MLB Player News

Fairbanks (arm) struck out one in a perfect inning in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Yankees.

Fairbanks was activated from the IL earlier in the day following a nearly three-week absence with a nerve issue. Rays manager Kevin Cash put him right to work, asking him to preserve a five-run lead in the ninth. Fairbanks did so without a sweat, needing just 11 pitches to complete the 1-2-3 frame. The 30-year-old now sits on a 7.88 ERA and 11:8 K:BB over eight innings this season. Despite the ugly numbers, Fairbanks should still be the clear favorite for saves in Tampa Bay's bullpen, as long as he's healthy.

Littell (2-2) got the victory Saturday versus the Yankees, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He notched three strikeouts.

Littell came into this outing with zero walks over his last four starts and at least six strikeouts in all of those outings. While he went the other direction in both areas during Saturday's start, it was an effective outing nonetheless. Littell is sitting on a 3.02 ERA, but this was his first win since March 30. His next outing projects to come in Boston.

Cortes (1-4) took the loss Saturday in Tampa Bay, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

Cortes had just eight walks all season coming into this outing and half of those came in his first two starts. He issued a season-high three free passes in this one, the first time since April 14 that he didn't go at least six frames. Cortes will try to bounce back his next time out in a favorable projected matchup at home against the White Sox.

Jansen struck out two in a perfect inning Saturday to notch his sixth save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Nationals.

After the Red Sox broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jansen made quick work of the Nats in the top of the ninth with a groundout and a couple punchouts. The outing comes one day after Jansen was touched up for two runs in a non-save situation Friday. Jansen battled control issues early on in the season but has seemed to figure those out, putting up a 10:1 K:BB across his last six frames.

Criswell did not factor into the decision Saturday versus the Nationals, permitting two runs on three hits and a walk over five frames. He struck out nine.

Criswell was dinged by a couple solo home runs; one in the second inning by Joey Meneses and another in the fourth hit by Eddie Rosario. Aside from that, Criswell yielded only one other hit, and his nine punchouts were a career high. Criswell was pulled after five with his pitch count at just 79, as the Red Sox are continuing to keep a close eye on his workload as he transitions from the bullpen (he hasn't thrown more than 83 pitches in a start and has yet to record an out beyond the fifth inning). He's been awfully effective when on the bump, though, with his ERA actually going up to 2.10 after Saturday's outing. Criswell is slated to face his former club, the Rays, his next time out.

The Red Sox are expected to option Winckowski to Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Sean McAdam of The Springfield Republican reports.

The move will clear the way for Brayan Bello (lat) to be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Sunday against the Nationals. Winckowski has more walks (six) than strikeouts (four) over his last 14.2 innings (seven appearances). He'll likely be back up at some point when the Red Sox need a fresh bullpen arm.

Massey is not in Saturday's lineup against the Angels.

He'll sit against lefty Tyler Anderson, with Garrett Hampson getting the nod at the keystone. Massey is hitting .273 with two home runs and two doubles in nine games this month.

Carter is sitting Saturday against the Rockies due to lower-back stiffness, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Carter has a history of lower-back issues, so the Rangers are acting cautiously, per Grant. Travis Jankowski is getting the start in left field and batting seventh.

Calhoun is not in Saturday's lineup against the Royals.

Calhoun was in the lineup against a lefty Wednesday, but he'll take a seat in this one against southpaw Cole Ragans. Look for Calhoun to play regularly as the designated hitter when the Angels face a right-handed pitcher.

Moniak is not in Saturday's lineup against the Royals.

Per usual, Moniak will be on the bench to start the game with the Angels facing a southpaw (Cole Ragans). Kevin Pillar picks up the start in center field, batting cleanup.