MLB Player News

Wells (6-2) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk over 6.2 innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out eight.

Wells was able to keep a dangerous Blue Jays lineup at bay for most of the afternoon, with the exception of Danny Jansen, who took the right-hander deep in the third and fifth innings to provide Toronto with their only runs in the contest. The right-hander has now won each of his last three starts for Baltimore and has struck out at least seven batters in six of his last seven. Wells has also held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in four straight, lowering his ERA to a strong 3.20 on the season.

Kikuchi did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Orioles. He struck out seven.

Aside from allowing an RBI single by Gunnar Henderson in the first, Kikuchi was able to pitch his way out of trouble through the first four innings while striking out six. However, he would go on to cough up the game-tying run on a leadoff homer from Adley Rutschman to start the fifth after leaving a four-seamer over the middle of the plate. The lefty has now allowed two earned runs in four consecutive starts while posting 19 strikeouts to only four walks in the month of June.

Skubal (elbow) threw three scoreless innings and allowed only one hit while striking out five in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday.

Skubal made his first appearance with Toledo and averaged 95.9 mph with his fastball. He threw 31 total pitches, so he'll likely need at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Tigers' rotation. Skubal threw 118.2 innings in 2022 before going down, so he should be able to take regular turns as a starter for the rest of the season, assuming his arm remains healthy.

Manager Torey Lovullo did not commit to Nelson making his next scheduled start, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

Nelson allowed 10 hits and five earned runs across four innings and took the loss in Thursday's game against the Phillies. He has had inconsistent results this season and has particularly struggled with walks of late, giving up 15 free passes across his last 31.2 innings while striking out only 20. It's unclear who the team would tab to take his place, though Drey Jameson has pitched in long relief -- he threw 2.1 scoreless innings Thursday -- and Brandon Pfaadt could get a second chance in the big-league rotation.

Lugo (calf) is throwing a simulated game Thursday in San Diego, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

It could be the final step before Lugo embarks on a minor-league rehab assignment. Out since mid-May due to a right calf strain, he's tracking toward a return to the Padres' rotation before the end of June. The 33-year-old was sporting a 4.10 ERA and 38:11 K:BB in 41.2 innings (eight starts) prior to the injury.

Fried (forearm) was recently cleared to throw short-distance bullpen sessions, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Fried is working off a mound, but only to a target 40 feet away. It's part of a progression that will eventually advance to full-distance bullpen sessions, live batting practice and then a minor-league rehab assignment. The 29-year-old left-hander has been on the shelf since early May because of a forearm strain and probably won't return to Atlanta's major-league roster for at least another month.

Wright (shoulder) was cleared to begin a throwing program Thursday, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Wright was placed on the injured list in early May because of a shoulder strain and is likely to remain sidelined until after the All-Star break, but he can begin building up this week with flat-ground work. That will eventually morph into bullpen sessions and then live batting practice, with a minor-league rehab assignment to follow. If all goes smoothly, the 27-year-old right-hander could return to Atlanta's starting rotation in about four weeks.

Sanchez could be called up to start for the Phillies on Saturday at Oakland, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Sanchez is no longer listed in the rotation at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, so he's probably getting promoted in some capacity. The 26-year-old left-hander missed the first three weeks of the 2023 season due to a triceps strain and has since registered a 4.35 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 44:29 K:BB across 49.2 innings in the International League.

Wood (back) is likely to return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday's game against the Dodgers, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

John Brebbia is slated to serve as the Giants' opening pitcher Friday and Logan Webb is locked in for Sunday. The Giants will presumably turn to Wood to fill the open spot in the rotation Saturday, assuming he endures no sudden complications with the back injury that has sidelined him since the beginning of June. He tossed three innings of one-run ball in a 53-pitch rehab start last Sunday at Triple-A Sacramento.

The Rangers are hopeful that Gray (blister) will be able to start Sunday against the Blue Jays, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gray had to be scratched from his last scheduled start because of a blister on his pitching hand, but the issue has been deemed minor and the team remains optimistic he'll be able to avoid a stint on the injured list. The right-hander boasts a 2.32 ERA on the season and struck out 12 in a complete game his last time out.