MLB Player News

Fairbanks (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with the Rays' Florida Complex League affiliate Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

If he comes out of that appearance well, it's possible Fairbanks will be activated from the injured list when first eligible next Monday. The closer went on the IL at the beginning of last week with left hip inflammation. He's been limited to 13 outings this season because of forearm and hip injuries.

Banks is expected to be recalled to serve as the 27th man for the White Sox in Thursday's doubleheader versus the Yankees, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Banks holds a 3.38 ERA in four appearances with the White Sox this season and a 3.13 ERA and 30:3 K:BB across 23 relief innings with Triple-A Charlotte. He'll offer the club a bullpen arm capable of going multiple frames.

Holton will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher for Thursday's game in Philadelphia, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Reese Olson had been on tap to start Wednesday before the game was postponed due to air quality conditions. The Tigers haven't indicated that Olson won't pitch Thursday, so it's possible that he or Garrett Hill will function as a bulk reliever. The 26-year-old Holton has yet to make an MLB start, and he was used exclusively in relief over 21 appearances between the Tigers and Triple-A this season. He hasn't covered more than three innings in any of those outings, so Holton seems unlikely to work deep enough into his start Thursday to qualify for a win before he turns the game over to the bullpen.

The Yankees transferred Weber (forearm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

The transaction removes Weber from the 40-man roster and opens up a spot for outfielder Billy McKinney, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of Wednesday's game versus the White Sox. As a result of the move to the 60-day IL, Weber won't be eligible for activation until early August while he works back from a right forearm strain.

May picked up the save in Wednesday's 9-5 victory over Pittsburgh, allowing a hit over two-thirds of a scoreless inning.

May worked out of a bases-loaded jam to stave off a Pirates comeback while notching his first save of the season. After a rough start to the year, the 33-year-old May has thrown five consecutive scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 5.93 with a 1.76 WHIP and 9:10 K:BB through 13.2 innings this season. May is probably the best bet to earn saves in Oakland, though opportunities will be few and far between on a last-place A's team.

Harris (1-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks over five innings against the Pirates. He struck out two.

It wasn't a dominant outing from Harris, but he did enough to earn his first career win after the A's jumped out to a 7-0 lead. After a rough debut in April, Harris has pitched to a 3.00 ERA in three outings (15 innings) since he was recalled from Triple-A. Overall, he sports a 6.46 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and 12:9 K:BB over 15.1 innings. While the numbers don't jump out, Harris has certainly done enough to maintain a spot in a struggling Oakland rotation. He tentatively lines up for a tough home matchup against the Rays in his next start.

The Rays recalled Patino from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Patino was moved to the bullpen a month ago with Durham and has struggled overall in the role with a 10.24 ERA, though much of that damage came in a May 12 appearance in which he surrendered seven earned runs. He had allowed just one run over his last five outings to earn the call back to the big leagues as a replacement in the bullpen for Calvin Faucher (elbow), who was moved to the 15-day injured list.

Faucher was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right elbow inflammation, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Faucher last pitched Monday, throwing a scoreless inning of relief in a 4-1 win over Boston. He'll be eligible to return later this month, though the Rays aren't yet providing a timeline for Faucher to be activated just yet.

Kansas City placed Staumont on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to June 6, with a neck strain.

Staumont will be out of action for two-plus weeks while he recovers from the injury. The right-hander has been replaced on the roster by Austin Cox, who was recalled from Triple-A Omaha. Staumont has struggled so far in 2023, logging a 5.40 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 20 innings with Kansas City.

Kansas City recalled Cox from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Cox will take the active roster spot of Josh Staumont, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain. The 26-year-old Cox has been working as a starter at Triple-A, but unless the Royals elect to move Mike Mayers to the bullpen, Cox looks as though he'll be limited to a mop-up role in relief for the time being.