MLB Player News

Sale (12-4) allowed one hit and struck out 12 over five scoreless innings to pick up the win in Sunday's 4-1 victory over Baltimore.

Sale was making his return from the disabled list after rehabbing a mild case of shoulder inflammation, and it didn't look like he missed a beat. The left-hander extended his scoreless streak to 28 innings. It was odd that he was pulled after five innings and 68 pitches, particularly after Boston's bullpen was needed for 15.2 innings over the last two days, but manager Alex Cora told reporters in his post-game remarks that Sale was on a 75-pitch ceiling. Sale's pitch count should increase the next time he takes the mound Sunday at home against the Rays.

Whitley (oblique) is scheduled to start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

Whitley last pitched July 5, but exited that start early due to an oblique injury. Barring any extraneous circumstances, he'll make his return to game action Tuesday after a little over a month of missed action. In 21 innings for the Hooks this season, the top pitching prospect has a 4.29 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP and a 30:8 K:BB.

Ragans (elbow) is expected to resume throwing next week for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Ragans underwent Tommy John surgery in late March, meaning he'll be tossing the ball for the first time approximately five months after the procedure. It seems like everything is on schedule in his rehab process so far, so look for him to make a full return to the mound sometime during the 2019 season.

Stroman will start Sunday's game as scheduled.

The young hurler left his previous start due to a right middle finger blister, but it seems like the issue is behind him at this point. Stroman holds a disappointing 5.20 ERA and 72:33 K:BB in 91.2 frames this season. He'll take on Tyler Glasnow and the Tampa Bay Rays as he looks to improve in the series finale Sunday.

Sale (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day disabled list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday.

The dominant southpaw wound up missing just under two weeks due to a bout of shoulder inflammation. Sale is in the midst of another excellent year, producing a 2.04 ERA and a 13.2 K/9 in 141 frames. He'll make his inaugural start off the DL against Alex Cobb and the last-place Orioles. Brandon Workman was sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket in a corresponding move.

Kopech pitched seven scoreless innings and didn't walk a batter while striking out nine Saturday for Triple-A Charlotte.

This was the third time in the last four starts that Kopech hasn't issued a free pass. Going back further, the right-hander has walked just four over his last six starts, spanning 38 innings. Command of his fastball, leading to a high walk rate, has been one major reason cited for keeping Kopech in the minors, but this most recent stretch suggests the time is right to bring him up to Chicago.

Morton (12-3) allowed three runs on seven hits, one walk and one hit batsman while striking out four over six innings in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners.

Morton meandered threw his six innings, allowing leadoff batters to reach base four times. Three double-plays minimized potential damage, but the Mariners were able to strike for three runs in the fourth inning and that was enough. Houston's offense continued its slump, managing just three hits off the light-tossing Wade LeBlanc. Morton will return to the bump Friday on the road against the Athletics.

Gibson (6-9) recorded the win Saturday by allowing just one run in seven innings, working around seven hits and two walks while striking out four Tigers.

Following a rough loss Monday, Gibson peppered the zone with 75 strikes on 111 pitches and induced a nine groundouts to continue his pleasantly surprising season, across which he's recorded a 3.49 ERA with 8.5 K/9 and a 3.6 BB/9 in 24 starts. The righty will get a chance to repeat this success in a scheduled rematch with the Tigers on Friday, this time at his Target Field home.

Mejia was diagnosed with a nerve traction injury above his left elbow -- not an ulnar nerve injury -- and will undergo more testing, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

This was a second opinion for the left-hander, who was placed on the disabled list Friday due to what was originally called a left wrist strain. A timetable will become clearer after the club examines this revised information, but expect Mejia to miss at least another turn through the rotation.

Lynn allowed just one run in five innings in a no-decision Saturday against the Rangers, giving up five hits and three walks while striking out eight.

Lynn has been good since being shipped to New York at the deadline. In 16.2 innings, he has a 0.54 ERA and a 22:4 K:BB. It's quite the turnaround after his ERA sat at 5.10 in 102.1 innings for the Twins. The renewed level of performance should keep him in the Yankees' rotation for the foreseeable future. He'll get another chance on the mound Thursday against the Rays.