MLB Player News

German (shoulder) will next throw as part of a minor-league rehab assignment, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

German tossed a three-inning simulated game Thursday and has come far enough in his recovery from a right shoulder impingement to embark on a rehab assignment in the minors. Since he hasn't yet logged any game action this season, it is likely that German will need multiple rehab outings before the Yankees consider bringing him up to the majors.

Rodriguez (ribs) will likely make another rehab start, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez had a chance to be activated early next week, but it appears he will pitch once more in the minors before being brought back by the Tigers. Barring any setbacks, he is on track to take the ball for the big club sometime next weekend.

Baz (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Baz was expected to make his season debut Saturday, and with the Rays adding him to the active roster, he will do just that. Baz threw 79 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he should not be particularly limited in his first big-league outing of the season. Baz can be considered the top pitching prospect in the league, and he will look to pick up where he left off after posting a 2.03 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB across the 13.1 innings he tossed for the Rays late last season.

Berrios (5-2) earned an eight-inning win against the Tigers on Friday, allowing one run on five hits while striking out five and walking one.

Berrios picked up a dominant win against a floundering Tigers offense Friday, his second win in a row. The eight-inning performance lowered his ERA to 4.73, the lowest it has been since April 30. The righty has had a disappointing season to this point, but perhaps his last two games -- both wins -- signal that he is turning things around.

McCullers (forearm) could begin throwing curveballs from flat ground within the next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers has thrown exclusively fastballs in his recent bullpen sessions, topping out at 89 mph. After he tosses his curveball from flat ground, McCullers will incorporate the pitch into his bullpen sessions. From there, McCullers will work to build up his slider in the same fashion. Given that progression, he remains a significant amount of time away from a potential return.

McKenzie did not factor into the decision against Oakland on Friday after going six innings and allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two.

Although McKenzie did not factor into the decision, he still picked up a quality start, his sixth of the year. He may not be striking out batters at the same rate as last season (7.7 K/9 this year, 10.2 K/9 in 2021), but the righty has made other adjustments as his ERA this season sits at 3.09 through 64 innings compared to a 4.95 mark in 120 innings last year.

Blackburn did not factor into the decision after pitching eight innings against the Guardians on Friday, allowing zero runs on four hits while striking out three and walking one.

Blackburn was dominant for eight innings, throwing 65 of 101 pitches for strikes and picking up a quality start. He was pulled after leaving the eighth inning with a two-run lead, but reliever Dany Jimenez cost the team and Blackburn a win. The righty will take a 2.31 ERA into his next appearance, which is projected for next week in Boston.

Garcia (3-5) took the loss Friday as the Astros were downed 7-4 by the Marlins, coughing up five runs on five hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The whiffs helped salvage some fantasy value, but this was still Garcia's worst start of the year and his fourth loss in his last five outings. The 25-year-old has a 4.44 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB through 26.1 innings over that stretch, but his biggest issue has been keeping the ball in the yard -- he's served up six homers in those five starts for a 2.1 HR/9.

Rasmussen (5-3) took the loss Friday, coughing up seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 innings as the Rays fell 9-4 to the Twins. He struck out three.

Byron Buxton was his biggest nemesis on the night, launching homers off Rasmussen in the first and fifth innings, but the right-hander didn't have much success against the rest of the Minnesota lineup either. Rasmussen has had his two worst performances of the season in his last three trips to the mound, but he'll still carry a 3.41 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 58 innings into his next start, which is projected to be a road start versus the Yankees next week.

Sale (ribs) will throw to live batters for the first time Monday in Fort Myers (Fla.), Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Sale completed a bullpen session Friday and is ready for the next challenge in his return to the major-league roster. It is presumed Sale will need a few live-batter sessions before heading out on a rehab assignment.