MLB Player News

Kikuchi (4-6) allowed five runs on seven hits over four innings Monday, striking out seven and taking a loss against Boston.

Kikuchi was cursed by the long ball Monday, coughing up four solo shots in the first three innings. Tyler O'Neill accounted for two of them, including in the first inning when he went back-to-back with Rafael Devers. Kikuchi had allowed just four home runs over his previous six starts entering Monday and had not given up multiple long balls in any start this season. He's registered a 6.17 ERA over his last five starts, bumping his season ERA to 3.65 through 81.1 frames. Kikuchi's next start is projected to be in Cleveland.

Pivetta (4-4) allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk over seven innings Monday, striking out four and earning a win over Toronto.

Pivetta gave up one run through five frames before allowing solo homers to Justin Turner and Davis Schneider in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively. Pivetta is 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA in three starts this month after posting a disappointing 5.55 ERA in May. For the season, he owns a 3.88 ERA alongside a 59:14 K:BB through 10 starts. Pivetta's next start is projected to be in Cincinnati.

Olson allowed four hits over six shutout innings in a no-decision Monday. He struck out eight during the loss to Atlanta.

Olson spread four hits across a quality start and never faced much of a threat. It was a much-needed rebound performance after he'd gone 0-3 with a brutal 10.43 ERA over his previous three starts. He generated 16 whiffs Monday, including seven via the changeup. It was his highest total since forcing a season-high 17 on April 15. Olson is now sporting a 3.39 ERA with a 69:23 K:BB through 77 innings. His next start is projected to be at home against the White Sox.

Silseth (elbow) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Silseth is set for a fifth rehab start and third with Salt Lake. The 24-year-old has been on the injured list since April 8 due right elbow inflammation, but he appears to be closing in on a return from the 60-day injured list. Through two starts at Triple-A, Silseth has struggled overall, surrendering nine runs on 11 hits and eight walks while striking out seven batters over 7.2 innings. He'll look to put together a more successful outing Friday versus Reno. If Silseth performs well, he could come off the IL as soon as June 26 against the Athletics to fill the vacant No. 5 spot in the Angels rotation.

Plesac will draw the start Monday versus the Brewers.

Plesac will replace Jose Soriano (abdomen) on the mound after Soriano was a late scratch with lower abdominal pain Monday. Plesac had his contract selected by Los Angeles on Monday and he'll now get his first chance to start a major-league contest in 2024. The right-hander has produced a 5.42 ERA and 1.43 WHIP with 51 strikeouts over 74.2 innings in 13 starts with Triple-A Salt Lake this season.

Soriano was scratched from his scheduled start Monday against the Brewers due to lower abdominal pain.

Soriano was expected to toe the rubber for the series opener with Milwaukee, but he'll now be forced to take a seat. The severity of his injury is unknown, but in the meantime, Zach Plesac was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to make a spot start in Soriano's stead. Soriano had a 2.90 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 49.2 innings over his last eight starts. He has gone six-plus innings in four straight starts and boasts an elite 60.1 percent groundball rate on the season.

The Angels selected the contract of Plesac on Monday.

After being designated for assignment by the Angels on April 8, Plesac stayed with the organization in Triple-A after passing through waivers. Across 13 starts with Triple-A Salt Lake, Plesac holds a 3-7 record with a 5.42 ERA and 1.43 WHIP. However, over his last two starts, he's given up two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 15.1 innings. With Chase Silseth (elbow) close to returning from the 60-day IL, Plesac will likely operate out of the Angels' bullpen after right-hander Jose Suarez was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Wells (elbow) underwent a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery Monday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Wells avoided the second Tommy John surgery of his career, after he previously had the procedure in May 2019. However, while the internal brace procedure typically entails a shorter recovery timeline than Tommy John surgery, Wells will still miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign, and likely a few months of the 2025 season.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed that Rodriguez (back) has returned to Toronto and could be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday in Cleveland, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez wrapped up his six-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, when he struck out seven while allowing two runs on three hits and three walks over three innings. He tossed 79 pitches in the outing and should be built up enough to handle a traditional starter's workload, if the Blue Jays want to give it to him. Before Rodriguez landed on the IL on April 30 with thoracic spine inflammation, the Blue Jays had been managing his usage carefully, as he worked between three and four innings in each of his four starts. Should Toronto elect to manage Rodriguez's workload again if he starts Friday, he could be deployed as part of a tandem with Bowden Francis, who had most recently served as a bulk reliever when the No. 5 spot in the rotation came up.

DeGrom (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The session contained only fastballs and marked the first time deGrom has thrown off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery last June. Everything went according to plan, and deGrom will continue to the ramp-up process as he eyes a return from the 60-day injured list sometime in the second half of the season.