MLB Player News

The Brewers recalled Junk from Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

Junk has permitted five runs on 13 hits and one walk over five relief innings with the Brewers this season. He will offer some potential length out of the bullpen behind starter Robert Gasser on Friday.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Fairbanks (arm) is back with the big-league team and will likely be activated from the IL this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Fairbanks made his second rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Thursday and delivered a scoreless inning. The 30-year-old righty had three saves in eight appearances prior to being shut down due to an arm injury but had given up seven runs with a 10:8 K:BB through seven innings. He was Tampa Bay's primary closer in 2023, as he finished with 25 saves, a 2.58 ERA and 68 strikeouts across 45.1 IP.

Milwaukee acquired White from San Francisco on Friday in exchange for cash considerations.

White has been traded twice in the past month, first moving to San Francisco from Toronto on April 20 before heading to Milwaukee on Friday. He's pitched 15.1 big-league innings in 2024, owning a 7.63 ERA and a 7:9 K:BB. Though White hasn't offered much to be excited about at the major-league level since posting a 3.66 ERA over 46.2 innings with the Dodgers in 2021, the Brewers have a strong track record developing pitchers, and Milwaukee is dealing with plenty of injured arms at the moment. He'll likely begin his tenure with the Brewers as a long-relief option but could eventually gain consideration for starts.

Speas was claimed off waivers by the Astros on Friday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Speas was designated for assignment Wednesday by Oakland after just over a month with the team, but he has quickly found a new home. The right-hander has appeared only at the Triple-A level so far this year, logging an 11.32 ERA and 2.28 WHIP across 10.1 IP with Las Vegas.

Bazardo made his season debut in Thursday's 11-1 loss to the Twins, allowing an earned run on a hit and a walk over two innings. He struck out four.

Manager Scott Servais found the ideal low-leverage setting for Bazardo's first taste of action after a long stint on the IL due to a right rotator cuff strain, deploying the right-hander in the fifth and sixth innings of a game in which the Mariners already faced an eight-run deficit. Bazardo located 22 of his 35 pitches for strikes, with the one run he surrendered coming on a Manuel Margot groundout. Bazardo will likely work in middle relief.

The Yankees activated Burdi (hip) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Burdi missed three weeks of action with right hip inflammation but is ready to go after striking out all three hitters he faced during his lone rehab appearance. The hard-throwing reliever hasn't allowed a run and has struck out eight in 6.1 innings with the Yankees this season, albeit with five walks.

Thompson allowed one hit and permitted two inherited runners to score over a scoreless third of an inning Thursday, getting charged with a blown save in a 5-4 win over the Reds.

Thompson was called on in a high-leverage spot in the bottom of the seventh inning and lost a battle with Spencer Steer, who fouled off a couple two-strike pitches before delivering a two-run single that knotted the game at 4-4. The blown save was the first of the season for Thompson, who has emerged as a trusted late-game arm for manager Torey Lovullo. The right-hander has a 1.20 ERA and 0.80 WHIP while striking out 11 over 15 innings, recording six holds in 15 appearances.

Myers did not factor into the decision in Milwaukee's win over the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Myers managed to work his way out of jams despite issuing four walks for the second consecutive start. The only run allowed by the 25-year-old right-hander came via a Lars Nootbaar solo homer in the top of the third inning, and Myers has given up at least one home run in all four of his outings to open the campaign. The six strikeouts were a season high, and he now carries an 8:8 K:BB through two May starts after posting a 9:1 K:BB in his two April appearances.

Kopech earned a save against the Guardians on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over 1.1 innings.

Kopech's save against Tampa Bay on Wednesday was relatively stress-free, as he entered with a three-run lead. That wasn't the case Thursday -- Kopech was asked to put out a fire in the bottom of the eighth frame after Cleveland slugged back-to-back homers to get to within a run. The right-hander retired David Fry in that inning to quell Cleveland's momentum, then worked around a one-out single in the ninth to finish off the save. The White Sox are among the worst teams in the majors this season, so Kopech may not have as many save opportunities as closers on contenders, but he's emerged the Chicago's clear go-to ninth-inning option with a save in consecutive contests.

Hader earned a save against the Yankees on Thursday, allowing one hit and striking out one batter over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Hader was called upon with two outs and a runner on first with Houston protecting a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. He got Anthony Rizzo to pop out to end the frame, then completed the save with a scoreless ninth despite allowing a leadoff single. It was just the second time this season Hader was asked to get more than three outs, though he kept his workload relatively light by throwing 14 of his 18 pitches for strikes. The veteran closer's 5.63 ERA so far is well below his career standard, but he has converted four of his five save chances and has 25 punchouts over 16 frames.