MLB Player News

Valdez (6-2) earned the win Sunday over the Royals. He allowed two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts in six innings.

Valdez didn't give up any runs until his last inning, yielding a two-run home run to Salvador Perez. This was Valdez's fifth straight win, and he's allowed multiple runs in only two of those outings. The southpaw has a 2.61 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 55:25 K:BB across 69 innings in 11 starts this year. He lines up for a home start versus the Marlins next weekend.

Mace (calf) was activated from the minor-league injured list and will start for High-A Lake County on Sunday.

Mace missed three weeks with the calf injury. He'll work as the starter in a piggyback tandem Sunday -- he had covered only 20 innings in his first six starts prior to getting hurt.

Watkins (forearm) has thrown off a mound three times and expects to be activated from the injured list Tuesday when first eligible, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Watkins' progress is encouraging, though it hasn't been determined if he'll need a a rehab assignment first. If he does, he'll likely be out a little beyond the 15-day minimum, but in any case, it seems the right-hander should be ready soon. It's also unclear if Watkins will return to a rotation spot -- most likely over Kyle Bradish -- or see some long-relief work initially after activation.

Sale (ribs) will throw another bullpen session Tuesday and then "hopefully" a live batting practice session Friday, according to manager Alex Cora, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Sale threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday. It continues to be a gradual buildup for the veteran southpaw. We'll know if he's progressing as expected based on whether he can throw the live batting practice session Friday.

Ryan (COVID-19) may need to make a rehab start before returning to the big-league rotation, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

This decision is still up in the air, but it's worth noting that it's not a given that Ryan will slot right back into the rotation once he is activated. He is scheduled to throw a higher intensity bullpen session either Monday or Tuesday.

Lynn (knee) will make another rehab start Wednesday and could join the big-league rotation at Detroit on June 13 if all goes well, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

He built up to 62 pitches in his most recent start and is targeting five innings in this next outing for Triple-A Charlotte. Manager Tony La Russa wouldn't commit to a June 13 return for Lynn but said it was a possibility.

Rodriguez has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 lat strain, and it's possible he will not return this season, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The team estimated a September return while acknowledging that it could be a longer or shorter absence. General manager Mike Elias said Rodriguez could still get a spot in the 2023 rotation even if he doesn't return this year. Rodriguez is a candidate to pitch in the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time.

Wells didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Guardians, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out one.

Both the hits Wells allowed left the yard, but that was the story of the game for both offenses as they combined for nine hits and five homers in total. The right-hander tossed 62 pitches (42 strikes) before giving way to Keegan Akin, but the duo aren't working in a strict tandem as Wells has worked at least five innings in five of his last eight starts. He'll carry a 3.78 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB through 47.2 innings into his next outing.

McKenzie (3-5) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs on three hits and three walks over seven innings as the Guardians fell 5-4 to the Orioles. He struck out four.

The right-hander didn't allow much traffic on the basepaths, but all three of the hits off him left the yard, including a three-run blast by Austin Hays in the third inning. McKenzie served up only one homer over his first six starts this year, but as the weather has warmed up he's had trouble keeping the ball in the yard, getting tagged for eight long balls in his last four outings. Despite those stumbles, the 24-year-old will still take a 3.10 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 58 innings into his next start.

Kremer (oblique) was activated from the injured list ahead of his start Sunday against the Guardians.

He hasn't pitched in the majors yet this season, but Kremer was dominant on his rehab assignment, logging nine scoreless innings while striking out 18 and walking two in three appearances. He threw four innings in his last start, so he should be stretched out enough to go five or more innings in this one.