MLB Player News

Paxton (personal) will be activated from the paternity list to start Saturday against the Athletics, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Paxton welcomed a new addition to his family earlier this week and will fit in one more start before the All-Star break. The veteran left-hander was named AL Pitcher of the Month for June and boasts a 2.70 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 61:13 K:BB through 50 innings (nine starts) this season with Boston.

Cleveland placed Quantrill on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right shoulder inflammation, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Quantrill missed most of June with the very same issue. He had surrendered 11 earned runs in 7.2 innings (two starts) since being activated June 30 and heads back to the IL with a 2-6 record and 6.45 ERA in 13 starts this year.

St. Louis optioned Liberatore to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Liberatore recorded only one out in his last start Wednesday against the Marlins, ultimately being charged with four earned runs on five hits and one walk. The young left-hander heads back to the farm with an overall 6.75 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in 32 major-league frames for the year.

Milone was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Thursday, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Milone has fared pretty well in a couple of spot starts this year, posting a 2.00 ERA across nine innings, but he'll lose his place on the Mariners' roster to make way for the arrival of relief prospect Isaiah Campbell.

Lively (pectoral) appears lined up to return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Brewers, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Brett Kennedy was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday after starting Tuesday versus the Nationals, so the Reds have an open rotation spot. Lively will apparently be allowed to skip a minor-league rehab assignment as he makes a swift return from the right pectoral strain that sent him to the injured list June 24.

Keller (shoulder) worked two innings in his rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Omaha, striking out three while allowing one run on two hits and two walks.

The Royals have held Keller to a three-day rest schedule since he opened his rehab assignment June 28, with the right-hander having now worked exactly two innings in consecutive appearances after recording just one out in his first outing. Given Keller's usage thus far during the rehab assignment, it's not entirely clear if the Royals are building him back up for a starting role, though that still seems to be a likely outcome due to the lack of other impact rotation arms in the majors and high minors. Even if Keller is ready to return from the 15-day injured list shortly after the All-Star break and reclaims a spot in the Kansas City rotation, he won't make for a particularly enticing fantasy option after compiling a 3-4 record and pitching to a 4.36 ERA and 1.87 WHIP over 43.1 innings prior to being shelved with the shoulder issue.

Cueto (biceps/ankle) is scheduled to make his next rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Jacksonville, FishOnFirst.com reports.

Cueto has already made six starts over the course of two separate minor-league rehab assignments and built up to six innings and 94 pitches in his most recent outing Monday, but the Marlins aren't yet eager to open up a spot in the rotation for a pitcher who has compiled a 10.50 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 10:6 K:BB over 24 frames between Jacksonville and Double-A Pensacola. The 37-year-old may need a strong showing Saturday to make a compelling case for the playoff-contending Marlins to activate him from the 60-day injured list following the All-Star break.

Kaprielian was given a cortisone injection for his ailing right shoulder Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The hope is that the injection will help speed along the healing process as Kaprielian works his way back from a right shoulder strain. For now, though, there remains no timetable for the right-hander return to action.

Matz tossed 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in Wednesday's 10-9 loss to the Marlins, surrendering two earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out two batters.

Heading into the week, Matz looked to be a candidate to start Wednesday, but the Cardinals instead had rookie Matthew Liberatore take the hill on three days' rest. Liberatore recorded just one out on 21 pitches and was shelled for four earned runs before the Cardinals called upon Dakota Hudson (2.2 innings) and Matz to work multiple frames out of the bullpen. With Adam Wainwright (shoulder) moving to the injured list earlier Wednesday, the Cardinals have an opening in the rotation again Sunday, but Matz could be passed over for the assignment in favor of Liberatore once again. Both Matz (32 pitches) and Hudson (52 pitches) handled heavier workloads than Liberatore on Wednesday and could be less fresh for Sunday.

Waldichuk (2-5) earned the win in Wednesday's 12-3 victory over the Tigers after allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Waldichuk entered in the fourth inning staked to a 4-0 lead after Austin Pruitt delivered three shutout frames as Oakland's opening pitcher. The 25-year-old Waldichuk held the Tigers at bay, allowing just two runs in the eighth en route to the win, his first since May 6. The southpaw has looked better since moving into a bullpen role -- he held opponents scoreless in four of his previous five outings. Overall, Waldichuk still has an ugly 6.62 ERA, 1.87 WHIP and 67:44 K:BB across 70.2 innings this season.