The Tampa Bay Rays plan to build up right-hander Chris Devenski and left-hander Tyler Alexander to pitch three innings by mid-March. Depending on how they handle that assignment, the coaching staff will determine whether Devenski and Alexander will continue to stretch out as starters or stay put in a multi-inning relief capacity. Neither pitcher is likely to have much fantasy appeal with the Rays in 2024, but they'll give the Rays valuable flexibility either way. The 33-year-old Devenski finished last year with Tampa but had 29 relief appearances for the Los Angeles Angels before that, ultimately finishing with a 4.46 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with 11 walks and 42 strikeouts in 42 1/3 relief innings. Devenski hasn't started a game in the big leagues since 2019, and at best, will be a low-upside AL-only streamer if he makes any starts for the Rays in 2024.

Free-agent right-handed reliever Chris Devenski and the Tampa Bay Rays agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with a team option on Tuesday, according to sources. Devenski began the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Angels and finished it off with the Rays. The 33-year-old had a combined 4.46 ERA (3.96 FIP) and 1.11 WHIP with 11 walks and 42 strikeouts in 42 1/3 relief innings for the Angels and Rays this past season. He'll return to the Rays in 2024 and give them some experienced bullpen depth after just completing his eighth year in the big leagues. Devenski was an All-Star with the Houston Astros back in 2017 and has a decent 3.78 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with eight career saves in 373 1/3 career innings pitched.

Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Chris Devenski has been activated from the bereavement list and added to the active roster, according to Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times. Devenski, who was released by the Angels last week, recently signed a one-year deal with the Rays. He was promptly placed on the bereavement list after signing but he's joining the team now for their weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians. The veteran reliever posted a 5.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 33:9 K/BB ratio to go along with 10 holds over 33 2/3 innings (29 games) with the Halos. He should help bolster Tampa's bullpen depth down the stretch. Left-handed reliever Jalen Beeks was optioned to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed free agent reliever Chris Devenski to a major-league contract, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The 32-year-old last pitched for the Los Angeles Angels this season, posting a 5.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 23.6% strikeout rate across 33 2/3 innings before the club let him go. Devenski gives the Rays a veteran arm who owns a career 3.83 ERA, but with their loaded bullpen, the eight-year veteran likely won't be a factor late in games, and fantasy managers should continue to leave him on the waiver wire.

Los Angeles Angels reliever Chris Devenski is going on the injured list with an apparent hamstring injury. Devenski was shelled on Saturday, giving up five runs to the Houston Astros while recording just two outs. The injury might help explain the bad outing, and frankly bad month, Devenski has endured. Since June 17 the righty has allowed 14 earned runs in 9 IP, and he has allowed at least one run in eight of his ten appearances. Maybe some time on the IL is what is best for Devenski, as it will allow him to rest and hopefully rediscover his early-season form that had him working in high-leverage situations for the Angels.

The Los Angeles Angels and free-agent relief pitcher Chris Devenski agreed to a one-year, minor-league deal Monday, per MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. The deal includes an invitation to spring training, so Devenski will have the opportunity to compete for a spot in the bullpen. The 32-year-old had a solid first few seasons of his career with the Astros, but pitched just 14 2/3 innings in 2022 with the Diamondbacks and Phillies, struggling with an 8.59 ERA. He has a long way to go before gaining any fantasy consideration.

The Philadelphia Phillies signed free-agent right-handed reliever Chris Devenski to a minor league deal on Tuesday. Devenski will report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He was an All-Star in 2017 with the Houston Astros, but he has struggled to stick in the major leagues the last three years. In the last two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks it's been tough sledding for Devenski, as he's posted an 8.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 14 strikeouts and three walks in just 18 relief innings, including one save. The 31-year-old veteran will strictly represent minor league relief depth for the Phillies to close out the 2022 season.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Kiermaier doubled off reliever Darwinzon Hernández with one out in the eighth inning for Tampa Bay's first hit against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night. Nick Pivetta and Josh Taylor combined to hold the Rays hitless through seven innings. Hernández entered a scoreless game and struck out Francisco Mejía to begin the eighth before Kiermaier doubled to left field on a 1-1 fastball clocked at 94 mph. Pivetta was pulled with a runner on second and two outs in the seventh after throwing 100 pitches. His career high is 116. Pivetta finished with eight strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter. Austin Meadows reached with one out in the seventh when Red Sox first baseman Michael Chavis was charged with an error after misplaying a routine grounder. After Pivetta retired Yandy Díaz on a grounder, manager Alex Cora went to the mound to make a pitching change. Josh Taylor intentionally walked pinch-hitter Manuel Margot before getting a fly to left from Joey Wendle.... [More]

