MLB Player News

Kikuchi (2-6) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out 10.

The five runs charged to Kikuchi mark a season high, though he's still held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in each of his last nine outings -- the left-hander came into Sunday with a 1.97 ERA over his previous eight starts (45.2 innings). Overall, Kikuchi's ERA sits at 3.05 with a 1.48 WHIP and 78:43 K:BB across 15 starts (82.2 innings) this season. He's tentatively lined up to face the Astros at home in his next outing.

Miley did not factor into the decision Sunday against Detroit, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

It was a strong outing overall for Miley, with both of the Tigers' runs coming on a pair of solo homers. After allowing four runs over two innings in a relief appearance to start his season, Miley has given up just five runs over 10 innings in his subsequent two starts. The veteran left-hander is currently scheduled to face the Cardinals at home next week in his next outing.

President of baseball operations Chris Young said Eovaldi (elbow) is "trending in the right direction" after throwing a bullpen session Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander is working his way back from triceps soreness, and the next step in his rehab program will likely be facing hitters in live batting practice. Assuming Eovaldi is able to complete a live BP without issue, he'll then be evaluated to determine whether he needs another throwing session and/or a brief rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. The Rangers are low on rotation depth after Tyler Mahle (shoulder) was placed on the IL on Sunday, so the team could be inclined to activate Eovaldi even if he's not fully stretched back out for a typical starter's workload.

DeSclafani signed a major-league contract with the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

The right-hander recently opted out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees and was able to quickly secure a big-league contract. DeSclafani last pitched in the majors in 2023 with the Giants and had a 4.88 ERA across 99.2 innings. He posted similar numbers in five starts at Triple-A with the Yankees, finishing with a 4.50 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB over 20 innings. Expect the 35-year-old to work out of the bullpen as a multi-inning relief option to begin his time with Arizona.

Manager Dan Wilson said Gilbert (elbow) will come off the 15-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Red Sox, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has been sidelined since late April due to a flexor strain, but he's ready to rejoin Seattle's rotation after a three-start rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma. Gilbert threw 72 pitches across five scoreless innings during his final rehab outing Tuesday, so he may face some minor workload limitations for his first start or two back with the Mariners.

The Rockies recalled Palmquist from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sunday.

He was just optioned to Triple-A on Thursday, but Palmquist will rejoin the Rockies in short order and reclaim a spot in the rotation after Kyle Freeland (back) was placed on the 15-day IL. Palmquist will start Monday on the road against the Nationals, and he'll tentatively line up for a second start later in the week versus the Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Though he's regarded as one of the better pitching prospects in a thin system, he went 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA and 1.82 WHIP over his first five starts with Colorado and won't make for an appealing streaming option in the majority of fantasy leagues.

The Rockies placed Freeland on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to lower-back stiffness.

Freeland didn't seem to be dealing with any physical issues while turning in his third consecutive quality start Wednesday, so the back injury may have cropped up during his between-starts bullpen session. The lefty's stint on the IL will be backdated to Thursday, and he could be ready for reinstatement when first eligible June 27. The Rockies called up Carson Palmquist from Triple-A Albuquerque to fill Freeland's spot in the rotation.

Culpepper (undisclosed) was activated off Double-A Wichita's 60-day injured list Saturday and threw three scoreless innings while allowing three hits and no walks and striking out four batters.

Culpepper began the season on the shelf after he had difficulty ramping up this spring, but no specific injury was cited by the Twins. The 23-year-old right-hander had an outstanding season at High-A Cedar Rapids in 2024 with a 2.89 ERA and 28.9 percent strikeout rate, but he struggled to a 4.71 ERA at Double-A after being promoted.

The Rangers recalled Rocker from Triple-A Round Rock in advance of his start Sunday against the White Sox.

The right-hander will step into Texas' rotation Sunday with Tyler Mahle (shoulder) landing on the injured list in a corresponding transaction. Rocker has yet to find his footing through six major-league starts this season with an 8.87 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB over 23.1 innings, but he'll have a favorable matchup Sunday to potentially get on track.

The Rangers placed Mahle on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shoulder soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

In a corresponding move, Texas called up Kumar Rocker from Triple-A Round Rock to join the rotation Sunday in Mahle's stead. Mahle went 6-3 and produced a 2.34 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 56:27 K:BB in 77 innings over his first 14 starts of the season, but he experienced shoulder fatigue coming out of his most recent outing Tuesday, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. The Rangers were initially hoping he would be ready to pitch following an extra day or two of rest, but after the team went with a bullpen day Friday and then needed to use five relievers in Saturday's 11-inning win, the decision was made to place Mahle on the IL instead of straining the staff further. The transaction is retroactive to Thursday, so he'll be eligible to return as soon as soon as June 27. Mahle contended with shoulder tightness in late August of last season and missed the final month of the 2024 campaign, and the 30-year-old has contended with arm issues at various points during his career.