MLB Player News

Marquez (elbow) struck out four and allowed six hits and no walks over 2.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with Single-A Fresno.

Marquez resumed his minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League before moving up to the Rockies' Single-A affiliate three days later. While he was knocked around a bit and gave up two home runs among his six hits, Marquez at least exhibited solid control on the night, spotting 36 of his 52 pitches for strikes. The right-hander will likely need two or three more starts in the minors to get fully stretched out before the Rockies are comfortable activating him from the 60-day injured list and inserting him into the rotation. Marquez is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent May 12, 2023.

Montas allowed three runs on four hits and three walks over five-plus innings in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out five during the loss to Milwaukee.

Montas rolled through four shutout frames before the Brewers finally pushed a run home in the fifth inning. He was removed after putting two straight runners on base to begin the sixth and was charged with both after Willy Adames launched a three-run homer. Montas took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Rockies on June 4 but has since been tagged with seven runs in just 6.1 frames over his last two starts. He now owns a 4.62 ERA with a 49:26 K:BB through 13 starts. Montas' next start is lined up to be at home against Boston.

Rea (6-2) yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out six and earning a win over the Reds.

Rea allowed a run in each of the first, third and fourth innings Sunday but limited the damage enough to deliver his second straight quality start. He forced nine swinging strikes, his best total since generating 11 against the Pirates on May 13. The 33-year-old righty has been very consistent over his last five starts, posting a 1.93 ERA with a 19:7 K:BB through 28 frames. Rea lowered his season ERA to 3.29 through 76.2 innings. His next start is lined up to be in San Diego.

Wheeler (8-4) suffered the loss Sunday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Orioles. He struck out four.

It was a long day for Wheeler, who allowed four homers after having previously allowed only six long balls over his first 14 starts this season. The eight earned runs allowed matched a career high for Wheeler, who hadn't given up that many in a start since 2018. Sunday's poor effort raised his ERA from 2.16 to 2.84. Wheeler had won his previous eight decisions prior to Sunday's loss, which dropped him to 8-4 on the season. He'll look to get back on track during his next start, currently slated to take place next weekend when the Diamondbacks come to Philly for a rematch of last season's NLCS.

Kershaw (shoulder) will begin his rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw came out well from a series of recent simulated games and is now set to take the final step toward a return from offseason shoulder surgery. The left-hander is said to be ahead of progress in his recovery, though he'll almost certainly need several rehab outings before he's ready to come off the 60-day injured list and make his season debut for the big club. Kershaw remains in line to return around the All-Star break.

Taillon (3-3) suffered the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Cardinals. He struck out three.

Taillon scattered baserunners throughout, completing only a single 1-2-3 inning, but was able to limit the damage with the only runs coming on a second-inning two-run homer by Pedro Pages. However, Taillon was given no run support and left the game after six still facing that same two-run deficit. It was the second consecutive quality start for Taillon, who has allowed just two runs in 12 innings over those two starts after having allowed 14 runs over 21.1 innings in his previous four. He'll look to keep things rolling the next time he toes the rubber, which is likely to be next weekend when the Mets roll into the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

Montgomery (5-4) picked up the win Sunday against the White Sox, allowing one unearned run on four hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out seven.

Sunday's start was Montgomery's best as a Diamondback, as he tied his season high in strikeouts while yielding no earned runs for the first time this year. The lone run scored while Montgomery was on the mound came in the third inning, when Danny Mendick came around to score after reaching on a throwing error by Montgomery. Montgomery has had a rollercoaster 2024 season, surrendering three or fewer runs in seven of his 11 appearances but giving up six or more runs three times. Overall, the 31-year-old owns a 6.00 ERA with a 39:21 K:BB across 57.0 innings. He's on track to face the Phillies next weekend.

Mikolas (5-6) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on four hits against the Cubs. He struck out five.

Mikolas held the Cubs scoreless through six, then was pulled following a one-out double by Ian Happ in the seventh. Happ later came around to score, but the Cardinals held the Cubs scoreless the rest of the way to secure the fifth win of the season for Mikolas. It was the second straight start Mikolas entered the seventh having allowed zero runs and the fifth straight quality start for Mikolas, who holds a 2.58 ERA and 0.73 WHIP over 31.1 innings during that stretch. The 35-year-old veteran will look to continue to turn back the clock in his next start, currently slated to take place next weekend when the Giants make their way to St. Louis.

Yamamoto was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain Sunday following an MRI, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Yamamoto was lifted after two innings in his start during Saturday's win over the Royals with what the Dodgers had termed as right tricep tightness. As expected, Yamamoto was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday, but the Dodgers didn't provide an updated diagnosis on his injury until after the results of his MRI were read. Manager Dave Roberts said that while the injury is not "season ending," Yamamoto Is "not going to throw for a couple of weeks, then we'll see where we go from there." Fortunately for the Dodgers, they'll be getting some reinforcement to their rotation in the form of right-hander Bobby Miller (shoulder), who is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list during the upcoming week. After he was roughed up for five runs over one inning in his MLB debut March 21 against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, Yamamoto had been as good as advertised over his subsequent 13 starts, ringing up a 6-1 record, 2.34 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 82:16 K:BB over 73 innings.

Cease (6-6) took the loss as he went 3.2 innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits and three walks Sunday versus the Mets.

From the jump, Cease just didn't have his best stuff Sunday, as he allowed the first four hitters to score after serving up homers to Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. The 28-year-old gave up a season-high seven runs in what was his shortest outing of the campaign. After pitching to a 2.19 ERA over his first eight starts, the righty has run into a rough patch, giving up at least three runs in six of his last seven starts and seeing his ERA climb to 3.95 in the process.