MLB Player News

The Red Sox will use Brennan Bernardino as the opener to face left-handed hitters Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, and possibly even a second inning against Colton Cowser and Samuel Basallo before bringing Fitts into the game. Fitts has been solid for the Red Sox as a rookie, but has allowed five runs on seven hits in four innings his third time through the order, so being in a bulk relief role might be best for him. He’s on the streaming radar in deeper formats for this one.

After being placed on the 60-day IL, a late May/early June return is possible for Jones as he comes back from internal brace surgery on his UCL. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Colin Beazley believes Jones could initially be used as an opener when he does return to limit his innings. Obviously, if that’s the role, Jones will be more of a waiver wire monitor in shallow leagues as he’ll have no real shot to get wins.

There was some talk that Rasmussen could start today’s game after being scratched from his Tuesday start on account of becoming a father. Instead, the plan appears to be for Steven Matz to hold that game and for Rasmussen to go Saturday.

Seigler, acquired in the offseason Caleb Durbin trade, will try to get on track in the minors after opening the season on IL with a knee issue that popped up during late March. Given Boston’s infield depth, he’s probably unlikely to play a major role this season without injuries in front of him.

In what had been a wild back-and-forth affair throughout the night, Bogaerts finally delivered the crushing blow as he ambushed a 1-0 sinker from Valente Bellozo for a 399-foot (108.3 mph EV) game-winning blast. Bogaerts finished the day 2-for-6 with a pair of runs scored and is now slashing .241/.281/.389 with two homers and eight RBI on the season.

Morgan came on with a man on first base and one out in the 11th inning with the Padres trailing by a run. He retired both hitters he faced to escape that jam. The 26-year-old hurler then returned in the 12th after the Padres tied the game in their half of the 11th. After a sacrifice bunt from Jake McCarthy, he got Brenton Doyle to hit a ground ball to shortstop on which Willi Castro was cut down at the plate. He then hit Tyler Freeman before getting Kyle Karros on a ground ball to end the inning. He’s yet another weapon in an unbelievably deep and talented bullpen for the Padres.

Vásquez scattered seven hits on the evening and didn’t allow a base on balls. The only blemish on his night came on a solo blast off the bat of Brenton Doyle in the third inning. The 27-year-old hurler got 13 whiffs on 92 offerings in the ballgame, registering a CSW of 24 percent. He has been brilliant through his first three starts, compiling a 1.02 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and a 19/4 K/BB ratio across 17 2/3 innings. As long as he keeps exhibiting this increased velocity and is piling up strikeouts, he deserves a weekly look in all mixed leagues. Vásquez will do battle against the Mariners his next time out at home on Wednesday.

Sullivan — who entered the game once Hunter Goodman was removed with a lacerated finger — nearly wound up playing the role of hero. He led off the 11th inning by lining a double into the right field corner off of Jeremiah Estrada, giving the Rockies a lead, though they wouldn’t be able to hang onto it. He finished the day 1-for-2 and is now hitting .333/.375/.400 with two RBI on the season.

Doyle opened the scoring in the contest as he crushed a 1-0 sinker from Randy Vásquez for a 408-foot (104.7 mph EV) solo shot in the third inning. He also singled with one out in the fifth inning but never advanced past first base. Doyle also worked a walk in the 10th inning. He struggled in the game’s biggest spot though — with a man on third and one out in the 12th inning — grounding into a fielder’s choice that had the lead run cut down at the plate. The 27-year-old outfielder is off to a very slow start at the plate this season, slashing just .175/.250/.275 while Thursday’s home run was his first RBI on the year.

Dollander punched out three batters on the night while allowing one base on balls. Jimmy Herget started the game as an opener and worked a scoreless first before turning the ball over to Dollander. The lone tally against him came on a sacrifice fly by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third inning. The 24-year-old right-hander racked up 14 swings and misses on 81 pitches — nine of those on his fastball which averaged 99.4 mph and touched as high as 100.9 mph — while posting a CSW of 28 percent. If he’s going to continue to function in this role, he may have some streaming appeal when the Rockies are on the road, which they will be his next time out in Houston on Wednesday.

Goodman was drilled by a 95.1 mph fastball from Randy Vasquez in the sixth inning. It’s unclear how much time (if any) the injury will cause the hard-hitting backstop to miss. The Rockies should have another update on his status prior to Friday’s ballgame.