MLB Player News

De Paula, 21, compiled a 5.22 ERA and 87/37 K/BB ratio over 112 innings in the California League this season. Right-handed hitters enjoyed much more success against him, so he may be looking at a career as a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen.

Jensen was released after posting an underwhelming 6.59 ERA across 28 2/3 innings (21 appearances) this season for Triple-A St. Paul. The 27-year-old righty has been on the 40-man rosters for the Cubs, Mariners, Marlins and Twins over the past three years, but never made an appearance in the big leagues.

Devers, who has been playing through a lingering groin issue, has been fielding grounders at first base recently and appears poised to make his debut at the position in the near future. The 28-year-old slugger should get some extended runway at the cold corner with top prospect Bryce Eldridge, who was a potential call-up option in the near future, expected to miss 3-4 weeks with a hamstring strain.

The 12 strikeouts are just one off his career high established against the Giants last July. He really embraced the curve for a second straight start, throwing it 29% of the time. He also used it 30% of the time against the Astros last week, compared to just 11% of the time previously this year. Kikuchi is the major league leader with 44 walks this season, but just one of those came today, and he has a 31/3 K/BB over his last three starts. The win was his third in seven starts after he went 0-4 in his first 10 turns. He’ll pitch in Atlanta next time out.

Zeferjahn was part of the four-for-one deal for Luis García last summer, when the Red Sox made their offseason 40-man roster decisions easier by sending he, Niko Kavadas, Matthew Lugo and Yeferson Vargas to the Angels. Vargas was the only one in the group that didn’t need to be protected from the Rule 5 draft last winter, and while it was obviously a terrible trade for the Red Sox, given how poorly Garcia performed, Boston probably wasn’t going to keep everyone anyway. That said, the Red Sox surely now wish they’d given Zeferjahn a look before trading him. He has a 3.61 ERA and a 56/21 K/BB in 47 1/3 innings for the Angels since debuting last August.

He struck out six. Fitts was working on three scoreless frames before Jo Adell and Travis d’Arnaud homered consecutively to begin the fourth. Since he’s still building up after missing six weeks with a lat strain, Fitts was lifted from a tie game after four innings and 83 pitches. The Red Sox went on to lose from there to fall to 0-10 in Fitts’ starts since he debuted last September. It’s a pretty crazy record, given that Fitts has allowed zero runs four times (including the three-inning outing in which he was hurt in April) and more than three runs only twice. It’s unclear if Fitts will stick around, but if he does, he’ll probably face the Reds on Tuesday.

Adell has hit in eight straight games, though he had exactly one hit in each of the first seven of those. Of his 17 homers, 11 have come in his last 24 games. The Angels seem to be taking some notice, too; Adell batted fifth today after hitting no higher than sixth previously this year.

Ward is still getting his homers, but his average is back down to .208 now. In his last 30 games, he’s at .178 with just one multihit game in the span. Heck, he has only 11 multhit affairs in 78 games this season. Ronald Acuña Jr. has 13 in 29 games since returning from a torn ACL.

Fujinami never made it to Seattle after signing a minor league deal with the club back in January. The 31-year-old righty hasn’t appeared in the big leagues since making 64 appearances (seven starts) between the Athletics and Orioles. He was cut loose after posting a lackluster 5.79 ERA with a 24/26 K/BB ratio across 18 2/3 innings (21 appearances) this season for Triple-A Tacoma.

It’s a massive relief for the Angels and fantasy managers as Neto will likely avoid a trip to the injured list after jamming his right shoulder on a stolen base attempt during Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox. The 24-year-old shortstop could potentially be ready to return for Friday’s series opener against the Nationals.

Pivetta gave up just three singles and walked none while throwing 90 pitches today. It’s his 19th career 10-strikeout game and second of this season. He’s pitched seven scoreless innings four times this year, though the other three came in his first five starts in April. He’s now 8-2 with a 3.36 ERA, and he’s in line to face the Phillies next week.