MLB Player News

The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Festa will serve as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox and will be available, if needed, in long relief. The young right-hander had previously allowed 12 runs over 10 innings in two starts for Minnesota this season.

The White Sox recalled Eder from Double-A Birmingham on Wenesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Eder will serve as the 27th man in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins. If he makes an appearance out of the bullpen, it would be the left-hander's major-league debut. Eder has made 15 starts with Birmingham this season, posting a 5.09 ERA and 86:31 K:BB over 74.1 innings.

Bello (9-5) picked up the win in Tuesday's 12-9 victory over the A's, giving up five runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out a career-high 11.

The right-hander's line was looking much better through five innings, but Lawrence Butler helped chase Bello from the game in the sixth with a three-run homer. The 11 strikeouts topped his previous career high of 10, set Sept. 15, 2023 against the Blue Jays. Despite the surge in Ks, Bello has been tagged for four or more runs in five of seven trips to the mound since the beginning of June, stumbling to a 7.00 ERA. 1.89 WHIP and 38:17 K:BB in 36 innings over that stretch. He lines up for one more outing before the All-Star break in a home series against the Royals this weekend.

Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Giants. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 13 over 7.1 innings while not walking a batter.

Kikuchi set a new career high with 13 strikeouts in this one and notched his fifth career 10-strikeout game. Both runs against him came via the long ball. Heliot Ramos took him deep in the fourth and then Tyler Fitzgerald led off the eighth with a solo blast, which ended Kikuchi's night at 100 pitches. He was still in line for the win at that point with the Blue Jays leading 3-2, but that lead was eventually squandered in the ninth. Tuesday's outing certainly boosted Kikuchi's trade value if the Blue Jays end up selling at the deadline. However, he does have a 6.38 ERA and has given up eight homers over his last five starts. For the year, Kikuchi owns a 4.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:23 K:BB in 101.1 innings. He lines up for another start over the weekend against the Diamondbacks before the All-Star break.

Mahle (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday.

This was Mahle's second rehab start. The outing was originally reported to be for Triple-A Round Rock but was moved to Frisco. He threw 32 pitches (23 strikes), up from 19 pitches in Mahle's first rehab start. The right-hander will make a few more starts before returning to the majors.

The Rays plan to bring Rasmussen (elbow) back as a reliever this season, Evan Closky of 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reports.

Rasmussen had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last July. Between the Rays' rotation depth and the length of time it would take to build him back up as a starter, it makes sense that the righty is being viewed as a reliever in 2024. The plan will be to return Rasmussen to the rotation in 2025. Rasmussen is slated to throw a live batting practice session Saturday, with the goal to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break.

Estes (3-4) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and a walk over just 1.2 innings as the A's were downed 12-9 by the Red Sox. He struck out one.

Every Boston starting position player has at least one hit and one run by the end of the second inning, chasing Estes from the game in the process after 55 pitches (38 strikes). It was a hard crash back down to earth after he twirled a shutout against the Angels in his last start, but Tuesday's outing is more representative of the 22-year-old right-hander's level right now. Estes will carry a 5.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB through 57 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Philadelphia.

Gilbert (6-5) got the win Tuesday over the Padres, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over 7.2 innings.

All three runs against Gilbert came at the tail end of his outing. He allowed a solo home run to Jake Cronenworth in the seventh, and Kyle Higashioka added on with a two-run blast in the eighth to force Gilbert's exit from the game. Tuesday was just the third time this year he's allowed multiple home runs in a start, but also was the first time this season he's picked up a win while allowing more than one run. The 27-year-old recently was named an All-Star for the first time in his four-year career, and rightfully so, as he sports a 2.94 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 115:25 K:BB in 125.1 innings so far. He lines up for a Sunday start against the Angels this weekend before the league heads into the All-Star break.

Maeda allowed six runs on seven hits, a walk and two strikeouts over 2.2 innings in a no-decision Tuesday against the Guardians.

Maeda's rough stretch continued with yet another short outing, and he's now allowed 15 runs over his last two starts, a career high over a span of that length. The 36-year-old has allowed six or more runs on five occasions this season, tied with Kevin Gausman for most in MLB. Maeda's ERA has also jumped to 7.26, which is the highest by an American League pitcher with a minimum of 50 innings in 2024.

Scherzer allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and struck out six without walking a batter over 6.2 innings, taking a no-decision Tuesday versus the Angels.

Scherzer allowed a pair of solo home runs to Logan O'Hoppe in the contest. This was Scherzer's second quality start in a row, and he threw 95 pitches (70 strikes). It appears he's clear for a full workload after easing back into action following a lengthy absence due to offseason back surgery as well as thumb and forearm issues. The right-hander is now at a 3.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB through 23.1 innings across four starts. The Rangers are off Thursday, so it is likely Scherzer is done for the first half of the campaign, which should afford him some extra rest before Texas hosts the Orioles coming out of the All-Star break.