MLB Player News

Banwart was promoted to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

With Chris Narveson down with a shoulder injury, Banwart will get his chance to move up in the farm system. The 31-year-old, who spent the last two seasons playing overseas, has compiled a 5.73 ERA over 11 innings for Double-A Akron this year but remains a long shot to make the big leagues.

Bass coughed up six runs (four earned) and surrendered nine hits in three innings of long relief during Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Twins.

It wasn't an auspicious season debut for Bass, who entered the game in the fifth inning after starter Andrew Cashner surrendered a homer to open the frame. Bass did little to clot the bleeding, giving up five hits and throwing a wild pitch before recording the first out of the inning. Don't expect on the Rangers to count on the veteran for high-leverage work out of the bullpen anytime soon.

Covey lasted only four innings Tuesday, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four in a 10-5 win over the Royals.

Covey threw 50 of 86 pitches for strikes in his shortest outing yet and couldn't hang on for three more outs in order to record his first big-league win. The 25-year-old now has a 6.91 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 6:8 K:BB through 14.1 innings, but is still penciled in for at least one more start Tuesday in Kansas City.

Pruitt pitched three scoreless innings while allowing just a single hit and a walk with three strikeouts in his spot start Tuesday against the Orioles.

A last-minute announcement replaced Erasmo Ramirez with Pruitt, who'd largely been bombarded out of the bullpen to start the year -- 10 earned runs in his first 5.2 innings. He was left in for just 54 pitches, so Pruitt didn't exactly serve as a surprise source of fantasy value. However, he's now tossed a combined 8.2 scoreless innings with a 10:1 K:BB over his last three appearances. It doesn't seem likely that the rookie will slide into the Rays' rotation in the immediate future, but he did work almost exclusively as a starter in the minors.

Colome worked around a walk and struck out one in a scoreless ninth Tuesday against the Orioles, recording his fifth save.

After suffering a blown save off an unearned run Sunday, Colome bounced right back with a solid outing, and he still has a spotless ERA with just five hits and two walks over 10 innings. If you own him, you should continue enjoying his services as one of the league's better closers.

Axford (shoulder) started playing catch Tuesday and may begin throwing off a mound in the coming days, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports.

Axford is battling back from a shoulder strain that has sidelined him since early April. Manager Bob Melvin said that the reliever has been feeling a lot better recently, and although an exact timetable for his return has yet to be established, it sounds like the 34-year-old is progressing well in his rehab.

Graveman (shoulder) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list and draw the start against the Angels on Thursday, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports.

Graveman has been on the disabled list since April 17 with a shoulder ailment, but has progressed nicely and will return to the mound this Thursday. The 26-year-old currently holds a 2.00 ERA and 12:5 K:BB ratio over his first 18 innings.

Pruitt will start Tuesday against the Orioles, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

Erasmo Ramirez was scratched just prior to first pitch due to undisclosed reasons, opening the door for Pruitt to make his first career start. Pruitt has been knocked around in eight relief appearances this season, yielding 10 earned runs on 21 hits and three walks in 11.1 innings.

Valdez was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday.

Valdez started one game for Oakland earlier in the season, during which he allowed three runs over four innings. However, he'll have the chance to improve off that rough outing as he heads back up to the majors. In a corresponding move, Raul Alcantara was designated for assignment.

Martinez will likely start Friday against the Angels if A.J. Griffin (ankle) is unable to pitch, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The Rangers remain hopeful that Griffin will be healthy enough to return to the mound Friday, though Martinez could get the spot start if needed. Martinez pitched a gem in his season debut Saturday, allowing just one run over seven innings against the Royals. Despite his stellar first outing, it would be ill-advised to expect this success to continue given his 4.37 career ERA.