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maikel Franco hit a two-run homer with one out in the eighth inning, denying the Houston Astros in their attempt to throw a combined no-hitter Monday night at Baltimore. Astros starter Jake Odorizzi and reliever Cristian Javier held the Orioles without a hit through seven innings. Then there was a 41-minute rain delay in the top of the eighth. Brandon Bielak came on to pitch the bottom of the eighth for Houston, and after he hit Austin Hays with a pitch with one out — just the second baserunner for Baltimore — Franco sent a drive to deep center field. The Astros lead 10-2. Earlier in Franco's at-bat, Bielak appeared to have thrown strike three, but he didn't get the call from plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Houston was looking to pitch the seventh no-hitter in the majors this season. That would have matched 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015 for the most since 1900, one shy of the record eight in 1884 — the first season overhand pitching was allowed. Odorizzi pitched the first five... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pete Alonso capped New York’s six-run eighth inning with a three-run double, and the Mets used a defensive meltdown by Philadelphia and a replay reversal to beat the Phillies 8-7 on Sunday night. Michael Conforto snapped a tie with a bases-loaded walk against José Alvarado, driving in Jose Peraza, and Alonso followed with a liner off David Hale that split the gap in right-center for an 8-4 lead. Philadelphia got a run back in the ninth on Roman Quinn’s RBI triple. After a Matt Joyce walk, Rhys Hoskins hit an opposite-field drive off Edwin Díaz that was initially ruled a tying three-run homer first base umpire Jose Navas. A replay review showed the ball hit the top railing of the fence on the out-of-town scoreboard in right, never clearing the wall itself. Hoskins was placed at second with a two-run double. Díaz then departed with an injury and Jeurys Familia struck out Bryce Harper on a high fastball, earning his first save. Didi Gregorius and Andrew McCutchen homered for... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A.J. Pollock drove in eight runs and Matt Beaty knocked in seven, with both players hitting early grand slams in a startling power show that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 16-4 on Sunday. Pollock homered twice and doubled while Beaty went 4 for 6 and scored three times. Their slams came against Alec Bettinger (0-1), who gave up 11 runs in his big league debut after never pitching above Double-A. This was the first time in franchise history that the Dodgers had two players with at least seven RBIs in the same game. The last time it happened for any major league team was on Aug. 22, 2007, when Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez each had seven RBIs for the Texas Rangers in a 30-3 blowout of Baltimore. The last time two Dodgers hit grand slams in the same game came when Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green did it in a 12-3 victory over the Marlins on May 21, 2000. Pollock’s eight RBIs matched the highest single-game total by any player in the history... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A.J. Pollock drove in eight runs and Matt Beatty knocked in seven, with both players hitting early grand slams in a startling power show that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 16-4 on Sunday. Pollock homered twice and doubled while Beaty went 4 for 6 and scored three times. Their slams came against Alec Bettinger (0-1), who gave up 11 runs in his big league debut after never pitching above Double-A. This was the first time in franchise history that the Dodgers had two players with at least seven RBIs in the same game. The last time it happened for any major league team was on Aug. 22, 2007, when Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez each had seven RBIs for the Texas Rangers in a 30-3 blowout of Baltimore. The last time two Dodgers hit grand slams in the same game came when Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green did it in a 12-3 victory over the Marlins on May 21, 2000. Pollock’s eight RBIs matched the highest single-game total by any player in the history... [More]

