MLB Player News

Rainey (elbow) threw 19 pitches in a rehab appearance for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday as he closes in on his return from Tommy John surgery, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The right-hander will pitch in another rehab game later this week, but Nationals manager Dave Martinez indicated Rainey will need to show he can work back-to-back games before he'll be activated from the 60-day IL, which could push his return to early September. He did record 12 saves in 2022 before undergoing surgery that August, but Rainey will likely slot into a lower-leverage role behind Kyle Finnegan and Hunter Harvey once he's activated.

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.

Kimbrel (7-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Giants. He allowed three runs (two earned) on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one inning.

After the Phillies scored three runs off Camilo Doval in the ninth inning to tie the game 5-5, Kimbrel surrendered three runs in the 10th in an eventual 8-6 loss. It was a rare hiccup for the veteran closer, who'd allowed just two earned runs in his previous 11 innings. Kimbrel now sports a 3.33 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 73:20 K:BB across 54 innings this season while going 19-for-21 in save chances.

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.

Lawrence gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in the ninth inning Wednesday, blowing his sixth save chance of the season in an eventual 6-5 loss to the Rays. He struck out one.

The 28-year-old righty didn't get stuck with the losing decision -- that honor went to Brent Suter, who got tagged for an unearned run in the 10th -- but Lawrence was the architect of this defeat, loading the bases with one out before giving up a two-run single to Yandy Diaz. Lawrence has blown five of his last eight save opportunities, stumbling to a 10.80 ERA and 2.10 WHIP over his last 10 innings, and it's not clear how much longer manager Bud Black will stick with him as closer.

Romero picked up the save in Wednesday's 6-4 win over Pittsburgh, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three over two innings.

Romero entered the contest with a two-run lead in the bottom of the eighth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. He returned in the ninth and allowed one run on two hits, but he was still able to escape with his third save of the season. The left-handed reliever has now converted each of his last three save attempts and has still allowed only one home run in his 2023 campaign. He currently holds a 17:1 K:BB through nine Augusts appearances.

Curry pitched two innings against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks while striking out one batter in a game that was suspended due to rain.

Curry endured a rough first inning during which he gave up three runs on four hits. The right-hander bounced back with a one-hit, scoreless second frame but wasn't able to go any further since the game was suspended due to rain before a pitch was thrown in the third. Curry won't be available when the game is resumed Thursday.

Junis (4-3) allowed one hit and struck out one without walking a batter over one scoreless inning to earn the extra-inning win over the Phillies on Wednesday.

Camilo Doval struggled in a blown save, failing to record an out while giving up a game-tying home run to Bryce Harper in the ninth inning. Junis kept the game tied, and the Giants took the lead for good in the 10th. Junis has endured mixed results since the start of July, allowing 10 runs (seven earned) over 26 innings across 13 appearances while serving as one of the Giants' many bulk relievers. Eight of his outings in that span have been longer than an inning. The right-hander had a middling 3.95 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 83:18 K:BB with a save and two holds over 70.2 innings this season.