MLB Player News

Flaherty (0-7) took the loss against the Angels on Thursday, completing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking nine batters.

Flaherty was dominant at times, racking up 20 whiffs and nine punchouts. He held the Angels scoreless through four frames, but he lost steam in a three-run fifth inning, and the lack of run support from Detroit's offense saddled Flaherty with yet another defeat. The veteran right-hander is not only tied for the MLB lead with seven losses, he's also yet to win a game through 12 starts. Flaherty is at least providing his fantasy managers with punchouts -- he has 64 over 52.2 frames -- but his 5.81 ERA and 1.61 WHIP have landed him on many waiver wires.

The Rangers reinstated Freeman (back) from the injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock.

Freeman has been sidelined by a lower-back fracture since spring training but began playing in rehab games May 14. Since then, he's slashed .161/.194/.194 with five RBI and eight runs scored over nine games between the Arizona Complex League, Double-A and Triple-A. He'll stay put at Round Rock now that he's been given a clean bill of health, and he'll likely need to turn things around offensively before the Rangers begin to consider adding him to their major-league roster.

Rodriguez (2-1) earned the win over Detroit on Thursday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings.

Rodriguez allowed a second-inning solo homer to Wenceel Perez, but that was the only run the Tigers managed against him. In fact, Rodriguez yielded just one other hit -- a first-inning single -- and retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced following the long ball. This was easily the left-hander's best outing since making his season debut May 17, as he gave up 11 runs across 9.1 frames over his other two starts. Rodriguez will look to build upon Thursday's performance next time he takes the mound, which lines up to be at home versus Colorado early next week.

Meyers isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Meyers has gone 0-for-9 with a walk and a run scored since the beginning of Houston's four-game set with Texas, and he'll take a day to regroup Thursday. Zach Dezenzo, Taylor Trammell and Cam Smith will start across the outfield while Meyers sits.

Walker isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Walker will take a seat on the bench to begin Thursday's series finale after going 1-for-12 with a three-run homer and an additional run scored over the first three games of the series. His absence will cause Isaac Paredes to shift to first base, giving Braden Shewmake a start at third and Brice Matthews a start at second.

The Orioles reinstated Kjerstad (hamstring) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports.

Kjerstad has been on the injured list all season due to a hamstring strain he suffered just a few days before Opening Day. He's been playing in rehab games since May 9, however, slashing .235/.273/.314 with six RBI and five runs scored over 13 total games between Double-A Chesapeake and Norfolk. Now fully healthy, he'll remain with the Tides but reclaim a spot on Baltimore's 40-man roster, which gives him a much better chance at joining the big club later in the year if the Orioles' outfield depth is tested.

Mantiply will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair some damage in his left knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Mantiply was originally expected to start up a throwing program soon, but after receiving a second opinion on his knee, he decided the best path forward would be to undergo a cleanup procedure. An updated timeline for his return will likely be available after the surgery, but manager John Schneider said the operation won't force the southpaw to miss the rest of the season.

Basallo is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.

Taylor Ward is getting a day at designated hitter and Blaze Alexander will play left field against Blue Jays southpaw Patrick Corbin. It's the second straight day Basallo has been out of the lineup and fourth consecutive game against a lefty that he has not started.

Scherzer (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After receiving the green light to face live hitters Wednesday, Scherzer is now set to return to a competitive setting for the first time since landing on the IL in late April wth forearm tendinitis and ankle inflammation. He's expected to throw between 45 and 60 pitches during his first minor-league outing, and manager John Schneider said the future Hall of Famer will likely need to make multiple rehab starts before he returns from the injured list.

Foster was removed from an appearance at Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday due to right shoulder discomfort, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Foster was charged with one run over 1.1 innings of work before being pulled. It's unclear whether Foster will be sent for an MRI, but even if his removal was precautionary, he'll likely be unavailable for at least a few days. The 27-year-old has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) with a 9:8 K:BB over nine innings covering six relief outings during his time with the Orioles this season.