MLB Player News

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.

Gallegos (1-1) allowed three runs on four hits in the ninth inning Wednesday versus the Angels, taking the loss and a blown save.

Regular closer Ryan Helsley was called on to get the last out of the seventh inning and also pitched the eighth. That left Gallegos with a one-run lead to protect in the ninth, and he couldn't get the job done. He allowed solo home runs to Jake Lamb and Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon added an RBI single. After opening the season with eight scoreless outings, Gallegos has given up four runs over his last two appearances. He's now at a 3.60 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB across 10 innings with a save and two holds.

Rodriguez (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Rodriguez has been out all season while working his way back from a strained oblique but is finally ready to test things out in game action. The left-handed reliever will likely need a handful of rehab appearances before being activated by the Red Sox.

Fleming (foot) played catch Thursday and is optimistic he'll be able to pitch Sunday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

A bigger test will come Friday when Fleming throws a bullpen session, but he's trending in the right direction after he exited his last outing Tuesday with a bruised left foot. If he is available Sunday, it's not clear whether the left-hander would be starting the game or serving as a bulk reliever.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson confirmed Wednesday that Strahm will move into the bullpen when Ranger Suarez (elbow) is likely activated from the 15-day injured list next week, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Even though Strahm (3.38 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 37:8 K:BB in 26.2 innings) has handily outperformed rotation mates Bailey Falter and Taijuan Walker this season, the Phillies aren't keen on having the southpaw serve as a full-time starter after he hadn't pitched more than 50 innings in any of the last three years while working almost exclusively as a reliever. Strahm could still be an option for spot starts down the road, but swapping him out of the rotation for Suarez will at least allow the Phillies to better manage the former's workload. With Jose Alvarado excelling as the Phillies' preferred option at closer for the time being, Strahm doesn't look as though he'll be in the mix for saves upon moving to the bullpen, so his fantasy value looks primed to take a major hit now that he's no longer starting. After having made his most recent start Tuesday, Strahm should be available out of the bullpen as soon as Sunday's game against the Red Sox.