MLB Player News

Martinez (0-2) took the loss against the Royals on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on three hits, a hit batsman and a walk over 2.1 innings. He struck out three.

Martinez's one big mistake was deposited by Dairon Blanco into the left-field seats in the third inning for the first run of the game. The right-hander has allowed at least one run in all four appearances he's logged since returning to the majors Aug. 8 while pitching to a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9 and 1.6 HR/9 across 11 innings. With both Luis Medina (finger) and Freddy Tarnok (calf) on the injured list for the time being, Martinez could be called on for another spot start early next week.

Jansen reported improvement with his injured right hamstring Thursday and is confident he can avoid a stint on the injured list, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Jansen had to be lifted from Wednesday's appearance in Houston because of tightness in the hamstring, but he's feeling better after presumably receiving some treatment. The closer noted that he will see how he feels in the coming days, which would seem to indicate he could be unavailable for at least a day or two. However, at this juncture it looks like Jansen should be able to bypass the IL as the Red Sox fight for a playoff spot. Chris Martin might be needed in the short term should some save chances arise for Boston.

Armstrong is scheduled to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Thursday's game against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He'll draw a starting assignment for the fifth time this season but likely won't be asked to cover more than few innings before exiting the contest. The Rays haven't named a designated bulk reliever to work behind Armstrong, but Erasmo Ramirez is available on five days' rest and looks like the Tampa Bay bullpen arm most likely to work the longest during Thursday's contest.

Houston optioned Martinez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brandon Bielak will fill the vacancy in the Astros' bullpen ahead of Thursday's series finale against the Red Sox. Martinez, 28, has struggled to a 5.23 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 43 innings of relief this season at the major-league level.

Santos allowed three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two across 1.1 innings to blow a save chance Wednesday against the Mariners.

Santos entered the game in the eighth inning and was in line to attempt a five-out save. However, he unraveled after striking out the leadoff man in the final frame, allowing five consecutive batters to reach base while blowing a two-run advantage. Santos has now blown each of his last two save chances while allowing six earned runs across a combined 2.2 innings. The White Sox lack high-quality relievers in the back of their bullpen, but if he continues to struggle it's possible that Jimmy Lambert or Aaron Bummer could see save chances across the final month of the campaign.

Neal is listed as the Athletics' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

With Luis Medina (finger) and Freddy Tarnok (calf) both recently landing on the injured list, Neal will get a chance to stake his claim to one of the vacant rotation spots. Between two stints on Oakland's 26-man active roster this season, Neal has made all seven of his appearances out of the bullpen, logging an 8.25 ERA and 1.92 WHIP across 12 innings. He previously made nine starts with Triple-A Las Vegas this season and covered 3.1 innings in his most recent extend relief appearance for Oakland on Aug. 20, so he should be relatively stretched out compared to most pitchers transitioning from the bullpen to the rotation. Even so, Neal could struggle to reach the five innings that he would need to hit Friday in order to qualify for a win.

Pivetta improved to 9-6 while retiring two of the batters he faced via strikeout and walking the other in Boston's 7-5 win over Houston in 10 innings.

Pivetta had covered no more than four innings in any of his last six outings while serving as either a starter or a bulk reliever, but he ended up pitching in a high-leverage spot Wednesday after closer Kenley Jansen exited a 4-4 game in the bottom of the ninth with a hamstring injury. Pivetta came on to replace Jansen and recorded the final two outs of the frame to send the game to extras, with the right-hander picking up the win after Boston scored three runs in the top of the 10th. With the Red Sox returning Tanner Houck from the 15-day injured list Tuesday and inserting him into the rotation, Pivetta's run as a starting pitcher looks like it could be over for the time being.

Kelley was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kelley holds a 4.05 ERA and 8:4 K:BB over 13.1 innings during his time with the Rays this season. Tampa Bay is going with a bullpen game Thursday versus the Rockies and might need Kelley for multiple frames.

Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Lopez was terrific during his short stint with the Rays, allowing just one run over seven relief innings. He was needed for three frames in Wednesday's win, though, so Tampa Bay is swapping him out for a fresh arm.

Fairbanks (2-4) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Rockies, striking out two in a perfect 10th inning.

The Rays erased a two-run deficit in the ninth, and after Fairbanks shut down the Rox in the top of the 10th, he got rewarded when Brandon Lowe walked it off with an RBI single. Both of Fairbanks' wins on the season have come in his last two outings, and he hasn't blown a save chance since mid-May -- delivering a 2.78 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB over 22.2 innings while converting 12 straight opportunities.