MLB Player News

Kikuchi (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, per MLB.com.

Kikuchi has so far been limited to playing catch, but that's tangible progress as he looks to work his way back from left shoulder inflammation. If the veteran hurler moves forward without any setbacks, he could rejoin the Angels' rotation after the All-Star break. Kikuchi posted a rough 5.81 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB over 31 innings spanning seven starts before landing on the injured list in early May.

Sandlin (2-1) earned the win against the Royals on Friday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts over six innings.

Making his first major-league appearance since June 7, Sandlin was spotted an early lead and rode it to his second career quality-start victory. In 19.1 innings with the White Sox, the 25-year-old owns a 6.05 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 20:10 K:BB. With Noah Schultz (knee) expected to reclaim his rotation spot next week, this was likely just a spot start for Sandlin.

Spence (0-2) took the loss against the White Sox on Friday, allowing 10 runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 1.1 innings.

Spence was recalled to handle bulk-relief duties due to Stephen Kolek being placed on the paternity list, and Spence was charged with 10 runs in a nightmare third inning. The 28-year-old has surrendered 22 earned runs in just 9.1 major-league innings this season and will likely be sent back to Triple-A Omaha upon Kolek's return.

Martinez (7-2) earned the win against the Diamondbacks on Friday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Martinez surrendered a solo homer in the first inning but cruised from there, throwing 62 of 85 pitches for strikes and falling one out shy of a quality start. Other than a six-run blowup June 3, the 35-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 15 of 16 outings this season. He'll carry a 2.66 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 58:17 K:BB across 94.2 innings into a road matchup with the Royals next week.

Rodriguez (back) will make a rehab start Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After recently being placed on the injured list June 15, Rodriguez will make his return to a competitive setting Sunday. The 26-year-old recently threw off flat ground in the bullpen Sunday. Manager Kurt Suzuki said that it is possible this is the one and only rehab start that Rodriguez makes before rejoining the big-league club.

McClanahan won't make a start during the Rays' series against the Diamondbacks this weekend and will be pushed back several days in the pitching schedule as Tampa Bay looks to monitor his workload, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After not making any appearance at the big-league level over the past two seasons while recovering from August 2023 Tommy John surgery and then a nerve issue in his elbow that popped up last spring and required another procedure in August, McClanahan has staged a healthy and successful comeback in 2026. He's posted a 3.30 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 73.2 innings, but the 29-year-old southpaw has shown signs of wearing down of late. In his last four starts, McClanahan has gone 0-3 while yielding 16 runs (12 earned) on 25 hits and nine walks across 18.2 frames. The Rays seem confident that no injury is behind his recent struggles, but he'll nonetheless get some extended rest. The team has yet to announce who will replace him in the rotation Saturday.

The Royals recalled Spence from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

With Stephen Kolek going on paternity leave and missing his scheduled start Friday against the White Sox, Spence will give the Royals' bullpen some length behind opener Steven Cruz. Spence has appeared in two games for Kansas City this season, allowing 12 runs on 11 hits and six walks with just four strikeouts across eight innings. He's operated as a starter with Omaha.

The White Sox recalled Sandlin from Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Sandlin will start Friday's game against the Royals after posting a microscopic 1.57 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB across 23 innings spanning six starts for Charlotte this season. He made two starts for the White Sox earlier this season, both against the Twins, and has compiled an 8.10 ERA and 14:7 K:BB across his first 13.1 innings in the big leagues.

Bubic (elbow) threw a perfect inning while striking out one in Wednesday's rehab start with Triple-A Omaha.

Bubic is recovering from left elbow soreness, but his initial rehab assignment was halted June 9 due to shoulder discomfort. The southpaw threw six of eight pitches for strikes Wednesday before departing. Per MLB.com, Bubic is scheduled to throw two innings with Triple-A Omaha on Saturday as he continues to build up. If the 28-year-old avoids any further setbacks, a return to the Kansas City rotation before the All-Star break might be possible.

Schlittler (8-4) took the loss against Boston on Thursday, allowing four runs -- all unearned -- on five hits and two walks while striking out nine batters over five innings.

Schlittler survived two Yankees errors -- including one of his own -- in the first inning, but the same didn't hold true in the fifth. In that frame, the right-hander allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base but then got Wilyer Abreu to strike out. It looked like Schlittler might get out of the inning unscathed when Willson Contreras hit a sharp grounder to third base, but Amed Rosario couldn't field the ball, and the Red Sox ended up scoring four times. Though that was enough to hand Schlittler the loss, the emerging star still lowered his ERA to an AL-best 1.62 and got nine punchouts along with 16 whiffs. He's allowed just two earned runs across his past four starts (23.2 innings). Schlittler will try to get back into the win column his next time out, which is lined up to be a home matchup against Detroit.