MLB Player News

Manning (biceps/shoulder) was unable to make his scheduled rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Toledo after the affiliate's game against St. Paul was suspended in the top of the first inning.

The Tigers could opt to have Manning throw a simulated game in the next day or two to allow him to remain on schedule with his rehab program, as Toledo won't be back in action again until Friday due to the minor-league All-Star break. Manning is restarting his rehab assignment for a second time after he experienced a biceps injury during a late-May throwing session that kept him out of commission for nearly six weeks. The right-hander returned to action July 12 for Single-A Lakeland, tossing two scoreless innings in his lone appearance before the Tigers cleared him to move his rehab to Toledo. He's projected to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in early August.

Montas (shoulder) responded "really well" to Saturday's aggressive bullpen session according to manager Mark Kotsay, and the right-hander has a chance to make a start in one of the games in Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Saturday's bullpen session was expected to have significant bearing on the Athletics' immediate post-All-Star-break plans for Montas, and this latest news certainly seems to indicate the right-hander is trending in the right direction. Montas is likely to test his shoulder out again at some point during the All-Star break in order to facilitate a final decision on whether he can return to action during Thursday's twin bill against Detroit.

The Royals reinstated Singer (personal) from the restricted list Monday.

Singer was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. Since his last start came Wednesday against the Tigers before he was placed on the restricted list Thursday, Singer didn't miss out on a start while he was deactivated. The 25-year-old right-hander finished the first half of the Royals' schedule with a 4-3 record, 4.02 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB across 71.2 innings over his 14 appearances (11 starts) for the big club.

The Royals reinstated Keller (personal) from the restricted list Monday.

Keller was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. He had been in line to start a game against the Blue Jays, but his move to the restricted list prompted Kansas City to call up Angel Zerpa from Double-A Northwest Arkansas to make a spot start Thursday. The 26-year-old right-hander closed the Royals' first-half schedule with a 5-9 record, 3.96 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:32 K:BB across 97.2 innings over his 17 starts.

Flexen gave up one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.2 innings in a 6-2 win over the Rangers on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Flexen only threw 76 pitches -- the least he had thrown since June 3 -- but he held the Rangers to one run and left the game with the lead in the fourth inning. The 28-year-old right-hander now boasts an excellent 1.10 ERA in July and has only given up two earned runs all month. Flexen has a 70:35 K:BB in 99.2 innings this season. He appears to be in line for a two-start week beginning the Monday after the All-Star break with a rematch at home against the Rangers followed by a trip to Houston.

Odorizzi allowed three runs on five hits and a hit batsman while striking out five in 5.1 innings in a 4-3 loss Sunday against Oakland. He did not factor into the decision.

Odorizzi was excellent through the first five innings, holding Oakland scoreless and retiring the side in order three times. After getting the first batter out in the sixth, he gave up a solo shot to Ramon Laureano and then consecutive singles and was taken out. After walking seven batters in his first three starts, the 32-year-old has issued just seven free passes in his last seven outings, spanning 39 innings. In that time he has a 2.31 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 31 strikeouts.

Sale (finger) will see a specialist in Boston on Sunday or Monday and is confident he will pitch again this season, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

The Red Sox didn't offer a timetable for Sale, who was removed in the first inning of his start Sunday against the Yankees with a fractured left pinkie finger. Sale suggested a personal 4-to-6-week recovery timetable, though the typical timeline for this kind of injury is 6-to-8 weeks. While Sale's season may not be over, fantasy managers in shallower leagues without injured-list spots may not be able to justify stashing him.

Cole (9-2) gave up two earned runs on four hits and zero walks while striking out 12 in seven innings Sunday against the Red Sox. He picked up the win.

He tied his season high with 12 strikeouts and struck out double-digit batters a second straight time and sixth time this season. Cole has had a few blowup outings this season, but his 3.02 ERA and 0.98 WHIP are still strong thanks to dominant outings like this one. Cole enters the All-Star break tied with Shane McClanahan for first in the majors with 147 strikeouts.

Cease (9-4) earned the win Sunday in Minnesota, striking out eight in seven scoreless innings while allowing a hit and two walks.

Cease faced the minimum through the first four innings and fanned six of those batters. In the fifth, he allowed a walk and a single with one out but neutralized the offense with consecutive strikeouts to end the frame. While he didn't strike out a batter in his final two innings of work, he efficiently retired all six batters he faced, needing just 22 pitches. The 26-year-old has not allowed more than one earned run in any of his last 10 starts and is 8-2 with a 0.47 ERA and 79:29 K:BB in 58 innings over that span.

Bubic gave up two unearned runs on five hits and zero walks while striking out four over seven innings Sunday against the Blue Jays. He did not factor in the decision.

This is the first time Bubic has given up fewer than two earned runs since June 4. He has not struck out more than five batters in a start since June 20. It's unclear if Bubic will pitch next weekend at home against the Rays or the following week at home against the Angels.