MLB Player News

Williams (3-8) took the loss Saturday as the Nationals were downed 4-3 by the Marlins, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran righty didn't pitch poorly, tossing 55 of 80 pitches for strikes, but a lack of run support saddled Williams with his third straight loss. He's lasted six innings only once in his last six trips to the mound, posting a 5.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 28 innings over that stretch, and he hasn't fanned more than four batters in an outing since April 28. Despite that unappealing fantasy profile, Williams may have some streaming appeal in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Rockies.

The Dodgers are expected to activate Sheehan (elbow) from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Sheehan has been working his way back from May 2024 Tommy John surgery, and he most recently took the mound Thursday for Triple-A Oklahoma City in the fourth start of his rehab assignment. He allowed four earned runs across 3.1 innings but delivered a 7:1 K: BB while ramping up to 63 pitches. The Dodgers began a stretch of 10 games in 10 days Friday and will likely break in the right-hander as a sixth starter to afford an extra day of rest to the other five members of the rotation. Per Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com, manager Dave Roberts said that Sheehan will throw a bullpen session Sunday. If all goes well, the 25-year-old could be activated as soon as Tuesday to pitch in the second game of the Dodgers' series with the Padres.

Gil (lat) is at least 10 days away from facing hitters and probably won't return until after the All-Star break, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Gil resumed throwing off a mound in late May and continues to progress in his return from a right lat strain. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that the right-handed starter won't face hitters for 10-to-14 days, which suggests that Gil won't be able to return to the big club's rotation before the All-Star break. Given that he hasn't seen game action at all this season, Gil will almost certainly requite a minor-league rehab stint before he's activated from the injured list.

King (shoulder) remains stalled in his throwing progression, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

Per MLB.com, Padres manager Mike Shildt said last week that King was "in a holding pattern" as the club assessed options for his treatment and next steps. Shildt added Friday that "until [King] can pick up a baseball and throw it consistently, there's really no planning." The right-handed hurler has been out of action due to right shoulder inflammation since late May, and he doesn't seem to be close to a return.

Darvish (elbow) is expected to throw around 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday, per MLB.com.

Darvish continues to inch toward his Padres season debut, with Saturday's scheduled sim game coming after he tossed multiple bullpen sessions in the early part of June. The veteran right-hander threw four innings in a minor-league rehab start with Double-A San Antonio on May 14, but he experienced some soreness afterward and temporarily halted his throwing program. The Padres have remained very patient with Darvish and appear content to allow the hurler take as much time as he needs to ramp up before he joins the big-league rotation, though a late-June or early July activation remains on the table.

Flaherty (5-7) allowed seven runs on five hits and five walks across 4.2 innings to take the loss Saturday against the Reds. He struck out five.

Flaherty was coming off a strong three-start stretch during which he allowed just one run across 18 innings and was the winning pitcher in all three games, but Saturday was a different story, as his ERA climbed from 3.41 to 4.03. The righty was taken deep three times, and the five walks and seven earned runs were new season worsts. On a more positive note, Flaherty now has 90 strikeouts in 76 innings this year, which is good for sixth in the American League. He will look to get back on track in his next appearance, which is currently penciled in for Friday against the Rays on the road.

The White Sox promoted Schultz from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Though Schultz has struggled with his control in the minors this season, posting a 14.4 percent walk rate and 1.57 WHIP over 61.2 innings, he's managed a 3.06 ERA and has struck out 63 batters in Double-A ball. That's good enough to earn him a promotion to the top level of the minors, moving him a step closer to making his major-league debut. Schultz is one of the league's top lefty pitching prospects and could reach the majors before the end of the current campaign if he fares well with Charlotte.

Rocker is with the Rangers in Texas and could be asked to start Sunday versus the White Sox if Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is unable to pitch, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Though Rocker is with the team, no roster move has been made, so for now he is a contingency plan. Mahle felt some shoulder soreness during his most recent start Tuesday, but it's not yet clear if the issue is serious enough to prevent him from making his scheduled start Sunday. If Rocker is ultimately recalled to start, it would be his first appearance with the big club since he gave up five runs over 3.1 innings in a loss against Tampa Bay on June 4.

Mahle is dealing with a sore right shoulder ahead of his scheduled start against the White Sox on Sunday, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that Mahle felt some soreness in his shoulder during his most recent start Tuesday against Minnesota, during which the right-hander gave up four runs over 5.2 innings. It's not yet clear if Mahle will miss Sunday's start versus Chicago due to the issue, but Kumar Rocker is with the Rangers in Texas and could be called upon if Mahle is unable to take the mound.

The White Sox added Civale to their active roster Saturday.

Civale was acquired by Chicago in a trade with Milwaukee on Friday. He's slated to make his White Sox debut as a starter Sunday versus Texas. To make room for Civale on the 26-man roster, lefty reliever Tyler Gilbert was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.