MLB Player News

Rodriguez (finger) felt "fantastic" following his live batting practice session Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Rodriguez threw about 50 pitches over three simulated innings during Saturday's session, per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. There didn't seem to be any issues with Rodriguez's performance, so now the next step figures to be a rehab assignment before potentially returning to Detroit's rotation in early July.

Syndergaard (finger) threw a bullpen session and faced live hitters Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Syndergaard landed on the injured list June 8 with a blister on his right index finger. The plan was to go slow with Syndergaard's rehab process so that he could mentally reset after beginning the season with a 7.16 ERA and 1.45 WHIP through 55.1 frames. The Dodgers haven't indicated whether or not they plan on sending the veteran pitcher on a rehab assignment, but it appears Syndergaard is entering the home stretch of his recovery.

The Marlins are considering pausing Perez following his scheduled start next weekend against Atlanta, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

Nothing is set in stone just yet, but it appears the Marlins are looking to give Perez an extended rest period heading into the All-Star break. The 20-year-old rookie has been phenomenal since arriving in the majors, recording a 1.54 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with a 45:14 K:BB through 41 frames. With 72 innings pitched between Triple-A and the majors this season, Perez is quickly approaching the most innings he's ever thrown in a season (78).

The Reds placed Lively on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right pectoral strain.

Lively had already been scratched from his next scheduled start Sunday versus Atlanta with what was initially described as pec soreness. Now, the 31-year-old righty will officially miss multiple turns through the rotation. The Reds didn't announce a corresponding move, so it remains to be seen who will start in Lively's place Sunday.

Lively will miss his scheduled start Sunday against Atlanta due to pec soreness, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

No word yet on the severity of Lively's injury, but the 31-year-old righty will officially miss at least one start due to injury. The Reds have yet to name a starter for Sunday's game, but chances are someone will come up from the minors or they will opt for a bullpen game. Lively has been struggling lately to the tune of a 6.06 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through 16.1 innings across his last three starts.

McClanahan (back) threw from flat ground with trainers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Topkin further reported that the five-minute session seemed to go well, as McClanahan exchanged fistbumps and handshakes with the trainers as he walked off the field. McClanahan was forced to exit his start Thursday prematurely, though the initial indications suggest he avoided a serious issue.

The Reds reinstated Ashcraft (calf) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against Atlanta.

After being placed on the injured list June 9 due to a comebacker that hit his left calf, Ashcraft will rejoin the Reds' rotation just in time to face one of the top offenses in baseball. Ashcraft made a start against Atlanta earlier this season, allowing two earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven batters through six frames. Alan Busenitz was optioned to Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.

Bello introduced a cutter during Friday's 3-1 win over the White Sox, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "I started working on the pitch this week," Bello said about the pitch he threw nine times.

Bello said he hadn't been able to control his slider the way he wanted to, so he tried out the cutter for the first time in a game situation. The 24-year-old right-hander adds the cutter to an arsenal that includes a four-seam and two-seam fastball along with a changeup and slider. Since allowing five runs over 2.2. innings in his first start of the season, Bello has been Boston's most consistent starter, posting a 2.70 ERA over 11 outings while not allowing more than three earned runs.

Williams is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday versus the Royals in Kansas City.

As anticipated, Williams will be sticking around for another turn through the rotation after he made his highly anticipated MLB debut this past Wednesday against the Athletics. Though he fell short of a quality start in the outing, he acquitted himself well enough by striking out four over 5.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks. Cleveland will have some tough decisions to make with its rotation when Cal Quantrill (shoulder) returns from the 15-day injured list, but the Guardians should be willing to make room for Williams as long as his performance warrants sticking around with the big club.

Flaherty has been scratched from his start Sunday against the Cubs due to hip discomfort, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Flaherty worked 6.1 innings in his previous outing, so it's unclear when the issue popped up. Assuming it's a short-term absence, the Cardinals shouldn't have an issue filling his spot in the rotation as they have only two games in a five-day stretch that began Thursday. No starter has officially been announced in Flaherty's place.