MLB Player News

Smith allowed a hit and one walk in a scoreless inning Monday, striking out one and earning a save in the Rangers' 5-2 win over the White Sox.

Smith put two runners on base to open the inning but escaped unscathed in the 5-2 victory. He's now converted nine consecutive save chances and has picked up 13 of his 14 opportunities on the year. The veteran southpaw dropped his ERA to 2.89 alongside a 31:8 K:BB through 28 frames this season.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Monday that he's hopeful Hendriks (elbow) can resume a throwing program within the next week or so, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Hendriks has been given both a cortisone shot and a platelet-rich plasma injection in hopes that they will help speed along the healing process as he works his way back from right elbow inflammation. He'll need to go through a throwing progression and is presumably still multiple weeks away from a return.

Pop (hamstring) restarted a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pop had to be pulled off his initial rehab assignment earlier this month following a setback with his right hamstring, but he returned to game action over the weekend and is slated for another appearance with Buffalo on Wednesday. The reliever might be ready for activation after that if he can avoid another setback.

Padilla was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Padilla was knocked around in his lone appearance in the majors last month. He'll provide the White Sox with a fresh arm as they have a bullpen game Monday.

The Blue Jays optioned Francis to Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

Toronto will swap Francis out of its bullpen for a fresher arm in Trent Thornton, who was called up from Buffalo in a corresponding move. Francis had most recently covered 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen Saturday against the Rangers, striking out two while allowing four baserunners. As he returns to the minors, Francis will likely get stretched back out for starting duty.

The Blue Jays recalled Thornton from Triple-A Buffalo on Monday.

He'll join the big club for the first time this season after he had previously been optioned to Triple-A late in spring training. Over 23.2 innings out of the Buffalo bullpen, Thornton pitched to a 3.04 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 22:14 K:BB. He'll presumably be limited to lower-leverage spots in relief while he's up with the big club.

Banks will serve as the White Sox's opening pitcher for Monday's game against the Rangers, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

During stops in the majors and minors this season, Banks has made 11 appearances spanning between two and three innings, and while he shouldn't be expected to work deep enough into Monday's contest to qualify for a win, he'll likely offer more length than the typical opener. Once Banks exits the contest, the White Sox could turn to Jesse Scholtens to cover multiple innings behind him.

Blanco did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against Cincinnati. He struck out five.

Blanco recently shifted back to the bullpen when Houston condensed its rotation from six to five, but he got a spot start Sunday because manager Dusty Baker wanted to give Hunter Brown an extra day of rest. Blanco struggled versus the Reds and surrendered a season-high five runs, and over his last three appearances (all starts), the right-hander has given up five home runs and nine earned runs while posting a questionable 15:9 K:BB through 17 innings.

Barraclough agreed to a minor-league contract with the Red Sox on Monday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

After electing free agency following the 2022 season, Barraclough had most recently been pitching for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, but he'll make his return to affiliated ball as a member of the Red Sox organization. Barraclough will most likely settle into the bullpen at Triple-A Worcester, hoping to string together enough quality performances to earn a call-up to Boston. The 33-year-old right-hander made eight appearances at the MLB level for the Angels in 2022, logging a 3.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 9:4 K:BB in nine innings.

Sands (shoulder) is set to begin throwing off a mound this week, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Sands landed on the injured list on June 4 due to a right shoulder impingement. He'll likely need to go on a rehab assignment before returning. It wouldn't be surprising to see him activated and sent to Triple-A as he's mostly served as a long reliever in the majors.