MLB Player News

Fairbanks (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, the Associated Press reports.

The right-handed reliever has been on the injured list with a rotator cuff strain since April 9, and Wednesday will represent another step in the right direction for Fairbanks. If all goes well with the bullpen session, it's possible Fairbanks could face live hitters as his next step.

Cleveland reinstated Wittgren (personal) from the paternity list Wednesday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Wittgren ended up spending two days away from the team following the birth of his son. He'll be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's series finale against the Twins.

Andriese pitched a perfect eighth inning for his second hold in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Mets.

The eighth inning of a close game is usually a situation for Adam Ottavino, but he had pitched three of the previous four games. Andriese is pitching well in a variety of bullpen roles, permitting just two earned runs and striking out 11 over 12.2 innings.

Raley struck out two over a perfect eighth inning in Tuesday's 2-0 win over Seattle.

Entering the eighth inning with a two-run lead would normally mean Ryne Stanek, but he threw 29 pitches Monday, so manager Dusty Baker rolled with Raley. Joe Smith had opened the season as the eighth-inning man, but he's pitched himself out of the role with a 12.71 ERA. Raley had given up runs in six of 10 outings but was given the chance to preserve the lead for closer Ryan Pressly. He picked up his third hold with the perfect inning, the second time in three appearances that he's retired all three batters faced.

Tate pitched 2.2 innings Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout versus the Yankees.

Tate took over in a long-relief assignment after starter Bruce Zimmermann was tagged for four runs in 3.2 innings. The 26-year-old Tate only gave up a solo home run to Giancarlo Stanton in the seventh inning. Through 10 innings, Tate has a 2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and four strikeouts. He's picked up two holds and a loss in nine outings -- the right-hander has mostly worked in a low-leverage role.

Barnes struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Mets.

He needed only 10 pitches, nine of them strikes, to breeze through the heart of the New York order. Barnes has taken a huge step forward with his control so far this season, cutting his walk rate nearly in half from his 12.4 percent mark in 2020 while assembling a 22:3 K:BB through 13 innings, and he's a perfect 5-for-5 on save chances as a result.

Thornton didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Nationals. He gave up two runs on three hits while fanning two across 2.1 innings.

Thornton worked as the opener and didn't stay enough in the game long enough to take part in the decision, but his final stat line didn't turn heads by any means. Toronto is still waiting on Nate Pearson (groin) and Ross Stripling (forearm) to return from the injured list, so Thornton might remain in the rotation for the short-term future.

Zimmermann (1-3) was tagged with the loss Tuesday against the Yankees after giving up four runs on nine hits and a walk while fanning three across 3.2 innings. He also allowed two home runs.

Zimmermann gave up homers to Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka and couldn't even finish the fourth inning -- the Orioles were losing 4-0 when he departed the game. The left-hander has lost his last three starts and has allowed three or more earned runs in four of his first outings this season. He will try to bounce back in his next start, scheduled for Sunday on the road against the Athletics.

Pressly earned the save against Seattle on Tuesday, pitching a perfect inning and striking out one.

Pressly came on in the ninth to protect a two-run lead and made quick work of the Mariners to notch his third save. The right-hander threw all 11 of his pitches for strikes and finished off the contest by whiffing Kyle Seager. Pressly has allowed only one earned run across 11 innings this season while registering a 13:2 K:BB.

Junis (1-1) took the loss Tuesday at Pittsburgh after allowing two runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and one walk across 6.1 innings.

The 28-year-old pitched more than five innings for the first time this season and posted a quality start, but he was tagged with the loss since the Royals mustered only one run and four hits. Junis has a 3.47 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB through 23.1 innings this season, and he lines up to face Cleveland on Monday.