MLB Player News

Bradford (rib/back) is scheduled to make a two-inning appearance out of the bullpen for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday in his next rehab outing, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Bradford began his rehab assignment Friday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, throwing one scoreless inning while striking out one batter. He'll shift his rehab program to Frisco as he continues to work his way back from a lower-back strain and stress fracture in his rib, injuries he sustained in mid-April. Bradford turned in a 3-0 record, 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over his three starts with the Rangers before landing on the injured list, but he'll serve as a multi-inning option out of the Texas bullpen once he's activated.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that deGrom (elbow) is "getting close" to facing hitters, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom will throw around 40 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday and is slated for another bullpen session Friday. It sounds as if he should be cleared to face hitters after that, and Bochy added Monday that he anticipates deGrom needing three live batting practice sessions before being cleared for a rehab assignment. Given that timeline, it would seem as though deGrom won't be ready for his season debut until late August, at the earliest.

Mahle (elbow) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Double-A Frisco, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Mahle made the fourth start of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing two hits and one walk. The 29-year-old right-hander continues to build up his pitch count while he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, and he could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list in early August.

The Rockies placed Marquez on the 15-day injured list Monday with right elbow inflammation.

After completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Marquez was cleared to return from the 60-day injured list July 14, but he made just one start before going back on the shelf with another elbow-related issue. The fact that the Rockies are classifying Marquez's injury as inflammation rather than a strain is encouraging, but he could still need more than the minimum 15 days to move past the issue. Noah Davis was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Marquez on the active roster, and he could also be a candidate to slide into Marquez's spot in the rotation Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Rodon (10-7) picked up the win Monday against Tampa Bay, yielding one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.

The only damage done to Rodon came on a solo home run by Jose Siri in the fifth inning. The southpaw baffled hitters all afternoon, racking up 37 called plus swinging strikes among his 101 pitches en route to a season-best 10 punchouts. Monday's start was much needed for Rodon, who hobbled into the All-Star break mired in a brutal slump. In six starts leading up to the intermission, the 31-year-old compiled a 0-5 record with a disastrous 9.67 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. Perhaps the break has rejuvenated Rodon, but he remains a high-risk, high-reward fantasy play. He will look to keep things rolling in his next start, which is currently scheduled for this weekend in Boston.

Littell (3-7) took the loss Monday against the Yankees, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

The 28-year-old surrendered three home runs in this one, including back-to-back blasts from Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Littell has allowed at least one home run in 11 of his past 12 starts, limping to a 5.49 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB during that stretch. The right-hander boasts an elite 4.95 K/BB that ranks in the 94th percentile, but he will need to keep the ball in the yard to find consistency. Littell will look to bounce back his next time out, a start currently scheduled for this weekend against Cincinnati.

The Dodgers are expected to designate Paxton for assignment Monday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Look for the Dodgers to make the transaction shortly before Monday's game against the Giants, with right-hander River Ryan set to be added to the 40-man roster ahead of what would be his MLB debut. Along with the addition of Ryan, the Dodgers are set to get Tyler Glasnow (back) and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) back from the injured list later this week, leaving no room in the rotation for Paxton. Though he has a lengthy injury history, the southpaw hasn't missed a start this season, but his performance has taken a step backward in his age-35 campaign. While he's kept his fantasy value afloat by picking up eight wins in 18 outings, Paxton has supported the win total with a middling 4.43 ERA and 1.46 WHIP, and he's seen his strikeout rate drop precipitously (career-worst 16.4 percent). If the Dodgers aren't able to find a taker for Paxton via trade or waivers, expect him to become a free agent and catch on with another organization on a low-cost, one-year deal.

Stripling (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday, Janie McCauley of the Associated Press reports.

The right-hander completed five innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, building up to 52 pitches. Stripling has already made three rehab starts but may need one more appearance to build up his pitch count before he returns from the 15-day injured list and slides back into the Oakland rotation.

Medina (elbow) will seek a second opinion on the UCL damage that's sidelined him since July 13, the Associated Press reports.

Manager Mark Kotsay noted Medina would miss "significant time" the day after the right-hander's placement on the IL. The right-hander is hoping he won't need surgery, but it may be unavoidable.

Manager Bob Melvin indicated over the weekend that Ray (elbow) could be activated from the 60-day injured list and start for the Giants during the club's four-game road series against the Dodgers that begins Monday, MLB.com reports. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but there's a good chance he'll be pitching in L.A," Melvin said. "It's a big deal. He's probably not going to go out there and throw 120 pitches his first time out, but he got up a sixth time [in his rehab start Friday]."

Ray completed the 10th and presumably final start of his rehab assignment Friday, throwing 78 pitches over 5.1 scoreless innings for Triple-A Sacramento. The veteran southpaw underwent Tommy John surgery last May but rung up a 45:6 K:BB over 29.1 innings during his rehab stint. After pitching on four days' rest for Sacramento on Friday, Ray is likely to make his Giants debut either Wednesday or Thursday. A road matchup with the division-leading Dodgers isn't the most appealing draw, but his strikeout upside makes him a worthwhile pickup in most fantasy leagues, even if managers aren't keen on including him in active lineups right away.