big club with bullpen depth.

Baker earned the save in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the White Sox after recording the final out of the game.

The Rays held an 8-3 lead heading into the ninth, but the team turned to Baker to record the final out of the game after Yoendrys Gomez gave up a two-run homer to Munetaka Murakami, and Baker successfully closed things out by getting Edgar Quero to fly out to center field. Baker has converted three of his four save opportunities and has allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven across 6.1 innings this season.

Kittredge's (shoulder) minor-league rehab assignment has been halted due to paternity leave, per Jake Rill of MLB.com.

Through three outings for Triple-A Norfolk, Kittredge has given up one run on three hits and one walk while fanning five over 2.2 innings. The right-hander is likely to continue his assignment once he's ready to get back on the mound, so his season debut with the Orioles may not come until late April at this point.

Fairbanks (0-1) blew the save and took the loss during Tuesday's game against Atlanta. He allowed three runs on three hits while striking out one batter across one inning.

The Marlins brought out Fairbanks for the bottom of the eighth while holding a 5-3 lead. He retired two of the first three batters he faced before loading the bases, and he was unable to get out of the frame unscathed after yielding a bases-clearing double to Dominic Smith. Fairbanks collected a save in two of his first three outings of the season while striking out five batters across three innings. However, he has allowed three earned runs in each of his last two appearances. If Fairbanks can't figure out his command, then that might force the Marlins look to other closing options out of the bullpen such as Michael Petersen, Tyler Phillips, Calvin Faucher or Anthony Bender.

Lopez did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Marlins, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out six across five innings.

Lopez was back in the rotation for Atlanta after serving his five-game suspension. He got off to a rough start by allowing four runs through the first two innings, but he settled in to keep the Marlins off the board for the rest of his outing. Lopez generated only five whiffs on 96 pitches (53 strikes) but struck out five of the last 10 batters he faced. Through four starts, Lopez has a 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB over 20.2 innings. His next start is tentatively slated for this weekend on the road against the Phillies.

Iglesias earned the save against the Marlins on Tuesday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Atlanta's three-run eighth inning gave the team a 6-5 lead heading to the ninth, prompting the call for Iglesias to close things out. He needed just 10 pitches (seven strikes) to secure the win for his team, striking out the first two batters he faced before getting Graham Pauley to fly out to center field. Iglesias has collected a save in three of his last four outings and has yet to yield a run across 6.2 innings this season.

Vest (1-2) struck out all three batters he faced in an inning of relief to earn the win in Tuesday's 2-1 victory over the Royals.

Vest was making his first relief appearance in five days, and he got hit hard his last time out, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk while retiring only two batters. The veteran looked much better Tuesday and lowered his ERA from 7.94 to 6.75. Vest has allowed five earned runs across two of his eight outings so far, but he's been spotless in his other six appearances, and better days should be ahead for the typically reliable righty after enduring a few hiccups in the early going.

Jansen worked around a hit to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the save in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.

After securing just one save through the first 13 games of the season, Jansen now has two in Detroit's last four contests. The lack of opportunities overall has limited the veteran to only 3.2 innings so far out of the bullpen, though he's looked sharp in the small sample with a 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and six strikeouts. The Tigers figure to pick up the pace, and Jansen would stand to benefit as the team's unquestioned closer.