MLB Player News

Fairbanks fired a scoreless ninth inning in a win over the Rangers on Sunday, allowing two hits and recording two strikeouts.

Fairbanks has now generated scoreless efforts in his last eight appearances, a span of 7.1 innings during which he's also posted an 11:4 K:BB and secured three holds. The hard-throwing right-hander is once again missing plenty of bats with his high-90s fastball, as he sports an 11.6 K/9, 90.0 percent LOB rate and 14.6 percent swinging-strike rate across 14 frames.

Doval was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Monday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Doval's latest stint in the big-league bullpen lasted just two days. He didn't get into a game, so his ERA remains at 7.59 on the season. He could return throughout the year when the Giants need an extra arm.

Kowar's contract was selected as expected ahead of his big-league debut Monday against the Angels.

Heading into this season, Kowar was a real prospect but not an elite one, as he'd produced a 3.50 ERA and a modest 22.8 percent strikeout rate in 35 minor-league starts. He burst out of the gate this season for Triple-A Omaha, however, striking out 33.9 percent of opposing batters en route to a 0.85 ERA through six starts, thanks in part to an improvement in his previously fringy curveball. If he pitches well enough in his debut start to earn a permanent place in the Royals' rotation, he'd line up for a two-start week this week, as he'd likely pitch during the weekend series in Oakland. Jakob Junis was optioned to clear a spot for him on the active roster.

Luetge struck out two batters but allowed two runs on one hit and one walk over 1.1 innings Sunday and was charged with the blown save against Boston.

The left-hander wasn't used in a traditional save situation, coming in with two outs and New York clinging to a two-run lead in the top of the sixth inning. Luetge struck out Rafael Devers to end that frame, but he served up a two-run homer to Marwin Gonzalez in the seventh to allow Boston to tie the game. Despite a rough start to the campaign, Luetge has been mostly solid in his first MLB action since 2015, posting a 3.03 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 30:4 K:BB across 29.2 innings.

Castano was recalled by the Marlins on Monday but will not start Monday's game against the Red Sox, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The Marlins previously looked set to have a start available Tuesday against the Rockies, but they pushed Pablo Lopez back from Monday to Tuesday in order to give him an extra day to rest. Zach Thompson will start Monday, but it's possible Castano follows him out of the bullpen. Castano hasn't shown much through four big-league starts this year, striking out just 12.8 percent of opposing batters en route to a 5.19 ERA and 1.56 WHIP.

Szapucki struck out a season-high seven batters and allowed three runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk over five innings in his most recent start Friday for Triple-A Syracuse.

Szapucki was making his second start for Syracuse since being returned from the minors after he had served as the Mets' 27th man for the team's May 27 doubleheader with the Rockies. The Mets ultimately didn't need him to provide length out of the bullpen, but the 24-year-old lefty may not have to wait much longer before making his big-league debut. Due to doubleheaders June 19 (in Washington) and June 21 (versus Atlanta), the Mets will soon need to add sixth and seventh starters to the mix on a temporary basis, and Szapucki would appear to be a strong candidate to fill one of the openings.

Rodriguez (wrist) tossed two scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco on Saturday in his return from the 7-day injured list. He scattered three hits and a walk and struck out one over the 36-pitch start.

Rodriguez ended up missing the minimum amount of time due to what was apparently a minor right wrist injury. Through five outings with Frisco this season, the 23-year-old Rodriguez owns a 3.55 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 12.2 innings.

Manager Brian Snitker said Davidson is scheduled to make his next start for Atlanta on Wednesday in Philadelphia, Gabriel Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

The 25-year-old southpaw will be making his second straight turn through the rotation and his third start of the season for Atlanta after he allowed only six baserunners while striking out five over 5.2 scoreless frames June 3 against the Nationals. If Davidson can continue to mix his fastball, slider and curveball effectively while keeping his walks in check in his subsequent outings, he could have some longevity as Atlanta's No. 5 starter with Huascar Ynoa (hand) and Mike Soroka (Achilles) unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list until well after the All-Star break.

Mejia will make his second turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Since Mejia had worked out of the bullpen in his prior three appearances with Cleveland, he faced a limited pitch count in his first MLB start Friday in Baltimore. Before giving way to the bullpen, the rookie impressed over his 50-pitch outing, holding the Orioles scoreless while permitting one hit and one walk and striking out two. He should push up his pitch count to around 65 to 75 on Wednesday, and another solid showing would likely increase his security in the Cleveland rotation.

Nance has yet to allow a run in any of his 10 appearances out of the Chicago bullpen since being called up from Triple-A Iowa on May 16. He's permitted two hits and four walks while striking out nine and gathering four holds across 8.1 innings.

The 30-year-old rookie is among several unsung relievers who have helped turn the Chicago bullpen into one of baseball's better units through the first two-plus months of the season. Nance has earned more high-leverage work as a result of getting off to a hot start to his big-league career, but he won't enter the mix for saves so long as Craig Kimbrel continues to pitch at an elite level.