MLB Player News

Teodo is the dark horse candidate this spring to emerge as a legitimate closing candidate for the Rangers along with veteran Chris Martin. The hard-throwing 24-year-old was excellent last year at Double-A Frisco as a starter, posting a microscopic 1.98 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 110/50 K/BB ratio across 86 1/3 innings (20 appearances, 19 starts). His overpowering stuff has translated extremely well in shorter bursts out of the bullpen this spring and it wouldn’t be shocking if he made Texas’ season-opening bullpen in a high-leverage role.

The third run came in the 10th, as Gonzales was the automatic runner after grounding out to end the ninth. He came around to score on a Jared Triolo single, and the Pirates added on with another RBI single from Jake Mangum. Prior to that, Gonzales singled and scored on Jacob Gonzalez’s homer in the fifth and then delivered a solo shot off Gerrit Cole in the seventh inning. It’s the second time in his career that he’s scored three runs in a game. He’s hitting .311/.370/.414 with six homers over 395 plate appearances. That average is 54 points better than his career mark of .257 in 923 plate appearances coming into the season.

He left with a 2-0 lead, but it went away in the eighth. Still, it was an unusually strong showing from Keller, who left without allowing a run for the first time since Apr. 8. He generated 15 whiffs and struck out six for just the fourth time in his 20 starts. The no-decision keeps him 6-7 with a 4.90 ERA on the season. He’ll face the Diamondbacks next time out.

It’s Soto’s second save in the last month, as he’s mostly been working in the eighth of late. Today, Mason Montgomery came into a tie game in the eighth and got four outs to send the game to extras. Soto then got the save chance after the Pirates scored twice in the top of the 10th. It’s possible that Soto will regain the closer’s role in Pittsburgh — he’s allowed just one run in 6 2/3 innings this month — but, for now, it should still be considered a committee, with Montgomery and others also in the mix. Yohan Ramírez might have a chance at a save in game two tonight.

Cole bested his previous season high in strikeouts by one. He got 21 whiffs on 53 swings and recorded eight strikeouts with his fastball, which had a 45 percent CSW on the day. Cole was in line for the loss when he threw his final pitch, but the Yankees came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie things up. As a result, Cole remained 3-5 with a 3.92 ERA and an excellent 66/12 K/BB ratio through 62 innings. He’ll likely face the White Sox on Monday.

Rice’s 30th bomb of the year, hit off Carmen Mlodzinski, tied the game, but the Yankees couldn’t add anything from there. Rice struck out in three of his other four at-bats, including with the go-ahead run on in the bottom of the ninth. Still, he’s the one Yankee who can’t be blamed for this loss. He’s the fourth hitter to reach 30 homers this year, joining Yordan Alvarez, Hunter Goodman and Kyle Schwarber.

Altuve will get a much-needed mental break after going 0-for-4 and grounding into a triple play during Tuesday’s game in Miami. The 36-year-old veteran takes a seat for the first time since May 28. It’ll be defensive specialist Nick Allen taking over at the keystone in this one.

Walker provides Baltimore with an extra relief option for Wednesday’s nightcap at Fenway Park. The 31-year-old southpaw has made five relief appearances for the Orioles this season.

Ohtani remains without a definitive timetable to return to pitching for the Dodgers, but he continues to make incremental progress with his throwing progression, which is encouraging. The 32-year-old generational talent is likely to miss at least a couple additional turns in Los Angeles’ rotation after experiencing left knee soreness earlier this month.

Pagés was scratched just prior to first pitch with rookie Jimmy Crooks taking over behind the plate and hitting ninth. He’s day-to-day for now.

Steer wound up requiring a brief one-game absence after being hit by a pitch in the ribs during Monday’s series opener. He’s back in right field and hitting cleanup.