MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Eflin (back) looked good in a bullpen session Monday and is on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the White sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Eflin was placed on the IL on April 11 due to lower-back tightness, but barring any further setbacks, he should be in line for activation when first eligible this weekend. The right-hander had pitched well before the injury, compiling a 3.27 ERA and 12:1 K:BB over 11 innings.

Seattle reinstated Gonzales from the paternity list Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Gonzales was away from the team for three days following the birth of his child. The left-hander is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday against the Brewers.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic will require a second opinion on his elbow after he was diagnosed Sunday with a left flexor strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic was placed on the 15-day injured list after initial tests revealed the flexor strain, but Quatraro notes that the Royals still have some "underlying concerns' about the health of the lefty's elbow and will have him get another checkup. The Royals are expected to have an updated timeline on Bubic's return later Monday once the second medical opinion is completed, but the southpaw looks like he could be at risk of missing more than the minimum 15 days.

Boyd and the Tigers won't face the Guardians on Monday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Detroit, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Tuesday. It's the second straight day Matthew Boyd has had a start postponed. He'll get another extra day of rest and will be opposed by Hunter Gaddis on Tuesday.

Gaddis won't start against the Tigers on Monday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Detroit, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Guardians and Tigers are set to make up the postponed game as part of a split doubleheader Tuesday. Gaddis will presumably start one of the two games for Cleveland, while Peyton Battenfield takes the hill for the other contest.

Double-A Rocket City placed Bush (oblique) on its 7-day injured list April 6.

Bush is still working his way back from a left oblique injury that limited him for much of spring training. Once healthy, Bush should settle back into a spot in the Rocket City rotation after logging a 3.67 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 103 innings at the Double-A level in 2022.

McDougal (elbow) made his season debut last Thursday for Single-A Kannapolis, striking out three over 3.1 scoreless innings while walking five and giving up no hits. Kannapolis placed him on the 7-day injured list one day later.

Pitching in a game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October 2021, McDougal did well to keep Delmarva off the scoreboard but struggled mightily with his efficiency. Kannapolis' decision to move him to the IL immediately following the outing could hint that McDougal experienced a setback with his surgically repaired elbow, though no update on his status has been provided.

Farrell signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Monday.

Farrell is expected to report to the White Sox's spring training complex in Arizona to get stretched out after he had been a free agent since the conclusion of the 2022 season. Once he's fully ramped up, Farrell is expected to report to Triple-A Charlotte, where he could handle a swingman role. He logged 15 innings in the big leagues in 2022 over six appearances (two starts) between the Cubs and Reds, pitching to a 5.40 ERA and 1.67 WHIP.

Cease did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits with five walks over six innings in the loss against the Orioles. He struck out five.

Despite a strong start with a four-run lead in the first inning, Cease's command faltered as he allowed the Orioles to creep back into the game. A crucial error by Jake Burger in the fourth inning allowed Cedric Mullins to hit a base-clearing triple, and Cease's wild pitch in the sixth allowed Gunnar Henderson to tie the game at 4-4. Although the 27-year-old ace was relieved later in the inning and received a no-decision, his 2.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 29.3 percent strikeout rate and .143 average against reflect his status as a top pitcher. He looks to continue his dominance in his upcoming start against Tampa Bay.

Watkins was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk following Sunday's 8-4 win over the White Sox.

Watkins will head back to Triple-A after he was called up for extra bullpen depth Thursday. With Keegan Akin returning from the paternity list Monday, Watkins was the odd man out on the major-league roster.