MLB Player News

Banks was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox on Thursday.

Banks has yielded three runs over eight relief innings during his time in the majors this season. The 31-year-old is clearing out to make room for Lucas Giolito's return from the bereavement list.

Hicks (0-2) allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out four without walking a batter over 1.2 innings, and he took the loss Wednesday versus the Giants.

A two-out fielding error by Lars Nootbaar and a subsequent wild pitch from Hicks allowed the Giants' Mitch Haniger to score the go-ahead run. Hicks has been used in low-leverage situations for a little over a week, but he entered a tie game on a three-inning scoreless streak and couldn't keep the score even. The hard-throwing righty trimmed his ERA to a bloated 6.97, and he has an awful 2.32 WHIP and a 17:9 K:BB through 10.1 innings. He's issued just one walk over his last five outings, but he's also uncorked two wild pitches in that span and still has some work to do to get his control in line.

Silseth walked two batters but did not allow any hits or runs over two innings against Oakland on Wednesday. He had two strikeouts.

Silseth was called up to the big club Wednesday and made his first MLB appearance of the campaign. The right-hander walked a pair in his first frame but settled down with a 1-2-3 ninth to finish off an Angels rout. Silseth struggled in his first taste of the big leagues last season, posting a 6.59 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 28.2 frames. However, he dominated with Triple-A Salt Lake to begin 2023, allowing just two earned runs and notching a 20:8 K:BB over 20 innings. Silseth is up with the big club in a relief role but would be a top candidate to move into the rotation should a need arise.

Martinez (2-1) earned the win over Chicago on Wednesday, allowing three hits and striking out two batters over three scoreless frames.

Martinez came on in relief of Michael Wacha in the sixth inning and provided a bridge to closer Josh Hader, keeping Chicago off the board over three frames. Martinez tossed 34 of 50 pitches for a strike in his first appearance out of the bullpen this season. The right-hander began the campaign as a starter but was moved to a relief role when Joe Musgrove came off the IL on April 22.

Iglesias (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Iglesias got a late start to the season due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder, but he's been throwing off the mound for a while now with no issues. It's not clear how many rehab appearances he'll be asked to make, but it seems reasonable to think he'll be reinstated within a week or so. Iglesias will regain the closer job from A.J. Minter eventually, but it's possible Atlanta will ease him back into the role once activated.

Fleming didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Astros, allowing four hits and a walk over six scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.

The left-hander entered the game in the third inning, taking over from opener Calvin Faucher, and while Fleming did an outstanding job stifling the Houston offense, Tampa Bay's bats were just as silent. He tossed 69 pitches (43 strikes) in his best performance of the season, and Fleming should continue to plug a hole in the Rays' rotation -- either as a bulk reliever behind an opener, or as a traditional starter -- until Tyler Glasnow (oblique) is ready to return. Fleming's still looking for his first win of 2023, but it should come quickly if he continues to pitch well. He has a 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB through 19.1 innings.

Faucher (0-1) took the loss Wednesday, giving up one run on one hit and two walks over two innings as the Rays fell 1-0 to the Astros. He struck out one.

Houston plated a run in the top of the first inning thanks in part to a wild pitch and an error, and that proved to be the game's only bit of offense, saddling Faucher with the loss. The right-hander gave way to Josh Fleming after 43 pitches (23 strikes), and there's no guarantee Faucher continues to see regular work as an opener ahead of the southpaw given his struggles. Through 12.2 innings this season, he has a 5.68 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB, and he's been scored upon in six straight appearances.

Almonte allowed four runs on two hits and one walk over 1.1 innings against the Pirates on Wednesday.

Almonte entered the game with the Dodgers in a jam in the sixth inning, inheriting a two-on, one-out situation. He escaped by inducing a double play, but the right-hander was less effective in the following frame. He allowed four hitters to reach base, and all four came around to score, though two crossed the plate after Almonte departed. The veteran reliever has been charged with multiple runs in three of his 12 outings this season, including in two of his past three trips to the mound.

Pressly worked a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his second save of the season in a 1-0 win over the Rays. He didn't walk or strike out a batter.

The right-hander fired eight of 10 pitches for strikes and showed no signs of injury or fatigue as he pitched on the second straight day for only the second time in 2023. The Astros have taken it easy on Pressly to begin the season and Bryan Abreu had collected the Astros' last two saves, but as long as he's healthy, Pressly should be the team's primary option in the ninth. The 34-year-old has a 4.35 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 8:2 K:BB through 10.1 innings.

Chafin walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his fourth save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Royals.

The lefty continued his impressive start to the season, as Chafin has been scored upon in only one of his first 12 appearances so far. That one outing did result in his only blown save in five chances, but he still appears to be solidifying his hold on the closer role for Arizona, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through 10.1 innings.