MLB Player News

Madden is no longer lined up to start Sunday's contest against the Mariners, with the Tigers listing Jack Flaherty as their probable starter for that game, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Madden returned from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's series opener versus the Rays, working 3.1 innings and striking out four while allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks in a no-decision. Flaherty ended up starting Tuesday's contest, but he'll now move ahead of Madden in the pitching schedule after securing his first win of the season while spinning five shutout innings in Detroit's 8-0 victory. The Tigers haven't clarified what Madden's role might be look like moving forward, but he may soon be headed to the bullpen or to Triple-A Toledo while the Detroit rotation is set to get some reinforcements in the near future. Justin Verlander (hip) threw five shutout innings in a rehab start Tuesday for Toledo and could be activated from the 60-day injured list next week, while Tarik Skubal (elbow) could be cleared to head out on a rehab assignment as soon as Saturday.

Duran struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 13th save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Padres.

The right-hander hit triple digits on the radar gun four times in 14 pitches (nine strikes) during a dominant performance. Since recovering from an oblique strain and returning from the IL in early May, Duran has posted a 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB in 12 innings while converting all eight of his save chances.

Estrada (shoulder) yielded one run on three walks over 2.1 innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Estrada didn't give up a hit in the outing and fanned three batters, but he yielded a run on three walks and a sacrifice fly. The right-hander was making his first appearance in two months, as he's been dealing with a right shoulder impingement. Estrada will likely need at least a couple more rehab outings, and he could remain at Buffalo rather than join the big club when he's done with his rehab assignment.

The Rays recalled Englert from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Englert will provide the Rays' weary bullpen with a fresh arm heading into Wednesday's game against the Tigers, after Tampa Bay needed relievers to cover 12.2 innings between the first two contests of the series. Before being demoted May 9, the 26-year-old righty made a 3.1-inning bulk-relief appearance in his last outing with the Rays, and he had since settled into a starting role with Durham. Over his three starts prior to his call-up, Englert posted a 4.70 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB in 15.1 innings.

The Rays optioned Martin to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Martin yielded two earned runs on four hits and one walk while striking out a batter in a three-inning, 43-pitch relief appearance in Monday's 10-9 loss to the Tigers. As a result of the hefty workload, Martin wasn't available for Tuesday's game and likely wasn't going to be an option for Wednesday's series finale, either. The Rays will swap him off the active roster for a fresh arm in Mason Englert, who was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Gomez picked up the save in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the White Sox, recording a pair of strikeouts over 1.1 hitless and scoreless innings.

Since being acquired from the Rays earlier this season, Gomez has become a reliable late-innings arm for manager Derek Shelton and is a perfect 3-for-3 in save chances with Minnesota. Across 12.2 innings with the Twins, Gomez has allowed just two runs (one earned) on six hits with a 16:4 K:BB. He's struck out nearly one-third (32.7 percent) of the batters he's faced.

Erceg blew the save in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Reds, allowing one run on one hit and two walks with two strikeouts in the ninth inning.

Tasked with protecting a 3-2 lead, Erceg came on and allowed a leadoff homer to pinch hitter Will Benson to tie the game. Erceg then walked a pair before getting an inning-ending strikeout. Erceg has been dreadful in his last four outings, surrendering nine runs on 14 hits and two walks with three strikeouts across three innings. He has three blown saves in that span, and it's fair to wonder if he's pitched his way out of the ninth. Erceg has six blown saves in 17 chances this season, while his ERA has ballooned to 6.45 with a 20:15 K:BB across 22.1 innings.

Ashcraft (elbow) received a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Ashcraft got the injection after a second opinion confirmed he's dealing with a UCL sprain. The right-hander was immediately placed on the 60-day injured list following the injury last Friday and is not expected back until some point after the All-Star break.

Puk (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

The Diamondbacks moved Puk's rehab assignment to Reno after the left-hander threw three scoreless innings in three appearances in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to close out May. He's scheduled to throw again Friday, per Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com, and Puk will likely need a few more appearances beyond this week before being activated from the 60-day injured list. When Puk opened his minor-league assignment last month, Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said the team was targeting him seven or eight rehab outings, which puts the reliever on a path to return from the shelf around the middle of June.

Soto earned the save in Tuesday's 10-6 win against the Astros, striking out both batters he faced.

After Dennis Santana struggled to close out the ninth inning, allowing four batters to reach base while two runs scored, Pittsburgh turned to Soto with two runners on and one out. The left-hander immediately shut the door, striking out both hitters he faced to lock down his eighth save of the season. Soto continues to pitch at a high level out of the bullpen, holding opponents scoreless in 13 of his last 15 appearances while solidifying himself as Pittsburgh's main ninth-inning option. He now owns a 1.91 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB across 28.1 innings.