MLB Player News

Boyle (back) started Triple-A Las Vegas' win over El Paso on Tuesday, firing three scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and issued two walks while recording three strikeouts.

Boyle worked up to 58 pitches -- 35 of which he located for strikes -- in his second consecutive scoreless multi-inning rehab outing. The right-hander appears to be ready for activation based on his solid body of work over that pair of starts, and an injury-riddled Athletics starting rotation would undoubtedly benefit from his return.

The Rays reinstated Eflin (back) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the Marlins in Miami.

Tampa Bay optioned right-hander Justin Sterner to Triple-A Durham to clear the way for Eflin's return to the 26-man active roster. Eflin missed just over the minimum 15 days while recovering from lower-back inflammation, and the Rays signed off on him returning from the IL without a rehab assignment after he completed a 40-pitch, two-inning simulated bullpen session Sunday. According to MLB.com, manager Kevin Cash suggested that Eflin could face some limitations with his workload Wednesday, but the Rays will wait and see how the right-hander fares as the game unfolds before making any decisions on whether to cut his start short.

Gil (8-1) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one hit and three walks over six scoreless innings in a 5-1 victory over the Twins. He struck out six.

The 26-year-old didn't miss a beat after being named the American League Rookie and Pitcher of the Month for May. Gil extended his quality-start streak to seven with the performance, and he's won all seven of those outings with an eye-popping 0.60 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 50:15 K:BB through 44.2 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is scheduled to be a marquee matchup against the Dodgers in Yankee Stadium this weekend.

The Astros announced that Urquidy will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday on his right elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston didn't provide any specifics on the nature of the surgery, but more details should come out once the procedure is completed. Urquidy previously underwent Tommy John surgery in 2017 during his time in the minor leagues, so he could instead be getting an internal brace procedure, which would likely shorten his recovery timeline while perhaps increasing the longevity of his career. In any case, Urquidy is being shut down for the rest of the season, and his availability for the start of the 2025 campaign could also be affected regardless of what type of surgery he gets. Urquidy opened the season on the Astros' injured list with a right forearm strain and made three rehab starts before suffering a setback.

Sandoval did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's win over the Padres, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over six innings.

Sandoval put together his second straight quality start but once again was left with nothing to show for it in the win column, as the Angels didn't take a lead until the bottom of the seventh. The lefty struck out the side in the second and retired nine straight at one point before Jurickson Profar banged out a base hit off him with two outs in the sixth. Sandoval has now recorded seven strikeouts in consecutive outings, something he only did three times over his first 11 starts of the year. He'll carry a 5.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB (66.2 innings) into his next start, which projects to come against the Astros this weekend.

Kirby (5-5) got the win over the Athletics on Tuesday, recording nine strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on six hits and a walk over five-plus innings.

The right-hander had his swing-and-miss stuff in prime form for the second consecutive start, one-upping his eight-strikeout tally against the Astros last Wednesday. The two runs on Kirby's ledger came about through relatively innocuous means, with Abraham Toro getting to him with an RBI single in the third and Austin Voth conceding an RBI groundout to inherited runner Shea Langeliers upon entering for Kirby in the sixth. Kirby's last two strikeout-heavy outings have come on the heels of back-to-back starts where he gave up five runs apiece to the Nationals and Orioles, giving him some momentum heading into a projected tussle with the improved Royals at home on Sunday.

Williams (elbow) struck out five over 2.1 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks Tuesday in his second rehab start with Triple-A Columbus.

After covering just one inning and tossing 32 pitches while giving up two runs in his first rehab start with Columbus last Thursday, Williams upped his pitch count to 46 (29 strikes) Tuesday. Williams' control has wavered a bit over his first two rehab outings, but so long as he avoids any further setbacks with his right elbow, he should remain on track to return from the 60-day injured list at some point later this month. He'll likely require two more rehab starts before he's ready to make his 2024 debut for the Guardians.

McKenzie came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-5 win over the Royals, surrendering five runs on nine hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.

He was taken deep twice by Bobby Witt and once by Hunter Renfroe as McKenzie dug a 5-0 hole through four innings, but the Guardians were able to climb out of it. The right-hander's suddenly having trouble keeping the ball in the park -- after serving up only six homers over his first nine starts of the season, McKenzie's coughed up multiple long balls in three straight outings and has a 7.04 ERA over that stretch. He'll try to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Miami.

Lugo came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Guardians, coughing up five runs on six hits and a walk over six-plus innings. He struck out five.

Kansas City staked the veteran right-hander to a 5-0 lead, but homers by Josh Naylor in the bottom of the fourth inning and Tyler Freeman in the seventh fueled a Cleveland comeback. Lugo tossed 64 of 98 pitches for strikes before exiting, as he lasted at least six innings for the seventh time in his last eight trips to the mound, a stretch in which he sports a 2.19 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 57:12 K:BB through 53.1 innings. He'll look to bounce back in his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Mariners.

Ober (5-4) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on three hits, including a home run, and four walks over five innings against the Yankees. He struck out two.

Ober wasn't sharp against a Yankees lineup that is on a roll. The outing continued his recent struggles, as he has a 7.58 ERA with a 15:8 K:BB in his last 19 innings. Ober hasn't thrown more than five innings in any of his last four starts, making him a risky option in his next start, which lines up to come this weekend in Pittsburgh.