MLB Player News

Fairbanks earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Fairbanks was called upon to protect a 2-0 lead in the ninth inning and made quick work of Arizona, retiring the side in order on 13 pitches. It was one of the better outings in what has been an inconsistent campaign for the veteran reliever, and Thursday marked just the third time over his past 12 appearances that he didn't allow a hit or a walk. Fairbanks continues to serve as Miami's primary closer despite holding a 6.63 ERA and 1.47 WHIP through 19 innings spanning 21 outings on the season. He's converted eight of 10 save chances and has a 27:11 K:BB.

Phillips (1-1) earned the win over Arizona on Thursday, allowing two hits and issuing two walks while striking out five batters over five-plus scoreless innings.

Phillips served as a bulk reliever in his previous outing June 5, but he was deployed as a starter Thursday. The right-hander excelled in that role, limiting the Diamondbacks to just one hit through five frames. Phillips went back out for the sixth and yielded a single before being lifted at 70 pitches. Having worked out of the bullpen for most of the campaign, Phillips isn't yet up to a full starter's workload, topping out at 82 pitches in that June 5 piggyback appearance. He should be able to push his pitch count up as he settles into the rotation, and he may be worth a look for fantasy managers in need of pitching given his 2.95 ERA across 18.1 innings since moving into the rotation. His 14:8 K:BB over that span is less appealing, however.

Williams earned the save in Thursday's 5-4 win over the Cardinals, striking out a pair in a perfect ninth inning.

Williams made quick work of St. Louis on Wednesday to close out the Mets' one-run victory, earning his ninth save this season. After a shaky start to the year, Williams has now converted his last seven save chances while holding opponents scoreless in 14 of his last 16 appearances. Overall, Williams sports a 5.32 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB across 22 innings this season.

Hurt (1-1) took the loss and was charged with a blown save Wednesday against Pittsburgh, allowing four runs on three hits and two walks over one-third of an inning.

Hurt was summoned to begin the eighth frame with the Dodgers up 6-4. He quickly gave up the lead by issuing two walks, which were followed by a Tyler Callihan three-run homer. Hurt then surrendered two more hits before being replaced by Jack Dreyer, and the only out Hurt recorded came when Jake Mangum was caught stealing. The poor outing was the continuation of a rough stretch for Hurt, who has given up eight earned runs over his past 3.1 frames spanning four appearances. Prior to that, the right-hander had been extremely effective, pitching to a 1.00 ERA and 0.78 WHIP with a 21:4 K:BB through his first 18 innings of the season.

Peralta (1-0) earned the win over Cincinnati on Wednesday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk in one scoreless inning.

Peralta entered in the ninth frame with the score tied 4-4. He allowed two batters to reach base, but a double play helped him get out of the inning unscathed. Peralta was then awarded the win after Fernando Tatis hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the frame. Peralta hadn't been involved in a decision prior to Wednesday, though he's picked up two holds to go along with a 2.30 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 20:15 K:BB over 31.1 innings across 27 appearances.

The Mets recalled Duarte from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Duarte made one appearance for the Mets earlier this season, during which he pitched 2.1 scoreless frames. The 29-year-old will provide manager Carlos Mendoza with a fresh arm out of the bullpen for Thursday's series finale with the Cardinals.

The Mets optioned Pintaro to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Pintaro helped save the bullpen in his lone day with the big club, allowing one run over three innings in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals. He wasn't going to be available for at least a day or two, however, so the Mets will replace him with a fresh bullpen arm in Daniel Duarte.

Kempner (1-0) picked up the win Wednesday, walking two and striking out three over two scoreless, no-hit innings of relief in a victory over the Diamondbacks.

The rookie right-hander took the mound in the seventh inning, the third of four Miami pitchers in a combined shutout, and he wound up being credited with the win. Kempner has yet to allow a run in his first five big-league appearances, posting a 0.75 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings, but he doesn't yet appear to be part of the high-leverage picture for manager Clayton McCullough -- he entered Wednesday's contest with the Marlins already up 8-0.

The Rockies outrighted Thompson to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.

Thompson passed through waivers unclaimed after being booted from the Rockies' 40-man roster. The righty has been outrighted previously, which means he could decline the assignment and elect free agency, but it's unclear whether Thompson will exercise that right. He's yielded 11 runs over 12 innings in the majors this season.

Varland gave up three runs on two hits and a walk while failing to record an out during Wednesday's 11-10 loss to the Giants.

The right-hander entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning to protect a 10-6 lead after Paxton Schultz and Orlando Ribalta had combined to allow five runs in the eighth, and Varland continued the meltdown before handing the ball off to Mitchell Parker, who took the blown save when he served up a walk-off grand slam to Bryce Eldridge. It's the first time Varland has been tagged for multiple runs since May 10, but he has been scored upon in four of his last seven appearances, stumbling to a 10.80 ERA, 2.80 WHIP and 4:6 K:BB over five innings during that rough stretch. He does have a save and a hold in that time, but he only has a spot in the Nats' high-leverage crew because the team lacks better options.