MLB Player News

Blanco (elbow) struck out two over two perfect innings in a rehab appearance Tuesday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

After throwing 60 pitches and 4.1 innings in his third rehab outing last Wednesday with Double-A Corpus Christi, Blanco tossed 27 pitches (18 strikes) over two frames Tuesday before the game was called after the seventh inning due to inclement weather. While it's possible that Blanco was able to do some additional throwing in the locker room or bullpen to build on his workload, the abbreviated appearance could take him out of consideration to return from the 60-day injured list and fill the open spot in the Houston rotation this Sunday at Texas. If Blanco instead makes another rehab appearance later this weekend and if the Astros are satisfied with the quality of his stuff and his velocity, he'll likely be cleared to come off the IL following the All-Star break.

Sands (forearm) tossed a perfect inning in his rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday.

Initially placed on the injured list May 2 due to a right forearm strain, Sands was cleared to start a rehab assignment in early June but was pulled off of it after experiencing a setback following his lone appearance. Just over a month later, Sands was able to complete a throwing program and gain clearance to restart the minor-league assignment, and the results from his first outing on the farm were encouraging. He averaged 93.7 mph with his four-seam fastball Tuesday, just over a half-tick above his season average (93.0) over his 12 appearances with the Twins prior to landing on the shelf. Sands could be ready to rejoin the Minnesota bullpen following the All-Star break.

Cruz will serve as the Royals' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

He'll draw his second start of the season, though Cruz is expected to work just one or two innings before giving way to the bullpen. Randy Dobnak hasn't been used since making a four-inning relief appearance last Thursday against the Rays, so the Royals could turn to him to cover multiple frames out of the bullpen once Cruz exits the contest.

Miles allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one without walking a batter over four innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Tuesday.

Miles threw 55 pitches (38 strikes) in this outing. He was relatively efficient despite giving up seven hits, and the Giants weren't able to piece much together off him. This performance did end Miles' nine-inning scoreless streak, a span in which he had a 12:3 K:BB. The right-hander is at a 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 56:17 K:BB through 58 innings over 25 appearances (three starts) this season. Miles and Patrick Corbin currently appear to be working in a tandem, though that could change if Miles continues to stretch out.

Gomez registered a save against the Guardians on Tuesday, striking out the only batter he faced in the ninth inning.

The Twins carried a 3-1 lead into the ninth and turned to lefty Tyler Rogers with Cleveland set to send up two left-handed batters. Rogers got two outs before walking Chase DeLauter, which prompted Minnesota manager Derek Shelton to summon Gomez from the bullpen. The righty reliever got the job done with aplomb, recording three straight swinging strikes to end the game. Gomez is now a perfect 10-for-10 in save opportunities this season and has emerged as the Twins' clear top closer. He had a rough start to the season but has been outstanding since the beginning of May, posting a 1.85 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB across 24.1 innings over 28 appearances.

Hader earned the save against the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out one batter in one-third of an inning.

The Astros initially turned to Alimber Santa to protect their 6-2 lead in the ninth, but the right-hander gave up a solo homer to Jose Tena before giving up another single. Hader was brought out needing just one out to secure the save, but the southpaw gave up an infield single and a walk to load the bases before getting Dylan Crews to strike out swinging. Hader has converted all 10 of his save opportunities this season and has a 0.59 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB across 15.1 innings.

Cleavinger picked up a hold Tuesday against the Yankees, allowing one hit and no walks in a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out two.

Cleavinger continues to operate as Tampa Bay's primary left-handed setup man for closer Bryan Baker. Through 25.2 innings, the 32-year-old southpaw has a quality 3.86 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB to go with 15 holds and two saves in four opportunities.

Seymour (6-1) earned the win against the Yankees on Tuesday, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks with 12 strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Seymour allowed a three-run homer to Ben Rice in the third inning but was otherwise dominant, generating 17 whiffs on 94 pitches en route to a career-high 12 strikeouts. Since transitioning into the rotation, the southpaw owns a 2.97 ERA over six games (four starts and two bulk relief appearances) while logging at least five innings in four straight outings. He'll carry a 4.11 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 72:21 K:BB across 61.1 innings this season into a home matchup with the Mariners this weekend.

Baker earned the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Yankees, allowing one hit and no walks with one strikeout in a scoreless ninth inning.

Baker was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and worked around a two-out single to slam the door. The first-time All-Star has now converted 13 straight save chances while allowing just one earned run over 17 appearances during that stretch. For the season, he's 24-for-27 in save opportunities to go along with a 1.78 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 38:11 K:BB across 35.1 innings.

Joyce (shoulder) is set to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with the Angels' Arizona Complex League squad Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Joyce has missed the entirety of the 2026 campaign while recovering from May 2025 shoulder surgery and a subsequent May 2026 setback. His rehab assignment will likely be a prolonged one, spanning outings at various levels in the Angels' minor-league system.