MLB Player News

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that he expects Eflin (back) to remain on the 15-day injured list for 2-to-4 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Eflin landed on the IL on Monday with a lower-back injury that he felt crop up toward the end of his most recent start Saturday. The right-hander said it feels similar to an injury that cost him two weeks last season. While the hope is that the absence will be similar in length this time around, Eflin's manager has allowed for the possibility for it to be a bit longer.

Cole (elbow) will face hitters Tuesday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Cole has been throwing off a mound for a couple weeks and is now ready to face hitters for the first time since he was diagnosed with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow back in mid-March. A rehab assignment shouldn't be too far down the road, although there's been no date revealed for that yet. Cole is still several weeks away from his season debut.

Lauer signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The veteran left-hander opted out of his minor-league pact with the Pirates last week and didn't take long to latch on with a new organization. Lauer had a 5.52 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 29.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis, and he may need to post better results for Houston's Triple-A affiliate in Sugar Land in order to receive a look in the big leagues. His contract includes opt-outs for July 1 and August 1 if he's not on the major-league roster.

The Rays placed Eflin on the 15-day injured list Monday, retroactive to May 19, with lower-back inflammation, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Eflin last pitched Saturday in Toronto, allowing four runs over six innings. It's not clear whether he developed the injury during that outing or another time, but either way he will be sidelined for at least the next two weeks. Ryan Pepiot (leg) is expected back from the IL this week and can slide into Eflin's rotation spot.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol indicated Monday that Soroka is likely to stay in the bullpen rather than take the rotation spot vacated by Brad Keller, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Soroka threw four scoreless innings in relief of Keller on Saturday, but it sounds like he'll remain in a relief role for now after struggling mightily as a starter earlier this season (6.39 ERA). Nick Nastrini and Jonathan Cannon would seem to be candidates to fill Keller's role.

Manning allowed four runs on 10 hits and three walks over five innings Sunday against the Diamondbacks. He struck out one and did not factor into the decision.

Manning surrendered a pair of runs in the opening frame and then allowed a run in the second and fourth. He allowed at least one baserunner in every inning and managed just four whiffs on 86 pitches, leading to a season-low one strikeout. Over two starts while filling in for Kenta Maeda (illness), Manning's allowed seven runs on 19 hits while posting a 6:4 K:BB in 10.2 innings. He was unable to take advantage of the opportunity with an opening in the rotation and figures to be optioned back to Triple-A Toledo this week with Maeda set to return May 24.

Bibee allowed a run on four hits and a walk over seven innings in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out eight during the win over the Twins.

Outside of a Jose Miranda solo shot in the third inning, Bibee was nearly untouchable Sunday. Bibee matched his season best with seven innings of work, and it was just his second quality start of the year. He's registered a strong 3.23 ERA over his last seven starts, dropping his season ERA to 3.93 through 52.2 frames. Bibee's next outing is currently projected to be a road matchup with the Angels.

Brooks is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Rockies in Oakland.

After having not started in the big leagues since 2019, the 34-year-old Brooks was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week and impressed in his move into the Oakland rotation, tossing seven innings of three-run ball while striking out five in a loss to the Mariners. With three Oakland starters currently on the 15-day injured list and four more starting candidates on the 60-day IL, Brooks looks like he'll have a hold on a rotation spot until the Athletics' pitching staff gets healthier.

Paddack notched a no-decision decision Sunday despite allowing just two runs on three hits and no walks over eight innings against the Guardians. He struck out six.

Paddack bounced back after allowing five runs and 12 hits in his last start against the Yankees. He pitched into the eighth inning for the first time with the Twins and kept the Twins in the game until they lost in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Civale (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

Civale allowed five or more runs for the fourth time this season and yielded a solo home run to Daniel Vogelbach in the second inning. During his last six starts, Civale is 0-3 with an 8.48 ERA and a 26:12 K:BB across 32.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled for a start during a three-game home series against the Royals next weekend.