MLB Player News

Payamps cleared waivers Thursday and was sent outright to Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers kicked Payamps off their 40-man roster last Thursday after he'd accumulated an 8.35 ERA and 1.69 WHIP through 18.1 innings. No team was willing to take on the remainder of his $2.995 million salary for that level of performance, so he'll remain in the organization and attempt to earn his way back into the big leagues with Nashville.

The Rays optioned Seabold to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.

He'll give up his spot in the Tampa Bay bullpen to right-hander Kevin Kelly (glute), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. After getting a call-up from Durham on May 9, Seabold made just two relief appearances for the Rays and gave up an earned run on six hits and one walk over 3.2 innings.

The Rays reinstated Kelly (glute) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Tampa Bay optioned right-hander Connor Seabold to Triple-A Durham to make room in the bullpen for Kelly, who had been on the shelf since April 11 due to a left gluteal strain. Kelly proved his health during a three-appearance rehab assignment in the minors and should step into a middle-relief role for Tampa Bay.

Harrison is slated to start Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami.

After getting called up from Triple-A Sacramento on May 4, Harrison initially worked out of the bullpen, but he moved into the rotation last week following Justin Verlander's (pectoral) placement on the injured list. Harrison took a loss to the Nationals in his first start with the Giants last Saturday, giving up two runs in four innings while striking out four batters. The lefty should have a longer leash in his second start after tossing just 57 pitches against Washington, but he may not be guaranteed any turns through the rotation beyond Friday. Verlander threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Tuesday and could be ready to return from the IL as soon as next week.

Henriquez (3-1) was charged with a blown save but picked up the win Wednesday against the Padres, allowing two runs on one hit and one walk over two innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander was called in to protect a 7-6 lead in the seventh inning but served up a two-run homer to Gavin Sheets, only for the Marlins to strike back for three runs in the top of the eighth. Calvin Faucher ended up working the ninth for the save, but Henriquez may be Miami's top high-leverage option at the moment. Wednesday's homer was the first on his ledger since April 27, while the earned runs were the first he'd given up since April 28. Through 12 appearances in May, Henriquez sports a 1.38 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB in 13 innings while collecting two wins, two holds and his first career save.

Schultz gave up one hit and struck out four over 2.2 scoreless innings in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Rangers.

Making his first career big-league start, Schultz lasted 45 pitches (28 strikes) before turning the ball over to Eric Lauer and the Blue Jays bullpen to complete a combined shutout. Schultz's 2.03 ERA through 13.1 innings with Toronto this season is a bit misleading -- he gave up four unearned runs May 25 against the Rays -- but his 17:3 K:BB and 0.98 WHIP are just as impressive. The 27-year-old rookie might head back to Triple-A Buffalo once the staff gets healthier, but Schultz is making a strong case to stick around in a long-relief or swingman role.

Lopez is slated to start Thursday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Summoned from Triple-A Las Vegas last weekend to fill the opening in the rotation created by J.T. Ginn's (quadriceps) move to the injured list, Lopez stepped in and delivered a gem in his second start of the season for the Athletics. Though he ended up taking a loss, he limited the Phillies to one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings. The stellar performance will earn him at least one more start, and if Lopez can deliver another positive outing Thursday, he'll likely have a strong case for sticking around in the rotation over the struggling Gunnar Hoglund (5.13 ERA, 1.41 WHIP through five starts) once Ginn is back from the IL.

The Phillies appointed de Geus from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to serve as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

De Geus, whom the Phillies claimed off waivers from the Marlins on April 1, will be making his Philadelphia debut if he gets used out of the bullpen for either game of the twin bill. The right-hander has been sharp at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, logging a 0.95 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB in 19 innings.

Brasier worked around a hit to log a scoreless inning and earn a hold in a 2-1 win against Colorado on Wednesday.

After starter Matthew Boyd allowed only an unearned run across six strong innings, Brasier worked a clean seventh to pick up his first hold of the season. The veteran righty has rattled off four straight scoreless appearances since returning from the injured list Friday, and he has a stellar 2.08 ERA for the year, albeit in only 4.1 innings due to the time he missed with a strained left groin. Brasier could take on more high-leverage work moving forward if he stays healthy and continues to pitch well.

Pressly, who has rattled off eight straight scoreless appearances, last recorded a save on April 13.

Since allowing nine runs (eight earned) in a nightmare of an outing back on May 6, Pressly has gone on his ongoing scoreless streak, though he's fallen out of the closer role as well. Daniel Palencia, who recorded the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Rockies, now has four saves over the last week and a 1.64 ERA this month. As long as Palencia is pitching well, he should stay ahead of Pressly in the bullpen pecking order, with Porter Hodge (oblique) likely set to slide back into a setup role when he returns from the injured list. Pressly's subpar numbers, along with Palencia's emergence and Hodge's eventual return, has diminished the former's fantasy appeal.