MLB Player News

Rodriguez is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Astros in Toronto, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After returning from the 15-day injured list June 21 and giving up five runs (four earned) over 1.1 innings in a loss to Cleveland that day, Rodriguez made his next turn through the rotation this past Wednesday in Boston. However, with that game getting paused in the top of the second inning due to severe weather and later postponed, Rodriguez won't get credited with statistics for that game until the contest is resumed Aug. 26 as part of a split doubleheader. As a result, Monday's start against the Astros will officially be Rodriguez's second since he returned from the IL.

Blackburn (foot) is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Ross Stripling (elbow) is set to do the same Wednesday, as both hurlers look to be in the same spot in their respective rehab programs. Given that Stripling has been on the injured list since May 25 while Blackburn was deactivated May 13, the latter pitcher could need more time to get fully stretched back out during an eventual minor-league rehab assignment. The Athletics will likely determine whether either or both of Stripling or Blackburn are ready to report to an affiliate based on how they fare during their live sessions Wednesday.

Wood (shoulder) hasn't resumed a throwing program since receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection during the second week of June, MLB.com reports.

Wood will be eligible to come off the 60-day injured list next week, but since he's not yet even playing catch again since being shut down in mid-May with left rotator cuff tendinitis, he could be more than a month away from rejoining the Oakland rotation. Prior to landing on the shelf, Wood went 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and 1.78 WHIP across 39.1 innings over his nine starts.

Stripling (elbow) is scheduled to face hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Stripling will move on to the next phase of his rehab program after he completed a two-inning simulated bullpen session Saturday without incident. The 34-year-old has been on the shelf since May 25 with a right elbow flexor strain and will likely need at least one or two rehab starts before he's cleared to return from the 15-day injured list, most likely after the All-Star break.

Medina allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings Sunday against the Diamondbacks. He did not factor into the decision.

Medina was locked into a pitcher's duel with Brandon Pfaadt in this one. Medina held the Diamondbacks scoreless through three frames before Christian Walker was able to push the first run of the game across in the first on a base hit. That was the only major tally against Medina on the afternoon, as he completed two more scoreless frames and finished with his first quality start this season while needing just 86 pitches. Medina's stuff was clicking in this one, as his fastball was nearly touching triple digits and he registered an excellent 14 swinging strikes. Medina has struggled to find consistency, however, evidenced by his 4.80 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 22:15 K:BB (30 innings). He's lined up for a tough matchup against the Orioles his next time on the mound this weekend.

Anderson (7-8) yielded six runs on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Tigers.

Anderson gave up one run through three innings before the Tigers plated three runs in the fourth. He was charged with two more when Carson Kelly drilled a three-run homer off Andrew Wantz in the fifth. It was the most runs allowed by Anderson this season and his ERA jumped from 2.63 to 3.03 through 104 frames. He went 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA in six June outings. Anderson's next start is lined up to be on the road against the Cubs.

Castillo allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out three over five innings Sunday against the Twins. He did not factor into the decision.

The Twins struck early with a run in the first on two base hits. Castillo went on to retire 11 of the next 12 batters he faced but then ran into more trouble in the fifth, allowing a double and two more singles, which led to another pair of runs for the Twins. He was able to work his way through the inning, but his day would end there at 77 pitches. Castillo managed to not give up any free passes for the first time since May 12, though he's also failed to complete six innings in four of his last five starts. He still holds a respectable 3.87 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 103:30 K:BB in 104.2 innings and projects to take the mound again to kick off a weekend series with Toronto.

Ryan allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out 10 over 5.2 innings Sunday against the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision.

Ryan got through four innings unscathed while racking up eight of his 10 strikeouts over that span. He found himself in some immediate trouble in the fifth after allowing a leadoff triple and wound up surrendering two runs in the inning following a pair of base knocks and a fielding error. Sunday was Ryan's second double-digit strikeout performance this season and his second straight outing without walking a batter. He's given up two runs or less in four of his last five starts, though that's only amounted to one win. The 28-year-old will carry an excellent 3.21 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 110:15 K:BB (103.2 innings) into a meeting with the ascending Astros over the weekend.

Heaney (3-9) got the win Sunday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.

Heaney had his most dominant start of the season, compiling double-digit strikeouts for the first time since he had 11 back in August of 2023. Sunday was also just the second time since May 11 that he's managed to not give up a walk. The Orioles pushed runs across in both the second and fourth innings but otherwise did not threaten and Heaney finished strong by striking out the side in the seventh. He's now allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last 12 starts. His record is deceiving due to the fact that the Rangers had scored a total of 30 runs in his first 15 starts this season. The 33-year-old southpaw will carry a 4.04 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 85:22 K:BB (84.2 innings) into a start against the Rays over the weekend.

Irvin (6-5) took the loss against the Rangers on Sunday, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings.

Irvin served up a two-run blast to Derek Hill in the second and was chased out of the game in the fourth after surrendering a triple, three singles and a walk, leading to three more runs for the Rangers. He's now failed to cover at least five innings in three straight starts and has given up 14 runs over that span while compiling just a 5:4 K:BB in his last 12.1 innings pitched. Irvin now owns a 4.13 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 56:17 K:BB in 80.2 innings this season. He's lined up for a start against the Athletics this weekend, though it's worth monitoring what manager Brandon Hyde decides to do with his rotation spot following his recent struggles with Dean Kremer (triceps) on the cusp of returning from a rehab assignment.