MLB Player News

Sandoval (3-4) came within inches of a no-hitter Saturday night, allowing one earned run on one hit and and one walk with 13 strikeouts over 8.2 innings in a 2-1 win over the Twins.

Sandoval took a no-hitter into the ninth and recorded the first out of the inning before Brent Rooker preserved the Twins' dignity with a double. Sandoval got one more out before Joe Maddon denied him the opportunity to go for a complete game. The only run charged to the Californian came when Rooker scored on a Josh Donaldson double yielded by Raisel Iglesias. Although Sandoval may not have made history, this was still an incredible pitching performance by the left-hander. After striking out just nine batters in his first three starts this season, the 24-year-old has struck out 28 in his last three trips to the bump, including a career-high 13 on Saturday night.

Smyly will have his left knee examined Sunday after exiting Saturday's start after four innings, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Despite the early exit for Smyly, the team doesn't appear overly concerned. Speaking after the game, manager Brian Snitker relayed that Smyly wasn't in pain and that he could make his next start. Even so, he will undergo further evaluation with the team in Philadelphia on Sunday.

Eovaldi allowed two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out eight across 7.2 innings Saturday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Eovaldi held the Yankees scoreless through seven innings. He ran into trouble in the eighth, allowing a leadoff double prior to a run-scoring single. When he exited the contest, he had 3-1 lead, though the bullpen blew his lead and the game by allowing three additional runs to cross the plate in the frame. Despite losing the opportunity for a win, Eovaldi was excellent and racked up 22 called strikes and 14 swinging strikes on 100 total pitches. In his last 10 starts, Eovaldi has allowed two earned runs or fewer on seven occasions -- six of which he allowed one or no earned runs. For the season, he's maintained a 3.49 ERA with 114 strikeouts across 116 innings.

Sale (elbow) is expected to throw four or five innings in his rehab outing with Double-A Portland on Sunday, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.

The outing will mark Sale's third rehab appearance. In his last start, he threw 3.2 innings and built his pitch count up to 49, and he should have the chance to build on that number Sunday. Sale will still likely need at least one or two additional rehab outings prior to being activated by the Red Sox, though his return from Tommy John surgery remains on track.

Smyly exited Saturday's start against the Phillies with left knee pain, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Smyly held the Phillies scoreless through four innings and 72 pitches. He did struggle with control prior to his exit, as he walked three and also allowed three hits. It's unclear how he suffered the injury, or if it will cause him to miss any future starts.

Peterson will undergo surgery to repair his broken right pinky toe, which could potentially end his season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Peterson was working his way back from an oblique strain when he fractured his toe. The Mets haven't officially shut him down for the season, but the foot surgery typically requires 6-to-8 weeks to recover from. That takes him to at least the start of September, at which point he'll still have to go through a throwing program. If he returns at all, he may do so as a reliever given that he might not have time to build back up to a starter's workload.

Kershaw (forearm) threw a bullpen session Saturday and will pitch in a simulated game Tuesday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw has been out since early July with forearm inflammation, and while any arm issue is worrisome for a pitcher, this particular injury doesn't appear to be anything close to a worst-case scenario. The veteran lefty resumed playing catch Monday and is moving fairly quickly through the typical steps of a throwing progression. He doesn't have a clear return date but appears to be on track to return sometime in the first half of August if he completes his simulated game without issues. When exactly he returns to the active roster depends on how many rehab outings the Dodgers want him to throw.

Flaherty (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Flaherty has been out since the end of May with a strained left oblique. He'll likely need multiple rehab outings given the length of his absence. If he makes just two rehab starts, he could be back late in the first week of August, but if he needs three, he'll likely return sometime in the second week of the month. He'll be limited to 40-to-45 pitches Tuesday, per Zachary Silver of MLB.com, which suggests three rehab starts may be more likely unless the Cardinals bring him back on a pitch count after two rehab outings.

Manoah (back) won't return from the injured list early next week, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Manoah had initially hoped that he'd be able to return to the Blue Jays in time to start Monday's series opener in Boston, but he'll instead make a simulated start in Florida on Monday. It's not yet clear when the right-hander will be able to return from the injured list.

Manager Luis Rojas said Saturday it's unclear when deGrom (forearm) will begin throwing bullpens, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The righty has been playing catch and receiving treatment for his sore forearm, but he doesn't appear particularly close to continuing his throwing progression. Additional information about deGrom and when he might return from the injured list should become available in the next week or so. At this rate, his absence may be long enough that a rehab assignment could be necessary.