MLB Player News

Rodriguez (6-5) took the loss Wednesday versus the Angels. He gave up four runs on nine hits and struck out five in five innings.

Rodriguez struggled early with the Angels scraping together a pair of runs in the first inning. He settled in after that, but Shohei Ohtani and Jared Walsh slugged back-to-back home runs off the Boston starter in the fifth. The nine hits allowed by Rodriguez were the most he's given up since May 18 and just the second-highest total in his 17 starts. The southpaw has a 5.52 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 104:21 K:BB across 89.2 innings as the first half of the season comes to a close.

Heaney (5-6) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings to earn the win Wednesday over Boston.

Heaney was touched up for seven runs in three innings versus the Yankees in his previous start, but he bounced back well Wednesday. The southpaw is still in a bit of a rut, with 18 runs allowed in his last 19.1 innings, but he was able to snap a three-start losing streak. The 30-year-old owns a 5.38 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 94:26 K:BB across 77 innings through the first half of the season.

German was scratched from Wednesday's start in Seattle after he underwent an emergency root canal, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Nick Nelson will start Wednesday's contest, though manager Aaron Boone said German will be available to enter the game if necessary. The skipper added that German may be ready to start Friday in Houston.

Urquidy (shoulder) said Wednesday's he'll remain shut down from throwing for at least two weeks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The right-hander said he didn't anticipate a lengthy absence after landing on the injured list with shoulder discomfort in late June, but he now figures to be sidelined for at least a month. Urquidy should resume his throwing program in the second half of July, and he likely won't be back until at least early- or mid-August since he'll need to build his arm back up to a starter's workload after the layoff.

Wacha (2-2) allowed one run on four hits in six innings, striking out one batter and earning the win in Wednesday's 8-1, Game 1 victory over Cleveland.

The righty put forth his second quality start of 2021 and his first since April 16, with the only blemish being a Franmil Reyes homer in the second inning. Inconsistency has marred Wacha's season, especially of late, as he's allowed five runs in two of his last four appearances. That being said, he's mixed in enough effective outings like Wednesday's to keep his ERA at a respectable 4.87 through 57.1 innings. Injuries to Rays' starters, namely Tyler Glasnow (elbow), figure to keep Wacha in the rotation going forward, but he'll have to wait until after the All-Star break to make his next start.

Pitching coach Dave Bush said Wednesday that Sale (elbow) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list until he's stretched out to throw 5-6 innings, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox may have considered bringing Sale back after just one or two rehab outings and initially utilize him in shorter appearances, but it sounds like that won't be the case. With that in mind, Sale will likely need three or four starts in the minors before he's ready to return to the Boston rotation, meaning that he's unlikely to be activated until early August. Sale is expected to throw two more innings in a simulated game Saturday before beginning his rehab assignment.

Turnbull (forearm) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Turnbull resumed throwing at the end of June, but he felt something recently and was brought from Lakeland to Dallas to be evaluated, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. The right-hander will be shut down from throwing following his setback, and the team considers early August to be a best-case scenario for his return. Ian Krol's contract was selected by the Tigers as part of a corresponding move.

The Red Sox plan to use Houck in an undefined role after the All-Star break, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Houck has been starting at Triple-A Worcester and could be used as a spot starter in the second half of July after working his way back from flexor muscle tightness. "He feels good. Everything went well in the last [start]," manager Alex Cora said. "As you guys know, he's going to be part of this at one point. How soon, we don't know yet but he's important for us and he will contribute." Since returning from the injury, Houck has a 3.07 ERA with 19 strikeouts and three walks over 14.2 innings for the WooSox.

Eovaldi (9-5) took the loss Tuesday as the Red Sox fell 5-3 to the Angels, giving up five runs on nine hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out nine.

The nine whiffs were his highest total since April 19, but Eovaldi was getting too much of the plate all night as six of the Angels' nine hits went for extra bases. Unless the Red Sox shuffle around their rotation, the right-hander will take a 3.66 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 99:20 K:BB through 103.1 innings into the All-Star break.

Valdez allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings but walked away with a no-decision against the Athletics on Tuesday.

The A's ambushed Valdez for three runs in each of the first two innings. No other team has been able to hit Valdez that way, as he entered the game with a 2.18 ERA, a run of six straight quality starts and not having allowed more than three runs in a game. Thankfully, Houston's offense showed up and prevented his second loss of the season. The left-hander looks to return to his previous form in his next start, which lines up to be Sunday against the Yankees.