MILWAUKEE (AP) — A.J. Pollock drove in eight runs and Matt Beatty knocked in seven, with both players hitting early grand slams in a startling power show that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers over the Milwaukee Brewers 16-4 on Sunday. Pollock homered twice and doubled while Beaty went 4 for 6 and scored three times. Their slams came against Alec Bettinger (0-1), who gave up 11 runs in his big league debut after never pitching above Double-A. This was the first time in franchise history that the Dodgers had two players with at least seven RBIs in the same game. The last time it happened for any major league team was on Aug. 22, 2007, when Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Ramon Vazquez each had seven RBIs for the Texas Rangers in a 30-3 blowout of Baltimore. The last time two Dodgers hit grand slams in the same game came when Adrian Beltre and Shawn Green did it in a 12-3 victory over the Marlins on May 21, 2000. Pollock’s eight RBIs matched the highest single-game total by any player in the history... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — Yusei Kikuchi took a no-hit bid into the the seventh inning, Taylor Trammell homered and the Seattle Mariners beat the Houston Astros 1-0 on Thursday to stop a four-game losing streak. Kikuchi (1-1) did not allow a hit until Carlos Correa doubled to deep right-center field with one out in the seventh. That was the only hit allowed by Kikuchi, who pitched seven innings, struck out seven and walked two. Anthony Misiewicz pitched a perfect eighth and Kendall Graveman a one-hit ninth for his third save, completing a two-hitter. Trammell hit his fourth home run of the season in the third inning off Luis Garcia (0-3), a ball that appeared to graze the glove of a leaping Chas McCormick at the right-field wall. ORIOLES 4, YANKEES 3 BALTIMORE (AP) — Cedric Mullins delivered a winning sacrifice fly in the 10th inning against Jonathan Loaisiga (2-1). Trey Mancini had his first three-hit game since returning from colon cancer surgery, including had an RBI single in the first and a tying... [More]

Arizona's ace pitcher, star center fielder, slugging right fielder and two-time Gold Glove shortstop already are injured. The team's high-priced veteran starting pitcher has been ineffective. The reconstructed bullpen is down three arms at the moment. Other than that, things are going just fine for the Diamondbacks seven games into the season. In the long slog that is Major League Baseball's 162-game schedule, panicking after a 2-5 start could be viewed as alarmist. But it's hard to imagine things going much worse for a team that has the unenviable task of chasing the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers and loaded San Diego Padres in the NL West. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the challenge. He also expressed optimism Arizona could overcome the substantial early adversity. “The hits keep coming," Lovullo said after an 8-0 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday. “We budgeted for this. We’ve talked about these things. Good baseball teams have the depth to have the group that... [More]

Arizona's ace pitcher, star center fielder, slugging right fielder and two-time Gold Glove shortstop already are injured. The team's high-priced veteran starting pitcher has been ineffective. The reconstructed bullpen is down three arms at the moment. Other than that, things are going just fine for the Diamondbacks six games into the season. In the long slog that is Major League Baseball's 162-game schedule, panicking after a 2-5 start could be viewed as alarmist. But it's hard to imagine things going much worse for a team that has the unenviable task of chasing the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers and loaded San Diego Padres in the NL West. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the challenge. He also expressed optimism Arizona could overcome the substantial early adversity. “The hits keep coming," Lovullo said after an 8-0 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday. “We budgeted for this. We’ve talked about these things. Good baseball teams have the depth to have the group that... [More]

Arizona's ace pitcher, star center fielder, slugging right fielder and two-time Gold Glove shortstop already are injured. The team's high-priced veteran starting pitcher has been ineffective. The reconstructed bullpen is down three arms at the moment. Other than that, things are going just fine for the Diamondbacks six games into the season. In the long slog that is Major League Baseball's 162-game schedule, panicking after a 2-4 start could be viewed as alarmist. But it's hard to imagine things going much worse for a team that has the unenviable task of chasing the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers and loaded San Diego Padres in the NL West. D-backs manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the challenge. He also expressed optimism Arizona could overcome the substantial early adversity. “The hits keep coming," Lovullo said after an 8-0 loss to the Rockies on Wednesday. “We budgeted for this. We’ve talked about these things. Good baseball teams have the depth to have the group that... [More]

DENVER (AP) — Arizona reliever Chris Devenski was placed on the restricted list Wednesday by the Diamondbacks, who did not give a reason. To take his place on the roster, the Diamondbacks selected the contract of right-hander Anthony Swarzak from the team’s alternate training site. The move came about 20 minutes before the first pitch between the Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Devenski earned a save Sunday at San Diego, his first in nearly three years. The 30-year-old signed as a minor league free agent on Jan. 26. Devenski has a 16-16 career mark with a 3.39 ERA in spanning 227 games that includes seven starts. He spent five seasons with Houston, but was limited to four games last season. He had a bone spur removed from his right elbow last September. He is signed to a contract calling for a $1 million salary while in the major leagues. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports