MLB Player News

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Senga (hamstring) is likely to return from the 15-day injured list next weekend and is expected to start either Friday or Saturday in Kansas City, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. "When he went down [with a right hamstring strain], in my head it was more like after the All-Star break," Mendoza said. "For him to be in play for us now before we go into the All-Star break, it's huge for us."

Before confirming which day Senga will return from the IL, the Mets will wait and see how he bounces back from the rehab start he made Saturday for Double-A Binghamton. The right-hander was charged with four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings, but the fact that he covered 68 pitches and experienced no complications with his hamstring is of greater importance than his results. Assuming he's given the green light to pitch this weekend, Senga shouldn't be operating with any significant restrictions in what would be his first start with the big club since June 12, though the Mets probably won't overextend him with the All-Star break looming.

Kolek was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Kolek will head to El Paso after posting a disappointing 6.23 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 20 punchouts over 26 innings in his last five starts. The cold stretch came on the heels of back-to-back scoreless outings for the right-hander, and he will now look to reset at Triple-A. The move made room for Kyle Hart to join the major-league roster, and Hart is expected to operate as the team's bulk reliever behind opener David Morgan against the Rangers on Sunday.

The Padres recalled Hart from Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Hart will rejoin the Padres for the first time since late May, after he was demoted upon turning in a 6.66 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over six starts with the big club. The lefty hasn't fared much better since returning to El Paso (6.57 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 20:9 K:BB in 24.2 innings), but he'll get the call back to the majors with the Padres short on rotation arms. Though he won't start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Hart is a likely candidate to pitch in bulk relief behind David Morgan, who isn't expected to cover more than an inning or two as the Padres' opening pitcher. In a corresponding move, San Diego optioned righty Stephen Kolek to El Paso.

Crochet (9-4) earned the win Sunday over the Nationals, allowing two runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out seven.

Crochet has won back-to-back starts despite allowing seven runs on 17 hits over 11 innings in that span. Still, the left-hander sports a 2.39 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and an MLB-leading 151 strikeouts through 19 starts (120.1 innings) this season. Crochet figures to make one more start before the All-Star break -- he's tentatively lined up to face the Rays at home next week.

Ogasawara (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing four runs on seven hits over 2.2 innings. He struck out two.

It was a rude welcome for Ogasawara in his major-league debut -- the Red Sox jumped on the left-hander for four runs in the first inning, capped by a Trevor Story two-run homer. Ogasawara, who was sidelined for much of the first half of the season with an oblique injury, pitched to a 4.80 ERA in three rehab outings with Triple-A Rochester. Despite his struggles Sunday, Ogasawara figures to remain in the Nats rotation, at least through the All-Star break, with Trevor Williams (elbow) landing on the IL.

Burns did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Phillies, allowing a run on two hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out seven.

While Burns couldn't make it out of the fifth inning after throwing 91 pitches, it was certainly an encouraging outing for the rookie right-hander after he allowed seven runs (five earned) while recording just one out in his last start against the Red Sox. The 22-year-old Burns sports an 8.10 ERA with a 1.90 WHIP through his first 10 major-league innings, though he's averaged an impressive 13.5 K/9. Burns is currently lined up for a more favorable home matchup with the Rockies his next time out.

Wheeler (9-3) earned the win Sunday in a complete game against the Reds, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out 12.

It was a dominant performance from Wheeler in his fifth career complete game. The right-hander allowed just one hit, an Austin Hays homer to lead off the fifth inning. Wheeler hasn't allowed an earned run in his last four starts (28 innings) while logging 38 strikeouts in that span. His ERA is down to 2.17 through 18 starts (116 innings) with a stellar 0.84 WHIP and 148 strikeouts. Wheeler is currently scheduled to face the Padres on the road next week in what'll likely be his final outing before the All-Star break.

The Dodgers recalled Sheehan from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to his start Sunday against the Astros.

Sheehan will be making his second start of the season with the big club, after he previously struck out six batters over four innings of one-run ball in a June 18 outing against the Padres following his return from the 60-day injured list. During his time in the minors while completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery and in his two starts since being optioned to Triple-A, Sheehan owns a 4.12 ERA in 19.2 innings, but his 0.92 WHIP and 36:2 K:BB offer a better indicator of how dominant he's looked in his return from the major arm injury. Now that he's set to rejoin the Dodgers and could be in line for multiple turns if the team keeps a six-man rotation in place, Sheehan makes for an appealing speculative pickup in fantasy leagues where he's still available.

In a pregame interview Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Sasaki's (shoulder) velocity while throwing from flat ground has "ticked up" to the upper-80s but indicated that the rookie hurler isn't yet ready for mound work, per The Dodgers Bleed Los Podcast.

Sasaki has been on the IL due to a right shoulder impingement since May 13, and he has had his throwing program paused on two separate occasions. However, the right-hander resumed playing catch June 20 and seems to be taking positive steps toward a return. Roberts stated Friday that Sasaki is "kind of letting it rip" from flat ground but indicated that it's "too early" for him to be ready for mound work. It's not yet clear when Sasaki will be able to take that step, but it at least appears that he's on track to be part of the Dodgers' pitching staff at some point during the second half of the campaign.

Holmes (4-8) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

While he was ultimately outdueled by Trevor Rogers in a 2-1 loss, Holmes delivered another strong performance Sunday. The right-hander has pitched to a 1.86 ERA over his last five starts (29 innings) while striking out 41 in that span. Overall, Holmes sports a 3.44 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and 118:48 K:BB across 102 innings this season. He's currently slated to face the Cardinals on the road his next time out.