MLB Player News

Holmes allowed a run on two hits in one-third of an inning against Cleveland on Wednesday.

Two days after Holmes was given a verbal vote of confidence from manager Aaron Boone, the right-hander was called upon to preserve a 2-2 tie with two outs and the bases empty in the top of the ninth. He couldn't come through, allowing a Myles Straw double and an Oscar Gonzalez single that pushed the go-ahead run across the plate for the Guardians. Holmes did manage to record the final out of the frame, and he was bailed out of a loss when the Yankees tied the score in the bottom of the ninth. Neither knock Holmes allowed was hit hard, but this was still a discouraging outing for the closer, who has blown two saves and taken two losses while allowing five runs (three earned) across 4.1 frames over his past six appearances.

May's (personal) rehab assignment is "in a pause right now," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday.

May -- who is on the injured list with anxiety-related issues -- made a scoreless appearance with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday but will shut things down for now. Given the nature of what he's dealing with, it's difficult to project when he might rejoin the A's.

Lambert was recalled Thursday from Triple-A Albuquerque.

He will replace Dinelson Lamet (back) in the Rockies' bullpen ahead of Thursday's series finale against the visiting Brewers. Lambert spent some time in the majors last month but did not make an appearance.

Lamet was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with lower-back stiffness.

Lamet has been hammered for 16 runs -- 15 earned -- on 14 hits and 12 walks through 10.2 innings of relief this season with the Rockies. He'll likely head on a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to try to get into a better groove.

Banda cleared waivers and was outrighted Thursday to Triple-A Rochester, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Banda was designated for assignment by the Nationals on Sunday after allowing five earned runs on nine hits and five walks through seven innings of relief to begin the 2023 season. The 29-year-old will remain part of the organization for now but is no longer on the 40-man roster.

The Athletics selected Pruitt's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Pruitt earned a promotion with a 2.30 ERA and 16:5 K:BB across 15.2 frames with Vegas. The veteran right-hander appeared in 39 games for Oakland last season, posting a 4.23 ERA. He'll likely fill a multi-inning relief role.

The Athletics selected Garcia's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday.

Garcia, 29, has posted a 2.02 ERA and 19:9 K:BB over 13.1 innings while collecting two saves for Vegas this season. It's possible he could be in the mix for saves in Oakland's dumpster fire of a bullpen, but the odds of him being a reliable fantasy contributor are long.

Oller was optioned Thursday to Triple-A Las Vegas, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Oller had surrendered 24 runs -- 22 earned -- through 19.2 innings of work this season with the Athletics for a ghastly 10.07 ERA.

Brash (3-2) secured the win in an extra-inning victory over the Athletics on Wednesday, firing 1.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts.

Brash was rewarded for snuffing out an eighth-inning threat when first entering the game, putting away Tony Kemp and Brent Rooker on a groundout and swinging strikeout, respectively, to strand Nick Allen on third base. Brash then worked around a leadoff single by Ramon Laureano in the ninth after the Mariners had tied the game in the top half of the frame, and he qualified for the decision once Eugenio Suarez broke the game open with a three-run home run in the 10th inning. The hard-throwing right-hander has now strung together four straight scoreless efforts and is rewarding fantasy managers with an elite 43.1 percent strikeout rate through 14.2 innings.

Smeltzer was designated for assignment by the Marlins on Thursday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It is the second DFA in less than a week for Smeltzer, who's surrendered 14 runs -- 12 earned -- in 15.2 innings this season at the major-league level. He passed through waivers unclaimed last time around.