MLB Player News

Houser (5-2) earned the win Wednesday over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out two.

Houser picked up a third straight win and fourth consecutive quality start against a Blue Jays team that came into Wednesday on a 10-game hit streak. The 32-year-old Houser has been nothing short of remarkable since signing with the White Sox in late May. Through nine starts, his ERA is down to 1.56 with a 1.13 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 57.2 innings.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that Rutschman (oblique) hit off a tee Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

He was not swinging at full effort, but it's a step beyond the dry swings Rutschman took Tuesday. Rutschman will continue to go through a hitting progression as he works his way back from a strained left oblique. A clearer picture of his timeline to return from the 10-day injured list should be available later this month.

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Rafaela will put his six-game hitting streak on hold and will head to the bench for the first time since June 18 while Jarren Duran gets a start in center field in his stead. With Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) returning from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and entering the lineup at designated hitter, the Red Sox will have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, where Roman Anthony is likely to be more of a factor moving forward. Though Rafaela is the Red Sox's best defensive center fielder, manager Alex Cora acknowledged that the 25-year-old could get consideration for more spot starts in the infield, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Though he's played exclusively in center field in 2025, Rafaela made 71 starts at shortstop and four at second base last season, in addition to playing seven innings as a reserve at third base. The keystone would seem to be the most logical position for the Red Sox to use Rafaela in order to free up more at-bats for others in the outfield, as Boston has recently been getting by with a rotation of Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton and Marcelo Mayer at the position.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that Akin will be shut down 5-to-7 days after receiving an injection in his injured left shoulder, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The hope is that the injection will speed along the healing process and allow Akin to begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break. Akin has put up a 3.38 ERA and 38:18 K:BB over 38 innings out of the bullpen in 2025.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that Eflin (back) is tracking toward making a rehab start Sunday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Eflin likely has one more throwing session to get through before the Orioles map out a rehab schedule for him, but assuming he experiences no further setbacks with his back, he should be ready to report to an affiliate Sunday. The veteran right-hander may need just one rehab start before rejoining the Baltimore rotation at the start of the second half. Eflin has been on the 15-day injured list since late June due to low-back discomfort.

Burr had to be removed from Wednesday's game against the White Sox in the seventh inning with an undisclosed injury, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Burr just returned from the 60-day injured list Sunday after being out all season with a right shoulder injury, so he could have experienced a setback. The Blue Jays should have more on his condition after the contest.

The Rangers announced that Gray (forearm) will make a rehab start Wednesday for Triple-A Round Rock.

Gray will be making his first appearance in a game since March 14, when he fractured his right forearm after being struck by a comebacker in a Cactus League contest. He was cleared to begin a throwing program in May, and after building up through a series of bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions over the last few weeks, he's now reached the final phase of the recovery process. Assuming the Rangers plan on having Gray get stretched back out as a starter, he'll likely need at least two or three starts in the minors before he would be considered for a spot in the big-league rotation. Gray could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in late July or early August.

The Yankees announced Wednesday that LeMahieu was designated for assignment, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

After the Yankees elected to move Jazz Chisholm from third base to second base earlier this week, LeMahieu lost hold of his everyday role at the keystone. Though LeMahieu has prior experience at both corner-infield spots, manager Aaron Boone acknowledged that it's a challenge for the 36-year-old to hold up to the physical demands of the hot corner. Given LeMahieu's defensive limitations at this stage of his career, the Yankees didn't view him as a viable utility infielder, so the team will eat the approximately $22 million remaining on his contract once he passes through waivers. LeMahieu will have the ability to elect free agency after the waiver process concludes, but given his advancing age, lack of defensive flexibility and declining production at the plate -- he posted a .266/.338/.336 slash line with two home runs in 142 plate appearances for the Yankees in 2025 -- he may not have a long list of suitors on the open market.

Meyers (calf) will start in center field and bat second in Wednesday's game versus the Guardians.

Meyers didn't play the last two days after tweaking his right calf in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Dodgers. However, he is feeling well enough to start Wednesday as the Astros go for the series sweep versus Cleveland.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Cobb (hips) threw a bullpen session Tuesday but was "still symptomatic," Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Cobb has received injections in both hips, including one last week in his surgically repaired left hip. However, he's still experiencing discomfort. Hinch said that the Tigers will "continue to try to nudge" Cobb forward, but the veteran right-hander remains without a timetable to resume his rehab assignment. Cobb previously made three starts in the minors before being pulled off the assignment in mid-June.