MLB Player News

Young will start Tuesday's game versus the Rangers in place of the injured Charlie Morton (elbow), Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Morton is battling elbow tendinitis but is expected to be ready to start Friday in Atlanta. However, with Cade Povich (hip) experiencing a setback on his rehab assignment, Young could be needed for multiple turns in the Orioles rotation. The rookie right-hander holds a 7.11 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 12.2 innings over his three starts with the big club this season.

Morton's next start has been pushed back from Tuesday in Texas to Friday in Atlanta due to low-grade right elbow tendinitis, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Brandon Young will draw a spot start Tuesday in Morton's place. While the Orioles are optimistic that Morton will be ready to go after a few extra days of rest, he will likely need to get through a bullpen session this week before being cleared to start Friday.

Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said Monday that Mahle has been diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain and will not return until after the July 31 trade deadline, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The Rangers are hopeful that the shoulder injury won't be a long-term concern, but Mahle has been prescribed some extended rest before he begins ramping back up once he's cleared to start a throwing progression. Mahle has already been sidelined for the past two weeks and is set to miss several more weeks of action before returning from the 15-day injured list.

The Red Sox reinstated Hicks (toe) from the 15-day injured list ahead of Monday's game against the Reds.

Boston optioned right-hander Zack Kelly (oblique) to Triple-A Worcester to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for Hicks, who has been cleared to pitch for the Red Sox for the first time since he was acquired from the Giants on June 15. Hicks, who had resided on the IL since June 3 due to right toe inflammation, completed two rehab appearances with Worcester prior to being activated. He'll likely begin his time in the Red Sox bullpen as a middle reliever but could work his way up the depth chart quickly with a few quality performances.

The Orioles placed Eflin on the 15-day injured list Monday with low-back discomfort.

Eflin was removed from his start Saturday against Tampa Bay due to the injury, and a trip to the IL was the expected outcome. The veteran right-hander will be eligible to return at the start of the second half, and he should have a good chance to be activated around that time, barring any setbacks.

The Orioles recalled Young from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.

Baltimore placed starter Zach Eflin (back) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move, but Young may not be called upon to take his spot in the rotation. The Orioles have already confirmed their starting pitchers for the three-game series in Texas that begins Monday, and an off day Thursday will allow the team to get by with a four-man rotation until at least July 12, by which time Cade Povich (hip) should be ready to return from the IL to take over Eflin's vacated spot. With that in mind, Young looks poised to work in long relief during his latest stint with the Orioles, after he previously submitted a 7.11 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 12.2 innings over his three starts with the big club earlier this season.

The Red Sox are expected to activate Hicks (toe) from the 15-day injured list prior to Monday's game against the Reds, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Hicks was on the IL with right toe inflammation when he was acquired from the Giants earlier this month, but he's been cleared to return after making a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A Worcester. The hard-throwing right-hander will slot into a middle-relief role for now but could work his way into high-leverage spots if he pitches well.

McClanahan (triceps) is scheduled to throw a full-intensity bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

McClanahan was shut down briefly as he battles through a nerve issue in his pitching arm, but he received the go-ahead from Dr. Gregory J. Pearl on June 17 to resume throwing and will take another step in his progression Tuesday. The hope is that McClanahan will be ready to rejoin the Rays' rotation sometime in August, but he has numerous boxes to check before that can become a reality.

Matthews (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at Target Field on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Matthews has been on the shelf since June 8 due to a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. He'll likely need to complete at least a couple more bullpen sessions before advancing to facing hitters in live batting practice and then heading out on a rehab assignment. Matthews could be ready to return from the injured list shortly after the All-Star break.

Skubal (10-2) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out 13 over seven shutout innings to earn the win Sunday over the Twins.

Skubal had one of his best starts of the year -- this was second only to his two-hit shutout versus the Guardians on May 25. He also matched his season-high 13 strikeouts from that outing. Skubal has kept runs off the board in seven of his 17 starts this season, and he went a perfect 5-0 with seven runs allowed over 33.1 innings in June. For the season, he has a 2.15 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 138:14 K:BB across 109 innings, numbers even better than his Cy Young campaign from 2024. The superstar southpaw is lined up for a road start in Cleveland in his next outing.