MLB Player News

Keller (forearm) has progressed to playing catch, MLB.com reports.

The next step in Keller's recovery will entail throwing a bullpen session. The right-hander is working his way back from right forearm tightness, and he should have a chance to rejoin Philadelphia's high-leverage mix at some point in early July.

Woodruff did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Cubs, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out six over 5.2 scoreless innings.

Woodruff was in complete control throughout the outing, with Miguel Amaya's third-inning double standing as the only hit he allowed. Woodruff has looked outstanding since returning from shoulder inflammation, tossing 11.2 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits with a 16:2 K:BB across his two starts. The veteran has not issued more than two walks in any outing across the entire season. He is set to face Arizona on the road in his next start.

Gordon (hip) struck out four batters while allowing one hit and no walks over four scoreless innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Albuquerque.

Gordon breezed through the rehab start, his first game action since landing on the 15-day injured list June 5 due to a right hip impingement. He retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced, needing just 38 pitches (30 strikes) to cover four innings. Gordon will likely need to push his pitch count into the 60-to-75 range before potentially re-entering the Colorado rotation, so he'll presumably require one or two more minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated.

Double-A Frisco placed Lopez on its 7-day injured list May 27 due to an unspecified injury.

Lopez submitted a 7.20 ERA, 1.97 WHIP and 42:22 K:BB in 35 innings over eight starts before landing on the shelf. The Rangers added the 24-year-old righty to their 40-man roster over the winter, but he didn't appear especially close to earning his first big-league call-up prior to getting injured.

Vargas went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run, a double, two walks and an additional run scored in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Royals.

After Sam Antonacci drew a leadoff walk in the first inning, Vargas opened the scoring with a 407-foot two-run homer. He later doubled and drew two free passes, reaching base in all four plate appearances. Vargas has now hit safely in six straight games, batting .435 (10-for-23) with three homers during that span. Through 81 games this season, he owns an .866 OPS while slugging his way to 19 home runs, 14 doubles, one triple, 52 RBI, 56 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.

Montgomery (elbow) struck out three over two perfect innings in a rehab start Saturday with Double-A Frisco.

Montgomery was making the second start of his rehab assignment and was supremely efficient, recording his six outs on 20 pitches (15 strikes). Before coming off the 60-day injured list, Montgomery will likely need at least three more starts in the minors to increase his workload and convince the Rangers that he's a viable option for the big-league rotation. The left-hander is working his way back from a hybrid UCL reconstruction surgery, which he underwent last March.

Lange earned the save Sunday against the White Sox, retiring the side in order in the ninth inning of a 5-4 win.

Lange was called upon to protect a one-run lead and needed just 10 pitches to retire Chicago in order, locking down his seventh save of the season. It was an encouraging bounce-back after he was tagged for five runs while recording just one out in his previous appearance. Despite the uneven results recently, Lange appears to have a firm grip on Kansas City's primary closer role. He now owns a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 37:21 K:BB across 36.1 innings.

May (back) is slated to start Thursday's series finale in Atlanta.

May didn't end up pitching this past week after experiencing back tightness coming out of his previous start June 21 in Kansas City, but the Cardinals are already considering him ready to go the next time his turn in the rotation comes up Thursday. Before getting knocked around for six runs over two innings in his outing against Kansas City, May had been St. Louis' top-performing starter for more than two months. In his preceding 12 starts from April 10 through June 15, May went 5-4 with a 2.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 68:18 K:BB across 74.1 innings.

Kay (6-3) took the loss Sunday against the Royals, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out two and walking one over 3.2 innings.

Kay threw 44 of his 73 pitches for strikes and was unable to slow Kansas City's offense, allowing at least one run in every inning he pitched. The outing continued what has been an up-and-down season for the left-hander, who has alternated strong performances with difficult ones. After striking out eight over six scoreless innings in his previous start, Kay followed it up with Sunday's rough outing. He'll carry a 4.50 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 65:31 K:BB across 80 innings into a rematch against Cleveland, this time on the road.

D'Arnaud (foot) was able to catch from a pitching machine Sunday and has continued to do swinging and throwing in his workouts, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

D'Arnaud is doing nearly every baseball activity except for running, which is the main hurdle he'll need to clear in his recovery from right foot plantar fasciitis before the Angels send him out for a rehab assignment. The veteran backstop has been on the injured list since May 7 due to the injury and appears unlikely to make it back until after the All-Star break.