MLB Player News

Clase allowed two runs on three hits over one inning in Friday's 8-6 win over the Angels.

Clase entered in a non-save situation and was tagged for a pair of runs, including a solo home run. It's unclear why manager Stephen Vogt used his closer, other than the manager perhaps wanting to make sure the Guardians ended a three-game losing streak. Clase, who allowed just five runs over 74.1 innings in 2024, has already ceded three through four innings in 2025.

McKinstry is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox.

McKinstry will get a chance to catch his breath after going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's series opener. Andy Ibanez will take over at the hot corner and bat sixth.

Thaiss isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers.

Thaiss will get a chance to rest Saturday after going 3-for-13 with an RBI and two run scored through his first six games of the season. Korey Lee will catch for Davis Martin instead and bat eighth.

McKinstry went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the White Sox.

It was a productive evening for McKinstry and it continued his impressive start to the season. The utility player is slashing .280/.379/.360 through seven contests, and he's seen time at five different positions already. McKinstry's .739 OPS would be a new career high, but it remains to be seen if the 29-year-old can sustain this level of production over the course of the year.

Maeda allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of relief during Friday's 7-4 win over the White Sox. He struck out one.

Maeda entered the contest in the eighth inning with the Tigers up 7-1, and he made it through his first frame unscathed. However, the righty struggled mightily in the ninth and was yanked without recording any outs. Maeda has only made two appearances so far this year, but he's allowed five runs already over three innings of work. It's an uninspiring start to his relief role, though he does have time to turn things around.

Taveras went 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rays.

The 26-year-old switch hitter hasn't done much at the plate so far -- he's batting .182 (4-for-22) with zero extra-base hits and a 1:6 BB:K -- but Taveras is at least making an impact with his legs. After swiping a career-high 23 bags in 2024, he's gone 4-for-4 in steal attempts through his first seven games of the campaign. Evan Carter has just one hit in 17 at-bats to begin his season at Triple-A Round Rock, so Taveras seems to have a firm hold on the starting center field spot in Texas for now.

Smith went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Rays.

The utility infielder took Zack Littell deep in the seventh inning to account for the game's final run. Smith was getting the start at third base and batting seventh, and he figures to see the bulk of the playing time at the hot corner while Josh Jung (neck) is sidelined. Through seven appearances this season, Smith is batting .250 (4-for-16) with a homer, a steal, two RBI and three runs.

Jackson struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his fourth save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Rays.

The 33-year-old righty has only delivered double-digit saves once before in his career, when he racked up 18 for Atlanta in 2019, but Jackson is well on his way to topping that total in 2025. He's converted four straight save chances to begin the campaign while posting a 5:2 K:BB in 4.1 innings, although a shaky performance in a non-save situation on Opening Day still has him saddled with a 6.23 ERA. The Rangers have other ninth-inning options if he falters, but for now Jackson appears to be following the trail blazed by Kirby Yates in last year's bullpen.

Mahle (1-0) picked up the win Friday in a 5-2 victory over the Rays, allowing one hit and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out five.

The win was Mahle's first in two years, as his last one came as a member of the Twins on April 3, 2023 -- less than a month before he was shut down ahead of Tommy John surgery. The right-hander made only eight starts combined the last two seasons, but he looks healthy to begin 2025 as he attempts to reclaim some of the promise he showed with the Reds earlier in his career. Mahle will take a 1.35 ERA and 8:6 K:BB through 6.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Cubs.

Littell (0-2) took the loss Friday as the Rays were downed 5-2 by the Rangers, coughing up five runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out three.

Most of the damage came in the third inning, when Texas reeled off five straight hits before Littell could record an out. The right-hander has given Tampa Bay some length to begin the year, and through his first two starts he sports a 4.15 ERA and 10:2 K:BB in 13 innings. He'll look to get into the win column in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Angels.