MLB Player News

May (elbow) underwent a season-ending surgery to repair a torn esophagus, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

May has been rehabbing from a procedure he had in July 2023 to repair a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm and was expected to begin a rehab assignment in the coming weeks. However, he'll have to wait until 2025 to return and will be shut down from physical activity for at least two months as result of the throat procedure. The injury occurred in a non-baseball setting. The Dodgers have been dealing with a handful of injuries to their top starters this season, and May's return was expected to ease some of those struggles. For now, James Paxton and Gavin Stone will serve as the Dodgers' top two starters while Tyler Glasnow (back) and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) are expected to rejoin the rotation in late July or early August.

Lynn (5-4) picked up the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Cubs, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The Cardinals struck for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, letting Lynn cruise to his sixth quality start of the season on 99 pitches (68 strikes). The veteran right-hander is closing in on an impressive milestone, as he sits two strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career, a mark only five other active pitchers -- Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale and Gerrit Cole -- have reached. Lynn's won three of his last four starts, but the fourth was an ugly outing July 6 against the Nationals in which he got tagged for 11 runs (10 earned) in 2.2 innings. He'll take a 4.39 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 92:37 K:BB through 96.1 innings into the All-Star break.

Flexen (2-8) took the loss against the Pirates on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings.

Flexen allowed a run in the first inning and was charged with another as an inherited runner came around to score in the seventh. He yielded 10 hard-hit balls on 78 pitches but was able to limit the damage and has now logged three consecutive quality starts despite failing to record a win in any of them. The 30-year-old will take a 4.73 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 71:36 K:BB across 97 innings into the All-Star break.

Montero did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning win against the Dodgers, allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks with four strikeouts over five innings.

Montero allowed the first batter he faced to reach base in four of five innings and yielded runs in the first, third and fifth frames. He had logged back-to-back quality starts but has now surrendered at least four earned runs in his three other outings this season. The rookie will take an uninspiring 5.47 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB across 26.1 innings into the All-Star break.

Wrobleski did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts over five innings.

Wrobleski allowed two runs in the second inning and then two more on back-to-back homers to open the fifth. He generated only six swinging strikes on 84 pitches while leaning mostly on his fastball and slider. The rookie has surrendered eight runs (seven earned) and four long balls through his first two starts and his role moving forward depends on the health of the Dodgers' rotation after the All-Star break.

Spiers (shoulder) had a clean MRI on Saturday, and he is likely to miss only one start, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Spiers landed on the 10-day injured list Saturday after notching a victory against the Marlins on Friday, but he looks to have avoided a serious injury. The right Reds are listing his right shoulder issue as an impingement, with an MRI seemingly ruling out a strain or structural damage. Spiers is eligible to return from the IL on July 28, which could line him up to make his next start either in Tampa Bay or at home versus the Cubs.

Washington optioned Rutledge to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday.

Rutledge was solid in a spot start Friday, allowing two runs while striking out six batters over 4.2 innings against the Brewers. However, he'll head back down to the minors to make room for reliever Eduardo Salazar on the big-league roster. With Rutledge's demotion, the Nationals currently have only four healthy starters, and it's not yet certain how they'll fill the fifth rotation spot following the All-Star break, though that role could go back to DJ Herz, who had been starting for the team before being sent down to Triple-A on July 8.

The Orioles optioned Povich to Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Povich allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings during his latest start Friday and was saddled with his third loss in his last four outings. He now owns a 6.27 ERA through his first seven career MLB starts, so he'll head back to the minor leagues in order to right the ship. It's unclear who will fill the open spot in Baltimore's rotation, but for now the team will opt for bullpen depth in right-hander Vinny Nittoli.

Dunning (shoulder) will pitch in a rehab game at Double-A Frisco on Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It's unclear whether Dunning will need to pitch in any more games before returning from the injured list, but he is still seemingly on pace to return to the Rangers' bullpen immediately after or shortly after the All-Star break.

The Rockies optioned Gordon to Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Gordon was demoted after surrendering four homers while giving up six runs over three-plus innings against the Mets on Friday. The right-hander has yielded a total of 11 earned runs over 9.1 frames across his first two major-league starts and will get a chance to reset at Triple-A. Colorado also placed Nolan Jones (back) on the IL on Saturday while recalling outfielder Sean Bouchard and reliever Angel Chivilli from the minors. Gordon's short-lived spot in the big-league rotation will be assumed by German Marquez (elbow), who is set to return from the injured list to make his season debut Sunday.