MLB Player News

Eflin (6-1) earned the win Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits over seven innings against Milwaukee. He struck out eight.

Outside of a pair of homers dished out to Owen Miller and Brian Anderson, Eflin was exceptional Saturday, fanning eight and pitching into the seventh frame for just the second time in 2023. Though the 29-year-old has had troubles with the long ball (1.5 HR/9), he has made up for it with strong strikeout numbers (9.96 K/9) while earning six wins, which is the second-most in MLB. Eflin is in line to face one of MLB's most powerful offenses in his next start, taking on the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.

Gilbert (2-2) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out nine over six innings to earn the win Saturday over Atlanta.

Gilbert had a tough first inning, in which he allowed a two-run home run to Matt Olson, but he was able to settle in after that. This was Gilbert's fifth quality start in nine outings this season, and it was the first time in his last four starts he's allowed a homer. The right-hander is now at a 3.81 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 63:10 K:BB through 52 innings. He's projected for a favorable home start versus the Athletics next week.

Mahle (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Mahle will undergo the reconstructive surgery and miss not just the rest of the 2023 season, but a large portion of the 2024 season. Once healthy, the right-hander should be a rotation option again for the Twins, and the success rate of hurlers who come back from Tommy John surgery does suggest there's still a good chance for long-term success for Mahle.

Maeda (biceps) threw a bullpen session Saturday that went well, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Maeda threw around 25 pitches in the session, and he exclusively used his fastball and change-up. The right-hander is scheduled to throw another bullpen Tuesday, and he'll use all of his pitches in that effort. Maeda will need to throw a few more bullpens before going on a rehab assignment, but he could be back in the Minnesota rotation in the early part of June.

Whitlock (elbow) will be activated off the 15-day injured list for Boston's series next weekend against the Diamondbacks, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock is starting Sunday for Triple-A Worcester to conclude his rehab assignment, and then the right-hander will join the team in Anaheim before being activated against the D-Backs; likely Saturday for a start against Arizona. Whitlock struggled to a 6.19 ERA before being placed on the injured list with elbow ulnar neuritis, but he's had plenty of success in the past, and the 26-year-old offers a chance for fantasy success when he's on the mound.

Rodon (back) threw from 120 feet Friday and is heading to New York to continue his rehab Saturday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Rodon has been slowly approaching a distant return from his back injury, extending from throwing 90 feet to 120 feet this past week. That being said, the chronic back issue has required a cortisone injection already and the left-hander is yet to throw off the mound. All things considered, manager Aaron Boone said that "everything went well" Friday and that the hope is that Rodon is nearing mound work. In the end, the 30-year-old remains without any concrete timetable for a return.

Kaprielian was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

Kaprielian will replace Drew Rucinski (illness) in the Athletics' rotation after Rucinski was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday. As a result, Kaprielian will draw the start Sunday versus the Astros. To this point in 2023, the right-hander has struggled to a 10.17 ERA and 1.96 WHIP with 25 strikeouts over 23 innings in seven appearances, including four starts, with Oakland.

Rucinski was placed on the 15-day injured list with a stomach illness Saturday.

The move was made retroactive to Wednesday (May 17), so the right-hander is eligible to return June 1, though the A's are off that day. In his absence, James Kaprielian was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas and will start Sunday against the Astros.

McCullers (forearm) is expected to throw a bullpen session before Sunday's contest against the Athletics, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers has slowly been working his way back from the forearm injury he suffered in February, and Sunday's session could be his last before launching a rehab assignment. Once healthy, the 29-year-old will be a welcomed addition to Houston's rotation as Luis Garcia (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Friday.

Brito will toe the rubber Saturday versus the Reds, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

The Yankees officially announced Brito as the starter Saturday, waiting until nearly the last minute to make that decision public. The right-hander earned a win the last time he was on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball while allowing six hits and striking out two batters Monday against the Blue Jays. Since he surrendered seven runs to the Twins on April 13, Brito has produced a respectable 4.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 25.2 frames in six appearances with the Yankees.