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.

Cantillo did not factor in the decision, allowing four runs on seven hits over 5.1 innings while striking out six in the 6-5 win over the White Sox.

Making his third start of the season, Cantillo looked sharp early but ran into trouble in the middle innings. He gave up a solo homer to Austin Slater in the fourth and exited after surrendering another solo shot to Andrew Benintendi in the sixth. The outing marked his longest of the year, and the 25-year-old has shown he can sustain his swing-and-miss stuff over multiple frames, racking up 18 strikeouts across 12.2 innings in his trio of starts.

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.

Neto went 1-for-2 with two walks, one stolen base and one run scored in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Neto enters the All-Star break hot -- he's 17-for-47 (.362) with six extra-base hits and four steals over his last 11 games. The shortstop has had a bit of a breakout this season, posting a .279/.326/.492 slash line over 77 contests after dealing with a couple of right shoulder injuries during the first half. He's added 15 homers, 33 RBI, 61 runs scored, 18 doubles, one triple and 17 steals, offering an enticing blend of power and speed for a middle infielder.

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.

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.

Paredes went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Rangers.

Since Jeremy Pena (rib) landed on the injured list in late June, Paredes has stepped in as Houston's leadoff man. He's served as the Astros' table setter for each of the last 14 games, batting .293 with three home runs, nine runs and four RBI during that stretch. Paredes was recently named to his second straight All-Star team, but the Astros announced Sunday that the 26-year-old won't participate in the Midsummer Classic while he tends to a family matter, per Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle. Manager Joe Espada said he expects Paredes to rejoin the team in advance of its first game of the second half Friday in Seattle.

Melton (ankle) recently transitioned his rehab program to the Astros' spring training facility in Florida and is in the midst of hitting, running and throwing progressions, MLB.com reports.

Melton hit .241 with no home runs and three stolen bases in 11 games with Houston before landing on the injured list June 14 due to a right ankle sprain. The outfielder could be ready to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break, but the Astros haven't yet offered up a definitive target date for his return from the IL.

France (shoulder) tossed a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

France has been facing live hitters for nearly a month, but the Astros haven't yet provided an update on when he might be ready to embark on what will likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The right-hander has been out all season while recovering from last July's surgery to repair a torn shoulder capsule.