MLB Player News

Wacha (strained left oblique) will get an MRI on Thursday but appears to be headed for a disabled list stint, Mark Saxon of The Athletic St. Louis reports.

The strain was severe enough that breathing caused him pain after he came out of Wednesday's game against the Phillies. He gave up three runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out two in 3.2 innings before leaving with the injury. Manager Mike Matheny said Wacha suffered the injury on the last pitch of this outing, FOX Sports Midwest reports. Saxon alluded to the fact that this injury may have cost Wacha a trip to the All-Star game. The righty has a 3.20 ERA, 71 strikeouts and eight wins in 84.1 innings through 15 starts. Austin Gomber, who is currently in the big-league bullpen, and John Gant, who is in the Triple-A rotation, appear to be the best options currently on the 40-man roster to take Wacha's rotation spot. If the Cardinals want to go with someone not currently on the 40-man, Dakota Hudson would be a fine option.

Ray (oblique) made a rehab start at Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, covering 4.1 innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk. He struck out nine in the outing.

After giving up a pair of home runs over 2.1 innings in his first rehab start at High-A Visalia on June 14, Ray was much better in his second outing on the farm. He pumped in 48 of his 66 pitches for strikes on the evening, with all three of the hits he scattered going for singles. The next step hasn't been revealed yet for Ray, but the Diamondbacks may want to see him build his pitch count up to the 80-to-90 range in the minors before he rejoins the big club. If Ray does in fact require another rehab start, the earliest that he would likely return to the Arizona rotation would be June 29 at Chase Field against San Francisco.

Mahle (6-6) picked up the win Wednesday in a 5-3 victory over the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over six innings while striking out eight.

Walks remain an issue for the right-hander -- he's issued multiple free passes in six straight starts, posting a 30:16 K:BB in 33.1 innings over that stretch -- but Mahle remains undefeated in June despite his wildness. He'll carry a 3.89 ERA into his next outing Monday in Atlanta.

Flexen will be called up to join the Mets on Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets' bullpen is taxed after throwing 5.2 innings Tuesday, so the team will summon a fresh arm from Triple-A. A corresponding move has yet to be announced. Flexen is unlikely to be much of a fantasy asset during his time with the club. He's allowed seven runs (three earned) in two innings with the Mets this season and has a 5.43 ERA in 58 innings for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Wacha's premature exit in Wednesday's game against the Phillies was due to a left oblique strain, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Wacha's velocity had dropped significantly in his final inning, likely as a result of his injury. The extent of the issue has not yet been determined.

Wacha left with a team trainer in the fourth inning of Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

The nature of his injury is not yet clear. Prior to leaving the game, the righty had allowed three runs on six hits in 3.2 innings.

Lucchesi (hip) was activated from the disabled list and will start Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

As expected, Lucchesi is back with the big club after spending a little more than a month on the disabled list with a hip strain. The funky sidewinder will look to pick up where he left off prior to landing on the shelf, as he compiled a solid 3.23 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across 47.1 innings (nine starts).

Giants manager Bruce Bochy suggested Tuesday that Cueto's (elbow) next appearance would likely come in the form of a minor-league rehab game, Martin Oppegaard of MLB.com reports. "I think right now the plan is to pitch him in a [rehab] game but we're still holding off on that," Bochy said.

Cueto indicated he felt fine after throwing a two-inning simulated game Monday and believes he's ready to test out the health of his right elbow in an uncontrolled setting. Assuming the Giants agree with Cueto's assessment of his own health, the 32-year-old will likely report to a minor-league affiliate over the weekend for his first game action since April 28. Expect Cueto to bump up his pitch count from 40 in the outing, and then make another start in the minors after that before returning from the 60-day disabled list, likely in early July.

Darvish (triceps) threw a 50-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. "It was good," President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein said afterwards.

Darvish was able to throw all of his pitches and reported no issues afterwards. The Cubs are expected to wait and see how the right-hander feels Thursday before determining the next step in his rehab, which will either be another simulated outing or a minor-league rehab start. Darvish has been on the shelf since May 26 with triceps tendinitis, but he believes he could return after making just one rehab start, according to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

Eickhoff (lat, wrist) threw 20 fastballs in the bullpen Tuesday and came away without feeling any numbness, NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Eickhoff recently suffered a setback while rehabbing from his lat strain, which led to him feeling numbness while pitching. Tests ruled out a significant injury and he seems to be doing better after an anti-inflammatory injection in his wrist. He did note that he had previously felt the numbness mostly when throwing curveballs, which he didn't throw Tuesday, so a better idea of where he is in his recovery should develop after his next bullpen session Saturday.