MLB Player News

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.

Rodriguez (back) struck out four and allowed one earned run on five hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in his rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.

The right-hander was no match for lower-level minor-league competition, retiring 12 of the 18 batters he faced while pumping in 37 of his 57 pitches for strikes and generating five whiffs. Angels manager Kurt Suzuki previously said that Rodriguez may need just one start in the minors before returning from the 15-day injured list, but unless the right-hander was able to throw another simulated inning after exiting Sunday's outing, he may need another outing in the minors to build upon his 57-pitch workload. The Angels received strong performances from back-end rotation members Ryan Johnson and Sam Aldegheri in their last starts, so the team can probably afford to play it slow with Rodriguez as he works his way back from lower-back tightness.

Schultz (knee) struck out seven and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks across 4.2 innings Friday in a rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte.

Making the third start of his rehab assignment, Schultz built up to 74 pitches (52 strikes) and induced nine whiffs while averaging 95.4 mph with his four-seamer. The White Sox haven't confirmed Schultz's next step, but from both a workload and velocity standpoint, he looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list. Schultz could slot back into the White Sox rotation as soon as Wednesday in Baltimore.

Avila did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over four innings against the White Sox.

Avila ran into trouble immediately, walking the first batter he faced before serving up a two-run homer to Miguel Vargas. He was tagged again in the second inning, allowing three consecutive hits that led to two more runs. Command continues to be the biggest concern for the right-hander, as he has now issued at least three walks in five of his six starts since joining the rotation. During that stretch, Avila owns a 5.68 ERA and 23:18 K:BB. His next start is set to come Sunday at home against the Phillies.

Gasser is slated to start Monday's game against the Reds, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

After Brandon Woodruff was reinstated from the injured list last Monday, the Brewers kept a five-man rotation intact by shifting Gasser to the bullpen. The 27-year-old lefty wasn't needed in relief during the team's series with the Cubs over the weekend, and he'll now step back into a starting role after manager Pat Murphy previously told Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the Brewers would shift to a six-man rotation through the All-Star break while Milwaukee closes its first-half schedule with 18 games in 17 days. Gasser -- who has submitted a 3.74 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB in 21.2 innings over his last four outings -- looks like an intriguing short-term pickup, particularly in leagues with weekly lineups. He'll tentatively line up for a two-start week, with his second appearance expected to come next Sunday in Arizona.

Torkelson went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning loss to the Astros.

Torkelson started the contest on the bench and didn't enter until the eighth, but he provided a single in his first at-bat, then delivered his 13th home run of the season in the 10th. It was the slugger's first long ball since June 15, and he went just 7-for-37 with 11 strikeouts in between homers. Torkelson remains a boom-or-bust fantasy option who can be frustrating due to his propensity for falling into slumps.

Hoskins went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Mariners.

Hoskins entered the game as a pinch hitter for Kyle Manzardo in the seventh inning and made an immediate impact. After singling in his first plate appearance, he came through with a go-ahead two-run double in Cleveland's five-run eighth inning to help complete the comeback victory. The veteran's afternoon was a welcome boost amid an otherwise difficult month, as he is batting just .161 with a 35.2 percent strikeout rate in June.

McKinstry went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 7-5, 10-inning loss to the Astros,

McKinstry hit just his third home run of the season in the second inning to give the Tigers an early lead. It's mostly been an offensive struggle for the utility player, as he's batting just .191 with a .574 OPS, though he does now have consecutive multi-hit efforts. McKinstry is also seeing more regular time at shortstop recently, and he could start to raise his fantasy value a bit if he can string together a few more good performances.