MLB Player News

Allard (0-2) was tagged with the loss Wednesday against Kansas City, pitching three innings and allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out one.

Allard was called up to the big club earlier in the day and ended up handling the most work in what amounted to a bullpen game for Texas. He gave up only one run -- on a third-inning homer by Whit Merrifield -- across his three innings, but that was enough to saddle him with the loss. It was nonetheless a promising outing for the left-hander, who entered the contest having given up five earned runs over seven frames on the season.

Taillon (3-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Blue Jays after allowing two runs on six hits with four strikeouts and one walk across 5.1 innings.

The right-hander allowed a run on a single, a walk and a hit by pitch during the first inning, but he then settled down before Toronto scratched across another run in the fifth. Taillon has won three of his past four starts and has a 2.57 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB over 21 frames during that span. He lines up to pitch in Baltimore early next week.

Watkins (0-1) took the loss against St. Louis on Wednesday, completing 3.2 innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three.

The right-hander pitched a clean first inning before the Cardinals got to him for three runs in the second. Watkins was fine in the third frame, but he allowed four straight batters to reach base with two outs in the fourth before being mercifully pulled. All told, the 29-year-old gave up a season-high eight hits and seven runs, pushing his ERA from a respectable 3.22 to 5.19 on the campaign. Things are unlikely to get easier for Watkins, as he's tentatively slated to face the Yankees in his next start.

Wentz (0-1) was optioned to Triple-A Toledo following Wednesday's 9-0 defeat versus the A's, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. He took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits with two walks and one strikeout over 2.2 innings.

The 24-year-old was called up for his big-league debut Wednesday but laid an egg against Oakland, as he retired only eight of the 16 batters he faced. Wentz will return to Toledo, where he has a 4.12 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 26:10 K:BB across 19.2 innings this season.

Gilbert (4-1) allowed four earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out nine across five innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Phillies.

Gilbert had little trouble getting through the first three innings, as he allowed only two baserunners and struck out five. However, he allowed a grand slam to Rhys Hoskins in the fourth, souring his outing. However, Gilbert induced 14 swinging strikes on 95 total pitches to punch out a season-best nine batters. Gilbert has allowed seven earned runs across his last 10 innings, but he still has a 2.13 ERA with 42:14 K:BB across 38 frames on the season.

Ober (groin) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old completed an 18-pitch session Saturday and returned to the mound Wednesday. Ober will likely need to build up his pitch count and face live batters before potentially embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Red Sox hope Hill (illness) will return from the COVID-19 injured list to start Saturday at Texas, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 42-year-old is no longer symptomatic after testing positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, and he's expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend. Even if Hill isn't ready for this coming Saturday, he could still pitch in Sunday's series finale. The veteran lefty went a season-high five innings last time out May 5 and didn't allow a run with a 6:1 K:BB.

Whitlock will start Monday's game against the Astros, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Although Rich Hill (illness) is expected to return from the COVID-19 injured list this weekend, Whitlock will remain in the starting rotation with an additional day of rest prior to his next outing. While Whitlock initially lined up to start Sunday in Texas, he'll be pushed back to start Monday's series opener at home against the Astros. Following a strong start to the season, the right-hander has allowed five runs in eight innings over his last two outings, although he's struck out 14 during that time.

The Rangers recalled Allard from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Texas sent outfielder Zach Reks to Round Rock to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Allard. The 24-year-old southpaw previously made four appearances out of the Rangers bullpen earlier this season, giving up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings.

Velasquez and the White Sox won't play against the Guardians on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests within Cleveland's organization, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Velasquez was slated to make his sixth start of the season Wednesday. The White Sox will likely take increased precautions to make sure their players and staff aren't dealing with COVID-19 cases after playing two games against the Guardians, but it seems likely that Chicago will be able to play its upcoming series against the Yankees. As a result of the postponement, Velasquez is now scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Yankees, per Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com.