MLB Player News

Verlander (hip) struck out three and allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks across 5.2 innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo.

After tossing five shutout innings and 64 pitches in his first rehab outing with Toledo on June 2, Verlander wasn't quite as sharp in the second start of his rehab assignment. Though he was able to stretch out to 86 pitches and averaged 92.9 mph with his four-seamer during the outing, Verlander struggled to execute, particularly with his slider. He allowed four home runs in the start, three which came off sliders and traveled at least 400 feet. Despite the shaky performance, Verlander could still be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list during next week's series in Houston to make his first start with the Tigers since March 30. He's expected to throw a bullpen session in front of the Tigers' brass over the weekend before a decision is made on his next step.

Garcia is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Rangers.

Garcia returned from a hamstring injury to start each of the previous four contests, but he'll grab a seat during Thursday's matinee. Nick Loftin will cover third base for the Royals.

Keaschall is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Detroit.

Keaschall will receive some routine rest during Thursday's matinee. The Twins will roll out Royce Lewis at second base in the series finale.

The Mets recalled Duarte from Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Duarte made one appearance for the Mets earlier this season, during which he pitched 2.1 scoreless frames. The 29-year-old will provide manager Carlos Mendoza with a fresh arm out of the bullpen for Thursday's series finale with the Cardinals.

The Mets optioned Pintaro to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday.

Pintaro helped save the bullpen in his lone day with the big club, allowing one run over three innings in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals. He wasn't going to be available for at least a day or two, however, so the Mets will replace him with a fresh bullpen arm in Daniel Duarte.

Wood went 1-for-4 with a walk, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 11-10 loss to the Giants.

The star outfielder got the offensive fireworks started on the day by taking Robbie Ray deep in the third inning. Wood has gone yard five times in the last 15 games, giving him 18 homers on the season, and over that stretch he's slashing .333/.441/.614 with four steals, nine RBI and 17 runs.

Mead went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Giants.

The 25-year-old has emerged as a key part of the Nationals' surprisingly potent offense while becoming the team's primary option at third base. Over the last 15 games, Mead is slashing .259/.344/.574 with five of his 10 homers on the season, and 12 of his 29 RBI.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Mize (adductor) will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday in Cleveland, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Mize will need to complete a bullpen session Thursday with no issues and bounce back well Friday before officially being cleared to take the ball Sunday. The right-hander looked good during what's likely to be his lone rehab start, tossing five frames of one-run ball with five strikeouts with Single-A Lakeland on Tuesday. Mize has been out since late May with right adductor inflammation.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch confirmed Thursday that Skubal (elbow) will rejoin the rotation Saturday in Cleveland, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

All told, Skubal will have been sidelined only 38 days after having surgery in early May to remove a loose body from his left elbow. The left-hander was excellent in his lone rehab start, striking out six over five scoreless frames for High-A West Michigan on Sunday. Skubal threw only 54 pitches in that outing, so he will be relatively limited from a workload perspective against the Guardians.

Alvarez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals.

Getting the start at DH in his second game since being activated from the injured list, Alvarez supplied all the Mets' offense with a two-run shot off Andre Pallante in the fourth inning, his first long ball since April 11. Alvarez has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games sandwiched around his nearly month-long stay on the IL due to knee surgery, slashing .306/.342/.472 over that stretch.