MLB Player News

Tampa Bay optioned Faucher to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

With Javy Guerra reporting to the Rays on Sunday after being acquired from Milwaukee, Faucher's demotion is necessary to create room on the 26-man roster. Faucher had been serving as an opener of late for Tampa Bay and had allowed a run in all but one of his appearances in April while registering a 6.43 ERA and 11:6 K:BB across 14 innings. He could be back with Tampa Bay in the coming weeks when the big club requires a fresh arm.

Barlow gave up two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Twins.

He was dialed in, firing 14 of his 15 pitches for strikes, and after giving up a pair of one-out singles he retired Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach to secure Kansas City's seventh win of the year. A couple implosions have tainted Barlow's ratios, but he remains the preferred option in the ninth inning over Aroldis Chapman despite his 6.10 ERA, 1.74 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB through 10.1 innings.

Brasier allowed three runs on one hit and two walks while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning in Saturday's 8-7 extra-inning win over Cleveland.

Brasier was the most egregious part of a bullpen meltdown and has allowed multiple runs in five of 14 appearances. He survived an offseason bullpen purge, largely because he was a strike thrower, but the right-hander has walked eight in 14 innings and sports an 8.36 ERA. With news that Kenley Jansen (back) is unavailable Sunday, Brasier, who saved a game earlier in April when Jansen was unavailable, could be in line for another opportunity to close.

Jansen will not be available to pitch Sunday due to back tightness, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Jansen pitched through a back issue that cropped up prior to Saturday's game and was visited by training staff during the ninth inning. "He'll be down tomorrow," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "Hopefully, he'll be back on Monday." If a save situation arises Sunday, Cora could use a returning Chris Martin (shoulder), who's expected to come off the IL before the game, while lefty Richard Bleier and righty John Schreiber are also available. Ryan Brasier, who picked up a save earlier this season, is also an option, but the right-hander threw 21 pitches Saturday and has allowed eight runs over his last 4.2 innings.

Lange recorded his third save of the season in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, giving up two hits and striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

The right-hander made things interesting, as he needed 23 pitches (15 strikes) to protect a 7-4 lead, but Lange eventually struck out Ryan Mountcastle to end the matinee. Lange hasn't been tagged with a run in eight straight appearances, posting a 13:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings over that stretch, and while Jason Foley has also been effective in a high-leverage role for Detroit, Lange appears to be tightening his hold on the closer job.

Bautista recorded his seventh save of the season in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Tigers, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

After seeing his control waver Thursday when he walked three batters and needed 31 pitches to secure his sixth save, Bautista's seventh was a relative breeze as he needed only 10 pitches to carve up Detroit's 6-7-8 hitters. The right-hander is showing he was no one-year wonder after breaking out in 2022, and through 13.2 innings this season he sports a 1.32 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and dominant 43.1 percent strikeout rate.

Duran (0-1) took the loss Saturday against Kansas City after allowing a run on no hits and three walks during the ninth inning. He had one strikeout.

Duran was unavailable Friday while attending to some immigration matters, but he was back with the club for Saturday's contest and entered for the ninth inning with the game tied 2-2. The right-hander struggled with his command but wasn't hit hard as a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch factored into the run allowed. He's converted five of six save chances and has a 2.61 ERA and 14:6 K:BB in 10.1 innings this year.

Martin (shoulder) will come off the injured list before Sunday's game against the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Martin will take the place of Kaleb Ort with Ort already being optioned to Triple-A Worcester after Saturday's game. Martin was placed on the injured list on April 13 with inflammation in his right shoulder, and he should return to a high-leverage role in the later innings starting Sunday.

Boston optioned Ort to Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Ort has struggled to a 7.30 ERA over 12.1 innings with a 12:6 K:BB over 12 appearances. The right-hander will move down to Triple-A to make room for Chris Martin (shoulder), who was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Sunday's game against the Guardians.

The Orioles returned Hall to Triple-A Norfolk following Saturday's doubleheader with the Tigers, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Hall was up with the big club for just one day after being designated as the 27th man for the doubleheader. The left-hander came on in relief in the Orioles' 7-4 loss in the early game, giving up two runs on five hits over three innings while striking out seven against one walk. Hall will likely be back at some point for Baltimore in the coming weeks.