MLB Player News

Wacha yielded four runs on five hits over 2.2 innings while striking out three during Sunday's win over Houston. He did not factor in the decision.

Wacha took the mound in the fourth inning and quickly gave up a solo shot to Yordan Alvarez after Rich Hill tossed three scoreless frames to start the afternoon. He then allowed two runs in the fifth and was charged with another run in the sixth after he was lifted from the game. The 29-year-old righty saw his season ERA jump to 4.76 through 28.1 innings.

Hill allowed one hit and a walk over three scoreless innings during Sunday's win over Houston. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.

Hill was expected to have a short outing Sunday, and he made the most of it. He issued a walk in the first inning and allowed a hit in the second but no Astro made it into scoring position. The veteran lefty lowered his season ERA to 6.39 across 25.1 innings. Hill is expected to take the mound in Oakland next weekend.

Lynch will be called up to start Monday's game against Cleveland, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The Royals announced earlier in the week that Lynch would begin the season at Triple-A Omaha, but the southpaw will instead make his major-league debut Monday. Lynch hasn't pitched above High-A but posted a 3.10 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 77:23 K:BB in 78.1 innings across 15 starts with High-A Wilmington in 2019.

Giolito (1-3) took the loss Sunday versus Cleveland. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5.1 innings.

Giolito allowed a solo home run to Cesar Hernandez in the third inning. In the fourth, Cleveland tallied another run on a Yoan Moncada fielding error. With no run production from the White Sox offense Sunday, Giolito was stuck with his third straight loss. The right-hander has a 4.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 41:13 K:BB across 30.2 innings this season. He projects for a start in next weekend's series versus Kansas City.

Mariners manager Scott Servais said Gonzales (forearm) was able to throw off flat ground Sunday, Lauren Smith of The Tacoma News Tribune reports.

Gonzales was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a mild left forearm strain, but the fact that he was able to play catch three days later suggests that he could be in store for a brief stay on the shelf. The Mariners likely won't iron out a firm target date for Gonzales' return until he resumes facing hitters in a live batting practice session or simulated game. Seattle isn't expected to shorten its rotation to five men while Gonzales is sidelined, but the team could opt for bullpen games when the southpaw's turn comes up rather than appointing a sixth starter.

The Athletics placed Luzardo on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a fractured left pinkie finger.

According to Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle, Luzardo suffered the injury prior to his start Saturday against the Orioles, when he bumped his pitching hand while playing a video game. After Luzardo was roughed up for six runs (three earned) over three innings Saturday, he was sent in for an X-ray, which revealed a hairline fracture. Regardless of whether or not surgery is required on the injured finger, Luzardo appears destined to be on the shelf for longer than the 10-day minimum, depriving the Athletics of one of their top starters. Mike Fiers is expected to stick in the rotation as the No. 5 starter for the duration of Luzardo's absence.

The Blue Jays placed Milone on the 10-day injured list Sunday with left shoulder inflammation.

Milone likely picked up the injury during his long-relief appearance Saturday, when he was tagged for four runs over 2.1 innings in Toronto's win over Atlanta. The Blue Jays recalled Anthony Kay from their alternate site in a corresponding move, giving the team another lefty arm capable of providing some length out of the bullpen.

Arihara received an injection to address a sore right middle finger, an injury he picked up during his start in Friday's loss to the Red Sox, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

The sore finger and an accompanying callus on the digit likely had an effect in the rookie submitting his worst start of the season, as Boston torched him for six runs on four hits -- all home runs -- and two walks over 2.2 innings. The Rangers are optimistic that Arihara will be ready to go for his next turn through the rotation Wednesday in Minnesota, but if the injection fails to have its desired effect in a timely fashion, he'll likely be moved to the 10-day injured list. Long reliever Hyeon-Jong Yang would presumably be the top candidate to make a spot start if Arihara isn't cleared to face the Twins, according to Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com.

Luzardo (1-3) was tagged with the loss Saturday against the Orioles after allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while fanning one across three innings.

Luzardo failed to pitch more than three innings for the second time this season and has been struggling massively -- this was also the second time he ended with more walks than strikeouts. The left-hander, who has given up three or more earned runs in four of his six appearances to date, owns a 5.79 ERA with a 1.61 WHIP in 28 innings (six starts) so far.

The Rays plan to use Michael Wacha in long relief once Hill exits his start Sunday against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Hill will be pitching on five days' rest, with his placement on the COVID-19 injured list earlier this weekend due to vaccine-related side effects not pushing him off his regular turn in the rotation. That said, the fact that the Rays are having Wacha -- who worked five innings in his last start Tuesday -- on hand in relief could hint that Hill may not be asked to work especially deep into Sunday's game. Manager Kevin Cash hasn't suggested that a tandem-start arrangement between Hill and Wacha is in the forecast, so Hill remains the safer bet of the two to cover the majority of the innings.