MLB Player News

Fairbanks (hand) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Sunday and will then travel with the Marlins for the team's road series in Minnesota, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fairbanks landed on the IL on April 28 due to nerve irritation in his right hand, but he tossed two bullpen sessions this week and is now lined up to throw to hitters. The veteran reliever is eligible to be activated May 13, and it sounds like he could be back in action that day. Fairbanks will likely reclaim the team's closer role upon his return. Calvin Faucher and Tyler Phillips have notched one save apiece during Fairbanks' absence.

The Red Sox optioned Anderson to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Anderson was recalled from Triple-A on Friday, but Justin Slaten's (oblique) return from the injured list Saturday will cause Anderson to return to the WooSox without appearing for the big club. The 26-year-old righty has surrendered three earned runs in eight innings with Boston and owns a 4.50 ERA through 18 frames in the minors.

The Red Sox reinstated Slaten (oblique) from the injured list Saturday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

After pitching two shutout innings during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester, Slaten will return to Boston's bullpen, ending a month-long absence due to an oblique strain. Jack Anderson was optioned to Worcester in a corresponding move.

The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

Englert pitched 3.1 shutout innings in bulk relief Friday, giving up just two hits and striking out three batters in the process. The 26-year-old righty now owns a 5.63 ERA and 1.56 WHIP through 16 big-league innings this season and could be an option for additional opportunities with the Rays down the road as a starter or multi-inning reliever. Right-hander Aaron Brooks was promoted from Durham in a corresponding move.

Lovelady will serve as the opening pitcher in Saturday's game against Miami.

Lovelady has given up just one earned run in 7.2 innings since joining the Nationals in mid-April and will now be called upon to make his first career start in the majors. The 30-year-old southpaw will likely pitch the first inning of Saturday's contest before handing the game over to Zack Littell.

The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to left elbow inflammation, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.

After missing the first month of the season with an oblique injury, Sousa is now set to sit out another couple of weeks due to an elbow issue, though it remains unknown whether he'll require more than a minimum-length stay on the shelf. Jayden Murray was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill the void in Houston's bullpen.

Myers struck out two in a perfect 10th inning Friday to record his first save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks.

Devin Williams got the win with a perfect ninth inning, while Luke Weaver and Brooks Raley had also worked earlier in Friday's contest, leaving closing duties to Myers after the Mets struck for two runs in the top of the 10th. It was the right-hander's first career save, but his primary role remains long relief in a bullpen that has been leaned on heavily due to injuries and ineffectiveness in the rotation. Myers has thrown 23.2 innings over 12 appearances this season, posting a 3.42 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB.

Slaten (oblique) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list Saturday or Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Slaten made two strong rehab appearances for Triple-A Worcester and was seemingly available to be activated Friday after Boston optioned Jake Bennett following his start Thursday. Instead, the team recalled Jack Anderson for Friday's game against the Rays. "I think you'll see Slaten this weekend at some point active," interim manager Chad Tracy told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com before Friday's game. The manager believed that Anderson could provide length if needed. Slaten, who hasn't pitched since April 8, recently threw for the WooSox on Wednesday.

Lopez (3-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Orioles. He struck out five.

Solo shots by Pete Alonso in the fourth inning and Adley Rutschman in the sixth accounted for all the offense against Lopez, who tossed 57 of 91 pitches for strikes before leaving the mound. The southpaw has yet to work more than 5.1 innings in any of his appearances this season, either in a starting role or as a bulk reliever, and he's been taken deep eight times in just 35.1 innings, giving him little margin for error. Lopez will carry a 6.11 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 28:24 K:BB into his next outing, which is set to come at home next week against the Cardinals.

Williams (2-1) picked up the win Friday against the Diamondbacks, recording one strikeout in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.

With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Williams came on and got Lourdes Gurriel and Gabriel Moreno to ground out before striking out Jose Fernandez to send it to a 10th inning. After the Mets plated two in the top half of the frame, Tobias Myers came on and picked up the save. After a tumultuous middle of April in which he allowed eight runs across four appearances, Williams has six consecutive scoreless outings spanning 5.2 innings. On the year, Williams has a 5.68 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB across 12.2 innings. He's 5-for-6 in save chances.