MLB Player News

Stephen was promoted to Double-A New Hampshire on Sunday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Stephen will take a step up to Double-A after producing a 1.49 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 49 strikeouts over 48.1 innings in nine starts with High-A Vancouver this year. The 22-year-old has already climbed from Single-A Dunedin to Double-A this year, and he'll set his sights on taking another step to Triple-A Buffalo by the end of the season.

Sanchez (8-2) allowed one run on six hits and three walks while striking out six over 7.1 innings to earn the win over the Padres on Sunday.

Sanchez has rattled off eight straight quality starts since the beginning of June, and impressively, he hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of them. Over that span, he has a 1.63 ERA across 55.1 innings. The 28-year-old southpaw concludes the first half with a 2.50 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 122:32 K:BB through 115 innings across 19 starts. His next start is projected to be during the Phillies' second series after the All-Star break, which is at home versus the Red Sox.

Ray allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Sunday.

Ray was close to taking a hard-luck loss, but Luis Matos' game-tying homer in the ninth inning spared him. Ray was strong, only allowing an RBI double to Freddie Freeman and a solo home run to Miguel Rojas in terms of damage, but the southpaw wasn't quite as sharp as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched seven scoreless frames. Since the start of June, Ray has allowed just 19 runs (16 earned) over 48.2 innings, good for a 2.96 ERA. That's a little worse than his overall mark this year -- he's at a 2.65 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 128:44 K:BB through 119 innings over 20 starts. Ray was named an All-Star this year but won't pitch in Tuesday's game since he started Sunday.

Woods Richardson did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 2-1 loss against the Pirates, allowing one run on six hits and one walk over 4.2 innings while striking out three.

The lone blemish on Woods Richardson's line came on a solo homer by Tommy Pham in the second inning, but he rebounded with back-to-back perfect frames in the third and fourth before being lifted shy of 80 pitches for the third straight start. The 24-year-old has been excellent lately, allowing one earned run or fewer in five of his last six starts while posting a 1.47 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 30.2 innings over that stretch. The right-hander will look to continue his impressive run after the All-Star break.

Yamamoto allowed three hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Giants on Sunday.

Yamamoto was chased in the first inning of his last start versus the Brewers on Monday, so this was a fantastic bounce-back effort. After a dominant first two-plus months of the season, Yamamoto has been less of a sure thing, posting a 3.57 ERA over his last eight starts (40.1 innings), a span that includes three starts of four or more runs allowed. Altogether, he's at a 2.59 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 116:36 K:BB through 104.1 innings over 19 starts. He won't participate in the All-Star Game in Atlanta on Tuesday since he pitched Sunday, but he'll be ready to go whenever his turn comes up as the Dodgers host three-game series versus the Brewers and Twins coming out of the break.

Soriano (6-7) allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Diamondbacks.

Soriano got through three innings with little trouble, but Arizona put together a four-run rally in the fourth, aided by an error. Over his last nine starts, Soriano has been operating on extremes -- he's given up five-plus runs four times, but his other five starts in that span have seen him surrender one run or fewer. That inconsistency is frustrating for fantasy managers, but the right-hander has been one of the Angels' more effective starters in the first half, posting a 3.90 ERA despite a 1.45 WHIP and 98:55 K:BB through 113 innings over 20 starts.

Povich (hip) struck out three over three perfect innings in a rehab start for High-A Aberdeen on Sunday.

Povich needed just 30 pitches to retire all nine hitters that he faced. The 25-year-old left-hander suffered a setback in his recovery from hip inflammation during his June 26 rehab appearance with Triple-A Norfolk, but he's back on track for a return from the injured list sometime shortly after the All-Star break. With southpaw Trevor Rogers working to a 1.53 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through six major-league starts this season and with Charlie Morton pitching better of late after a rough start to the campaign, the Orioles may not have a rotation spot available for the young southpaw once he's activated.

Keller didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's 2-1 win against the Twins, allowing one run on four hits over six innings while recording three strikeouts.

Keller turned in another strong outing Sunday, with the only damage coming on a Byron Buxton RBI double in the fourth inning. The right-hander, who was pulled after 83 pitches, has now allowed three earned runs or fewer in seven consecutive starts, compiling a 2.32 ERA with 31 strikeouts and seven walks over 42.2 innings during that stretch. Keller looks locked in heading into the All-Star break, continuing to offer dependable ratios and consistently eating up innings for the non-contending Pirates.

Kelly (8-5) allowed one run on one hit and four walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Angels on Sunday.

Kelly battled calf discomfort in his last start, but he looks to be fine after a 98-pitch start, though he landed just 58 of those pitches for strikes. He was still able to limit the damage to a Mike Trout RBI single in the third inning, and the Diamondbacks gave Kelly plenty of support to pick up his first win in four starts. The four walks matched his season high from his first start of the year, while the right-hander was able to keep the ball in the yard for the first time in six outings. He's at a 3.34 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 113:33 K:BB across 116 innings over 20 starts this season. Kelly should be in line for a start in Arizona's home series versus the Cardinals after the All-Star break.

Eflin (back) struck out two and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk over four innings in his rehab start with Double-A Chesapeake on Sunday.

Eflin tossed 58 pitches (38 strikes) in what may have been the only rehab outing he'll require before returning from the 15-day injured list. According to MLB.com, Eflin is scheduled to continue his throwing progression at the Orioles' spring facility in Florida on Friday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to re-enter the rotation for the team's second series following the All-Star break. Brandon Young appears to be the most likely candidate to lose his rotation spot once Eflin is activated.