MLB Player News

Gray did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Reds. He struck out two.

Gray allowed a pair of runs in the second inning and another in the fifth but managed to escape further damage, logging his second quality start through five outings this season. The veteran right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.91 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 17:13 K:BB. While he's posted decent ratios, Gray's K-rate is down to 18.3% from 25.7% last season and he's currently sitting with a career-worst 13.4% walk rate.

German (2-2) earned the win Wednesday, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in a 12-6 victory over Minnesota. He struck out eight.

German was gifted with double-digit run support, so he fired a ton of strikes (60 of 84 pitches) and surrendered three home runs. The long ball continues to be an issue for the right-hander, who's now allowed seven through his first five starts. Despite giving up a season-high six earned runs Wednesday, the right-hander completed six innings for a third straight outing and picked up his second win. German's 5.54 ERA isn't great, but he has a stellar 33:9 K:BB through 26 innings thus far.

Mariners manager Scott Servais announced Wednesday that Ray is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his left elbow, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

After landing on the injured list April 1 with a left flexor strain, Ray was hopeful that rest and rehab would be enough for him to heal from the injury and return to the Seattle rotation around the middle of May. However, with Ray having not made enough progress in the three-plus weeks since suffering the injury to even resume playing catch, he was sent in for additional tests, which revealed damage to a different area of the flexor tendon. With surgery deemed necessary, Ray's 2023 campaign will come to an end with him having made just one start. Chris Flexen has entered the rotation since Ray was first shut down with the elbow injury, but Servais suggested that the organization will re-evaluate its starting depth with the knowledge that the 2021 American League Cy Young Award winner is done for the season.

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Wednesday that Maeda will undergo an MRI on his right elbow, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Maeda's early exit Wednesday versus the Yankees was initially chalked up as a back issue, but Baldelli revealed in his postgame press conference that it was actually elbow soreness which prompted the departure. That soreness is on the "medial side ... not the side where you would normally be concerned," per Baldelli, but the skipper also added that Maeda will likely need "some time off" either way. The 35-year-old right-hander was charged with 10 earned runs over just three-plus innings before departing. He is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA on the season.

Bibee (1-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and zero walks over 5.2 innings during a 4-1 victory over Colorado. He struck out eight.

With the Guardians playing their sixth game in five days Wednesday, Bibee was promoted from Triple-A Columbus to make the start in the series finale with Colorado. The 23-year-old was sharp and composed during his MLB debut, with the lone run on his ledger coming after a leadoff double and a bloop base hit in the sixth. He was taken out after inducing a double-play ball and ended with eight strikeouts, displaying the swing-and-miss stuff that led to a stellar first season in professional ball in 2022. Bibee and Logan Allen both impressed during their respective MLB debuts within the past few days, and at least for the short term, the two youngsters look as though they'll have the opportunity to stick around with the big club. Per Mandy Bell of MLB.com, Guardians manager Terry Francona said after Wednesday's game that Bibee will remain with the team for its upcoming road trip, even though an exact plan for the right-hander's next opportunity to pitch hasn't yet been nailed down.

Gilbert (shoulder) is confirmed to start Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Heading into the week, Gilbert had been in line to start Tuesday, but the Mariners opted to flip him in the pitching schedule with Marco Gonzales after Gilbert felt muscle spasms in the scapula area while he was working out Sunday. Fortunately for Gilbert, the shoulder issue doesn't seem to have prevented him from making his between-starts bullpen session, so he shouldn't face any major restrictions while he returns to the hill Wednesday on seven days' rest.

Chirinos is listed as the Rays' starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the White Sox, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Depending on how Wednesday's game against the Astros and the first two games of the series in Chicago shake out, the Rays could look to deploy an opener in front of Chirinos, but in any case, the right-hander will step into the rotation spot vacated by Taj Bradley, who was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday. Bradley will likely be in line for a brief stint in the minors while he transitions from a five-day rest schedule to four days off between starts, but that could provide Chirinos with enough time to make at least two turns through the rotation. Since being called up from Durham earlier this month, Chirinos has yet to allow a run in three relief appearances and has maxed out at 46 pitches and 3.2 innings. The Rays may look to keep him around the 60-to-75-pitch or 4-to-5-inning range Saturday, but Chirinos should face minimal workload restrictions in his subsequent outings.

Bubic (elbow) announced Wednesday via his personal Instagram account that he had successful Tommy John surgery.

With his surgery having now been completed, the 25-year-old lefty is in line to miss the remainder of the 2023 season and a large portion of the 2024 campaign as well. Ryan Yarbrough served as a primary pitcher out of the bullpen the first time Bubic's turn in the rotation came up last week, but Yarbrough will work in a traditional starting role Wednesday in Arizona.

Maeda left Wednesday's start against the Yankees in the fourth inning with an apparent back injury, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. He was charged with 10 earned runs on 11 hits with two walks and two strikeouts before his exit.

According to Park, Maeda first appeared to tweak his back when he unsuccessfully tried to field an Isiah Kiner-Falefa bunt single in the top of the second inning. Though Maeda remained in the game, he was clearly compromised, and the Yankees seemed to recognize it, as a few other hitters attempted to bunt off of him. The right-hander has now left back-to-back starts with injuries, as he exited after just two innings against the Red Sox last Thursday after being hit in the ankle by a comebacker. Though the ankle didn't seem to be bothering Maeda on Wednesday, his new injury could be something that prompts the Twins to skip his turn through the rotation and/or send him to the 15-day injured list.

Paxton (hamstring) is scheduled to make his fifth rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Worcester, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Though Paxton reported to spring training at full health after a lat injury suffered during a rehab assignment late last season prevented him from making his return to the big leagues following his April 2021 Tommy John surgery, he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain March 3 and opened the 2023 campaign on the injured list. While Paxton has remained free of any arm-related setbacks, the Red Sox have been slow-playing his return from the hamstring injury, likely due in some part to the fact that a rotation spot may not be available to the veteran southpaw. Paxton hasn't helped his case for being activated from the IL by getting lit up in his most recent two rehab starts, as he surrendered 12 runs (11 earned) on seven hits and six walks over five innings between those outings. If Paxton can sharpen his control Sunday while bumping up his pitch count to the 85-to-90 range, the Red Sox will face a tough decision regarding whether to activate him and what kind of role he might handle.