MLB Player News

German (shoulder) tossed four innings in a rehab start with Double-A Somerset on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three.

German didn't walk any batters and threw 39 of 49 pitches for strikes in his third rehab outing. He has compiled a 0.87 ERA and 0.48 WHIP along with a 6:0 K:BB across 10.1 innings in his trio of minor-league appearances thus far. It's unclear how many more rehab outings he'll make or what role he'll take when he returns to the big-league club.

Odorizzi (lower leg) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Monday's start against the Royals.

Odorizzi was out since mid-May due to strains and sprains to ligaments in his right foot and ankle, but he recently made a pair of rehab starts and posted a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in eight innings. The Astros will roll with a six-man rotation this week now that Odorizzi is available, and he should be able to handle a relatively full workload Monday since he tossed 78 pitches during his most recent rehab start.

Whitley (elbow) was activated from the injured list Monday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Whitley made a few rehab starts in recent weeks, but he has officially completed his comeback from Tommy John surgery and is ready to pitch regularly again. Whitley was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land, where he will work on building up his pitch count. He could be an option for the big club at some point in the second half, but the Astros have a lot of capable starters, so they have little incentive to push him over the remainder of the campaign.

Seabold was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

Seabold made two starts during his time with the major-league club, and he'll be sent down following Sunday's outing. After allowing seven runs in 4.2 innings against the Blue Jays on June 27, he fared much better against the Cubs on Sunday, giving up just one run in four innings. However, the right-hander will head back to the minors after Kutter Crawford was recalled Monday.

Bello could be called up from Triple-A Worcester to start Wednesday's game against the Rays, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Bello has sparkled this season at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels, and Boston could be ready to give its top pitching prospect his first chance to show what he can do at the top level. The Red Sox currently have five starting pitchers (Nathan Eovaldi, Rich Hill, Chris Sale, James Paxton and Garrett Whitlock) on the injured list and another (Michael Wacha) who is day-to-day with an injury.

Crawford was recalled from Triple-A Worcester on Monday.

The Red Sox are planning for a bullpen game Monday against the Rays after Michael Wacha (arm) was scratched from his scheduled start, and Crawford is a strong candidate to serve as a bulk reliever behind opener Austin Davis. Over 10 appearances (two starts) in the majors this year, Crawford has posted a 6.41 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 19.2 innings.

Wells (7-4) gave up one earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win in a 3-1 victory over the Twins on Sunday.

Wells had his best start of the season, tallying a career-high seven strikeouts and 90 pitches. The 27-year-old right-hander has been dealing as of late, giving up only three runs over his past four starts. Wells' season-long 3.09 ERA and 1.00 WHIP are pleasant surprises for his first year pitching in a starter's role. His 5.6 K/9 rate coming into the game is well below league-average, but his fastball spin ranks in the 94th percentile according to Baseball Savant, which bodes well for his ability to get batted ball outs. Look for Wells to start on Friday against the Angels.

Montas (shoulder) is slated to undergo an MRI in Oakland on Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander experienced tightness behind his right shoulder in Sunday's brief 13-pitch start against the Mariners, with manager Mark Kotsay noting Montas couldn't get "fully extended" on his pitches. Consequently, a Monday MRI has already been ordered up, and the results should offer further clarity on Montas' chances of making his next scheduled start against the Astros on Saturday.

Gray (4-4) gave up three earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out seven over 5.2 innings to take the loss in a 4-1 defeat to the Mets on Sunday.

Gray gave up two home runs off the bats of Starling Marte and Eduardo Escobar and was saddled with his fourth loss of the season. It was a fairly pedestrian start for Gray, who had gathered a bit of momentum with a .195 OBA in June after a rocky start to his first season with Texas. The 30-year-old right-hander has a quality 9.5 K/9 rate in 77.1 innings in 2022. He is expected to make his next start Saturday in Minnesota, when he will look for win number five.

Stripling (4-3) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over 4.2 innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Rays.

Stripling held the Rays to just one unearned run through four innings before a brutal fifth frame. He allowed an RBI single to Yandy Diaz before Harold Ramirez took him deep for a two-run shot. Stripling had allowed just five runs in five starts since re-joining Toronto's rotation in June. His season ERA jumped to 3.32 alongside a 49:13 K:BB through 19 appearances. Stripling is projected to take the mound in Seattle next week.