MLB Player News

Manager Alex Cora said that Hicks (toe) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and has "a good chance" of returning from the 15-day injured list next Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Before he was traded to the Red Sox on June 15, Hicks had been on the Giants' IL since June 3 due to right big toe inflammation. Given the relatively short time that he's been on the shelf, Hicks likely won't need more than an appearance or two to prove to the Red Sox that he's ready for activation. Hicks had opened the season in the San Francisco rotation before being moved to the bullpen in mid-May, and he'll continue to work in relief with his new organization.

Atlanta placed Sale on the 15-day injured list with a fractured left ribcage Saturday.

Sale made a diving play in the ninth inning of Wednesday's 5-0 win over the Mets and damaged his ribs in the process, resulting in his placement on the IL for the first time this season. He'll be eligible to return from the IL in early July, though it's likely he'll need more than a minimum-length stay. Austin Cox was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to give Atlanta extra bullpen depth in the short term, and the team will likely keep rookie Didier Fuentes in the rotation until Sale is ready to return from the shelf.

Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Gil (lat) is on track to return in late July or early August, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Gil threw live batting practice Saturday for the first time since sustaining a preseason lat injury, and Boone offered more insight into Gil's recovery timeline afterward. Boone said the Yankees are considering Gil the equivalent of a trade deadline acquisition, as the right-hander is expected to return near the July 31 deadline. Gil may throw live BP once or twice more before being sent off on a rehab assignment.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Imanaga (hamstring) will return from the 15-day injured list to make his next start with the Cubs sometime next week, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

The skipper didn't say exactly what day Imanaga will return from the IL, but the 31-year-old southpaw will most likely start at some point during the Cubs' upcoming series in St. Louis. Imanaga didn't allow a run in 10.1 innings across three rehab outings in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and at Triple-A Iowa. He most recently pitched Friday for Iowa, striking out eight batters over 4.1 shutout frames while building up to 72 pitches.

Fuentes (0-1) took the loss after throwing five innings, allowing four runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three during Friday's 6-2 loss to the Marlins.

Fuentes' rapid rise through the Atlanta minor-league system culminated with his first career MLB start Friday. He displayed his electric stuff and picked up his first MLB strikeout in the second inning against Dane Myers, and Fuentes ended up battling his way through five innings. The big blemish was a three-run home run surrendered to Agustin Ramirez, but otherwise it was a good debut for the 20-year-old right-hander. The expectation is that this was just a spot start to give all of the starters an extra day of rest, so he'll likely be sent back down to the minors soon.

Manaea (oblique) struck out seven over 5.1 innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, allowing one earned run on two hits without walking a batter.

In his first rehab appearance for Syracuse, Manaea piggybacked starter Brandon Sproat and got stretched out to 62 pitches (45 strikes). The performance was a marked improvement on Manaea's first few rehab starts at High-A Brooklyn, as he gave up seven runs in 6.2 innings with an 8:3 K:BB. The 33-year-old southpaw will likely need at least one more rehab outing to push his pitch count a little higher, but he appears on track to return from the 60-day injured list to make his 2025 debut with the Mets at the beginning of July.

Crawford (knee/wrist) threw a bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

This was the second such session this week for Crawford, who's had multiple setbacks in attempting to go on a rehab assignment. It's unclear what the next steps are for the right-hander. The report estimates a return date in July or August.

Matthews (shoulder) started playing catch Friday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Matthews was diagnosed with a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder June 8 and was shut down from throwing for two weeks. He'll need to progress to throwing bullpen sessions before a clearer timeframe for his return comes into focus.

The Reds recalled Petty from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday.

The 22-year-old will come up from the minors to handle bulk-relief duties against the Cardinals on Saturday after opener Brent Suter exits the game. Petty has given up 13 runs through 5.1 innings in his big-league career thus far, though he owns a 2.76 ERA across 45.2 frames at Louisville.

Pivetta didn't factor into the decision Friday, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in a 6-5 loss to the Royals. He struck out three.

Four of the six hits off Pivetta went for extra bases, including a solo shot by Bobby Witt in the first inning and a three-run blast by Jonathan India in the fifth that helped chase the right-hander from the game. Pivetta's homeritis is returning with a vengeance as the weather begins to warm up, and over his last 10 starts and 54 innings he's been taken deep 10 times, fueling a 5.00 ERA despite a 1.26 WHIP and 61:17 K:BB. He'll try to keep the ball in the park in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the Nationals.