MLB Player News

Sears (6-7) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two hits and three walks over 5.2 innings in a 7-0 victory over the Yankees. He struck out four.

Facing the team that traded him west back in 2022 as part of the Frankie Montas deal, Sears tossed 48 of 90 pitches for strikes, as he fell one out shy of his first quality start since May 4. Saturday's performance was a much-needed turnaround after he'd gone 1-5 with a 7.90 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB over his prior nine outings and 41 innings, but it may have come too late to save Sears' spot in the A's rotation -- in each of his last two trips to the mound, top prospect Jack Perkins has dazzled in long relief, and the duo may switch roles in the near future. Sears currently lines up to make his next start at home next weekend against the Giants.

Drake's next start will come with Triple-A Round Rock, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reported Saturday.

Drake is one of the top pitching prospects in the Rangers organization, and he's accumulated a 2.44 ERA and a 70:22 K:BB in 12 starts with Double-A Frisco this season. The 24-year-old was an 11th-round pick in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft.

The Yankees optioned Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

The transaction creates an opening on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Marcus Stroman (knee), who will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Sunday against the Athletics, per Max Goodman of NJ.com. Winan made a spot start against the Reds this past Monday and took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and no walks while striking out one batter in 4.1 innings.

Eflin was removed from Saturday's game against the Rays due to lower-back tightness, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Eflin was rocked for four runs on 28 pitches (18 strikes) in the first inning, and his back issue may have contributed to his poor outing. He'll go to the clubhouse to undergo further testing, and the Orioles should provide an update on the veteran right-hander in the near future. Scott Blewett took the mound for Baltimore at the top of the second frame.

Hicks (toe) could be activated from the 15-day injured list within the next couple of days, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Hicks was roughed up in his first rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester this past Sunday, when he allowed two runs on three hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning. He rebounded in his second appearance Friday, tossing one scoreless inning and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Part of the trade package the Red Sox received in return in the mid-June deal that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco, Hicks is expected to slot into a middle-innings role in the Boston bullpen once he's activated from the IL.

Shields (undisclosed) was reinstated from Double-A Somerset's 60-day injured list Saturday.

Shields was placed on the 60-day IL in mid-March due to an undisclosed injury. He made four rehab starts across three minor-league levels and posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB across 12 innings.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Saturday that Cannon (back) could return from his rehab assignment and start as soon as Sunday against the Giants, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Cannon landed on the 15-day injured list in early June due to a lower-back strain. He was cleared to make a rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte, and in his lone outing Tuesday he allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two across three scoreless innings. Cannon went 2-7 in 12 games (10 starts) with a 4.66 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 51:21 K:BB across 63.2 innings prior to his stint on the IL.

The Astros reinstated McCullers (foot) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start against the Cubs on Saturday.

McCullers was been out of action since mid-June due to a right foot sprain, but he showed enough progress during his bullpen sessions to skip a rehab assignment and will rejoin the Astros' rotation Saturday. Nick Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land following Friday's game to make room on the 26-man roster for McCullers.

The Rays recalled Rock from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

The Rays will bring up Rock to bolster the bullpen, designating Forrest Whitley for assignment in a corresponding move. Rock has spent the entire 2025 season in Triple-A, where he has a 3-5 record in 15 games (14 starts) with a 4.81 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 63:30 K:BB across 73 innings. He'll be available out of the Rays' bullpen and could make his major-league debut as soon as Saturday against the Orioles.

Kennedy (knee) struck out two and allowed two earned runs on five hits and no walks over two innings in his start Thursday after being reinstated from High-A Lake County's 7-day injured list.

Kennedy had been on the shelf since May 7 due to a right knee strain before being cleared to rejoin Lake County after completing a two-start rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Over 18 innings with Lake County this season, Kennedy has posted a 4.00 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 22:7 K:BB.