MLB Player News

Clase (shoulder) tossed a scoreless eighth inning in Game 1 of the Guardians' doubleheader against the Red Sox on Saturday, striking out two batters without allowing a walk or a hit.

Clase was experiencing right shoulder discomfort following his last outing against the Pirates on April 20. He was not used out of the Guardians' bullpen this past week, but he felt good enough to come in for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, striking out the first two batters he faced before forcing a Blake Sabol ground out to record his first hold. It appears to be a temporary break from ninth-inning duties for Clase, with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt saying after Game 1 that Clase "will be back in that closer role... he was great," per Brian Dulik of The Associated Press. Clase has a 7.15 ERA, 2.03 WHIP, four saves and an 11:3 K:BB across 11.1 innings this season.

Smith recorded his third save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one batter.

Emmanuel Clase, who had been dealing with a sore shoulder, struck out two in a perfect eighth inning during the matinee as he saw his first game action since Sunday, leaving the ninth to Smith. Smith has been by far the more effective pitcher of the two in the early going, posting a 1.29 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB through 14 innings while converting all three of his save chances and adding seven holds, but the Guardians would prefer for Clase to regain his form and settle back in to closing duties.

Lively didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Half the hits off Lively went for extra bases, including homers by Wilyer Abreu in the first inning and Rafael Devers in the third. The right-hander has had an up-and-down beginning to the season, and Lively will take a 4.40 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 23:11 K:BB through 30.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Twins.

Houck came away with a no-decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Guardians, giving up four runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander has yet to put together back-to-back strong outings this season, but there were signs of progress Saturday for Houck. He generated 32 called or swinging strikes among his 94 pitches (61 total strikes), and he avoided issuing multiple free passes for the first time in 2025. Houck is still looking for his first win of the year, and he'll take a 7.58 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 24:12 K:BB through 29.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.

Jung went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.

Jung has hit safely in four straight games, going 5-for-15 (.333) with a walk, a home run, a double and a steal in that span. The third baseman was caught stealing in Friday's game versus the Giants before successfully recording his second theft of the year Saturday. Overall, he's hitting .275 with a .760 OPS, two homers, seven RBI, six runs scored, two steals, five doubles and a triple over 71 plate appearances. Jung is looking no worse for wear after a short stint on the injured list due to neck spasms early in the season.

Pillar went 1-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Giants.

Pillar has settled into a short-side platoon role in the Rangers' outfield, and he got the start in center field against southpaw Robbie Ray on Saturday. There's always been some speed in Pillar's game, so it shouldn't be too surprising to see him get involved on the basepaths. He's batting .300 with a .667 OPS, one RBI, six runs scored and three steals over 30 plate appearances in 2025, but there's virtually no chance he sees steady playing time, especially with the Rangers' outfield at full health.

Vest walked one and struck out two over 1.1 scoreless innings to record his third save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles.

The 29-year-old righty continued a dominant stretch that has seen him reel off 11 straight scoreless appearances since giving up a solo homer to Mookie Betts on March 28. Vest appears to be the top option for saves right now in the Tigers' bullpen, posting a 0.75 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB through 12 innings on the season, although Tommy Kahnle -- who didn't pitch in Saturday's matinee -- also remains in the ninth-inning mix.

Mahle allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out one over five innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Saturday.

This could have been much worse for Mahle, but he induced a couple of double plays to limit the damage. A game-tying two-run single by Willy Adames in the fifth inning took Mahle out of the running for the win. The right-hander has still put together an excellent first month of the season, pitching to a 1.14 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB in 31.2 innings over six starts. This was the first time he's allowed multiple runs in an outing this season, though an early hook in his 1.2-inning season debut spared him an uglier stat line in that game. Mahle is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Athletics.

Mize (4-1) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, allowing one run on eight hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander made only one real mistake on the afternoon, which Ryan O'Hearn deposited into the left-field seats for a solo shot in the fourth inning. Mize has given up one run or fewer in four of his five starts to begin the season, and he'll take a 2.12 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB through 29.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week against the Angels.

The Mariners plan to promote Evans from Triple-A Tacoma to start Sunday's game against the Marlins, Tim Booth of The Seattle Times reports.

The Mariners have an opening in their rotation with Logan Gilbert (elbow) now on the injured list, and it seems they will call upon one of their top pitching prospects to fill the gap. Evans, 23, has made five starts at Triple-A Tacoma, turning in a 3.86 ERA and 1.27 WHIP alongside a 23:4 K:BB across 25.2 innings. Whether he will remain in the rotation past Sunday's outing may depend on how he performs against a mediocre Marlins offense, though the fact that the M's are expected to be without both Gilbert and George Kirby (shoulder) for several more weeks certainly helps Evans' chances.