MLB Player News

The Twins recalled Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old lefty opened the campaign on St. Paul's injured list due to a hamstring issue, but he was activated April 11 and has fired six scoreless frames in his first two Triple-A appearances. The Twins have an opening in their starting rotation Wednesday against the Mets, and Rojas is a candidate to fill that spot after being called up for his first taste of the big leagues.

Varland struck out three over 1.1 perfect innings Monday to record his third hold of the season in a 5-2 win over the Angels.

The right-hander has been the Blue Jays' best reliever through the first month of the season, producing a 0.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and dominant 19:3 K:BB through 12.1 innings while allowing just one hit so far on his high-90s four-seamer. Jeff Hoffman righted the ship a bit in Monday's win, striking out the side himself in the ninth while picking up his third save, but the Toronto closer's job security remains low given his three blown saves, 6.97 ERA and 1.94 WHIP. If Hoffman does get removed from the ninth, Varland has positioned himself to be the next man up in save situations.

Valera will undergo an MRI on his right elbow after exiting his most recent start for High-A Greenville last Thursday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Valera missed three months last season with right elbow inflammation. The 19-year-old was placed on Greenville's 7-day injured list Friday, and while the Red Sox seem optimistic that he's not dealing with structural damage to his elbow, more will be known once the imaging results are in. Valera boasts a 1.93 ERA and 17:4 K:BB over 9.1 frames so far this season with Greenville.

Tolle had a start skipped at Triple-A Worcester over the weekend as part of a contingency plan for the Red Sox, who may need to call him up for a spot start this week, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The Red Sox didn't need to call up Tolle for their recent four-game set versus the Tigers, but he could be needed as a potential replacement in the rotation for Sonny Gray, who is expected to land on the 15-day injured list after suffering a hamstring injury during his start in Monday's 8-6 win over Detroit. Tolle is the logical candidate to replace Gray, who's next turn through the rotation was set for Saturday in Baltimore.

Hancock allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over five-plus innings in a no-decision against the Athletics on Monday.

Hancock held the A's to just one run (on a Carlos Cortes solo homer) through five frames, but he then served up back-to-back solo shots to Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers in the sixth before being pulled. It was just the second time through five outings that Hancock has been unable to complete six frames, and Monday marked the first time the right-hander has served up more than one long ball in a contest. Hancock has opened the campaign pitching quite well, posting a 2.83 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB through 28.2 innings.

Detmers (1-2) took the loss against Toronto on Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters over six-plus innings.

Detmers fell behind in the second inning when he served up a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The left-handed hurler got through the following three frames without incident but then gave up another run in the sixth. Detmers took the mound for the start of the seventh but walked the first batter he faced before being lifted, and the runner he put on base eventually came around to score. This wasn't Detmers' most impressive outing, but on a positive note, he completed six frames for the third time through his first five starts. His transition back to a starting role this season has gone mostly well so far, as Detmers holds a 4.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB through 28.2 innings.

Cease (1-0) earned the win over the Angels on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 12 batters over five innings.

Cease needed 110 pitches to get through five frames, but that's largely because Angels hitters had a hard time putting his pitches in play. Of the 15 outs the right-hander recorded, 12 came via punchouts, and Cease racked up a whopping 18 total whiffs. The big performance helped Cease earn his first win as a Blue Jay, though he's pitched well enough this season to deserve more. Through five starts, Cease has posted a 2.10 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 25.2 frames. He also leads MLB with 44 punchouts and has yet to serve up a home run.

Lugo did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing a hit and four walks over seven scoreless innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.

Lugo dazzled in Monday's start, allowing a double to Taylor Ward in the first inning and not surrendering another hit over the remainder of his outing. The crafty right-hander has continued to stack strong outings, posting a 1.15 ERA and 0.93 WHIP across 31.1 innings (five starts), though the results have yielded just a 1-1 record. The 36-year-old is projected to make his next start Sunday against the Angels.

Bradish did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing one run on 10 hits and three walks over 5.1 innings against Kansas City. He struck out seven.

Bradish allowed his share of baserunners but limited the damage, with his lone run allowed coming on a Jac Caglianone solo homer in the second inning. The right-hander had allowed multiple runs in each of his first four starts and entered Monday with a 5.49 ERA, but his effort in Kansas City lowered that mark to 3.96 across 25 innings. Bradish's next start is scheduled for Sunday against Boston.

Boyle (elbow) is playing catch from 90 feet, MLB.com reports.

The Rays are hopeful that the right-hander will be able to throw a bullpen session by the end of April. Boyle is on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow strain, and he may need a minor-league rehab assignment before being cleared to rejoin Tampa Bay's rotation. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be available until sometime in May.