MLB Player News

Stewart (shoulder) had his rehab assignment transferred from Single-A Ontario to Triple-A Oklahoma City, per MLB.com.

Stewart appeared in two games for Ontario, allowing one hit while striking out three batters over 1.2 scoreless innings. He then debuted for OKC on Tuesday, fanning two batters across one perfect frame. It's not clear how many more rehab outings Stewart will need before being activated, but he appears to be progressing well and seems likely to be ready to join the big-league bullpen in the near future.

Nunez earned the save in Wednesday's 8-6 win over the Royals, striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

With Ryan Helsley landing on the bereavement list ahead of Wednesday's game, it was Nunez who got the call with Baltimore up by two in the ninth inning. The right-hander made quick work of the Royals, striking out a pair en route to his first major-league save. The 24-year-old Nunez has gotten off to an excellent start in his rookie campaign, earning a high-leverage role in Baltimore's bullpen. His ERA is down to 1.46 with a 0.65 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB across 12.1 innings.

De Los Santos gave up a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings Wednesday to record his third save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Guardians. He struck out one.

The journeyman righty wrapped up the combined shutout on 24 pitches (16 strikes), although De Los Santos did make things interesting by putting the tying runner on base in the ninth inning with two outs. He's converted three straight save chances since April 14, emerging as the preferred closing option for manager Joe Espada while the Astros continue to navigate the absence of Josh Hader (bicep), but De Los Santos' 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 8:3 K:BB through 9.1 innings this season don't suggest he'll have a long-term spot in the team's high-leverage crew.

Lambert (1-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the Guardians, allowing three hits and three walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

The 29-year-old right-hander fanned eight batters for a second straight start since being called up to plug a hole in the Astros' injury-ravaged rotation. Lambert racked up 32 called or swinging strikes among his 96 pitches (61 total strikes) Wednesday, and the former Rockie seems to be enjoying pitching at sea level on a consistent basis. After producing a 1.84 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 14.2 innings for Triple-A Sugar Land to begin the season, Lambert's given Houston a 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB over his first 11 big-league frames. He lines up to make his next start on the road early next week in Baltimore.

The Cubs optioned Little to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Little was with the big club for a week and made one appearance, allowing one run over one inning of work. He's clearing out to make space on the roster for Matthew Boyd (biceps), who is back from the injured list to start Wednesday's contest versus the Phillies.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Wednesday that he has not considered removing Williams from the closer role, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Williams failed to retire any of the five batters he faced in Tuesday's loss to the Twins and has allowed seven runs in 1.1 innings covering his last three appearances. He had been unscored upon in his first five outings of the season, however, and Mendoza is confident Williams can right the ship. Luke Weaver is the Mets' primary setup man and likely would be next in line if Mendoza makes a change at some point, though Weaver has not pitched well so far, posting a 6.23 ERA and 4:3 K:BB in 8.2 frames.

Martinez (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over eight innings in a 6-1 victory over Cincinnati. He struck out six.

Facing the team he spent the last two seasons with in a swingman role, Martinez made a very strong statement about his ability to be a regular member of a big-league rotation. The veteran right-hander fired 71 strikes among his 95 pitches over a career-best eight frames, and Martinez now has three quality starts among his first five trips to the mound for the Rays. He'll take a 2.10 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 20:8 K:BB through 30 innings into his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week in Cleveland.

Fairbanks struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Cardinals.

The Marlins held a 4-0 lead heading into the ninth inning, but after Lake Bachar served up a solo shot to Ivan Herrera to lead off the frame and then walked Nolan Gorman, Fairbanks was brought in to quell the threat. The right-hander has converted three straight save chances over the last four days, but with Miami having a scheduled off day Thursday, manager Clayton McCullough may not have to worry about giving him some rest and finding an alternate closing option. On the season, Fairbanks has a 7,27 ERA that doesn't line up with his much more palatable 1.04 WHIP and 13:1 K:BB through 8.2 innings.

Junk (1-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the Cardinals, allowing one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander got a surprisingly early hook after just 56 pitches (38 strikes), but he was due to face the top of the St. Louis order for a third time in the top of the sixth, and manager Clayton McCullough didn't indicate after the game that Junk was dealing with any sort of injury. Junk has given the Marlins at least five innings in four straight outings, but if his usage continues to be this restricted, he'll have a hard time keeping that streak going. He'll take a 3.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB through 27 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

Leahy (2-3) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings as the Cardinals fell 4-1 to the Marlins. He struck out two.

All eight hits off the right-hander were singles as Miami batters played small ball, but Leahy also helped create some of his own problems as he walked home a run in the second inning. He exited the mound after 89 pitches (50 strikes) and has failed to finish six frames in his first five starts of the year. Leahy will take a 5.63 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 15:11 K:BB through 24 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Pittsburgh.