MLB Player News

Darvish (shoulder) threw a 46-pitch simulated game Wednesday and the next step could be a rehab assignment, the Fort Worth Star Telegram's Jeff Wilson reports.

Rangers pitching coach Doug Brocail said it will be important to see if Darvish reports any soreness Thursday. If everything checks out, he could head out on a rehab assignment, making his first rehab start either Monday or Tuesday. He will be capped at four innings or 60 pitches in his next outing. The Rangers are hedging as to whether Darvish will need one or two rehab starts. They have said he could return to the rotation even if he was only capable of giving them 75-80 pitches, but there's also talk that he won't be back until after the All-Star break, which would point to two rehab starts.

Kubitza was promoted to Double-A Erie on Wednesday, Tom Reisenweber of the Erie Times-News reports.

With Ruben Alaniz moving up to Triple-A Toledo, Kubitza will fill his spot in the Erie bullpen. After a disappointing 2015 campaign with Erie, the 24-year-old has shined in High-A Lakeland this year, allowing only nine runs in 29.1 innings pitched.

Rodriguez, who was demoted to Triple-A Pawtucket earlier this week, will work to eliminate habits that tip his pitches to opposing hitters, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports. "It's no secret -- hitters know what's coming," Red Sox pitching coach Carl Willis said. "He has worked on it extensively during bullpen sessions, dry work periods. He makes progress. He shows the ability to make those adjustments. However, when the game begins and the game situations start and his focus gears more toward the attack of the hitter, the old habits resurface."

This isn't the first time Rodriguez has dealt with the issue of broadcasting to hitters the pitch he's about to throw, but he hasn't been able to shake the problem this season. Aside from tipping his pitches, he's having trouble with his slider and missing location out over the middle of plate, resulting in nine homers allowed over 29.1 innings. This will not be a one-week fix. Rodriguez will make multiple starts for the PawSox while Boston makes roster adjustments to add a replacement for him.

Hamels (9-1) defeated the Yankees with seven shutout innings Tuesday, striking out seven while limiting them to six hits and one walk.

Hamels was dominant all night en route to his fourth consecutive win. The former Phillies ace has been impressive in all aspects this season, but his 6-0 record in eight starts away from Globe Life Park in Arlington is especially eye-catching. He lands another favorable road matchup in his next outing Sunday at Minnesota.

Gibson (1-5) pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out seven in Tuesday's win over the White Sox.

It was Gibson's best start since he threw 7.2 scoreless innings against the White Sox on September 13. The 28-year-old right-hander has offered mixed reviews in his four starts since returning from the DL, but the 107 pitches he delivered Tuesday match his season high and indicate he's feel good to move forward. Gibson will look to build on this one when he takes the hill Sunday against the Rangers.

Quintana (5-8) lost his seventh straight decision Tuesday against the Twins. He pitched seven innings, allowing four runs, six hits and one walk while striking out eight.

On paper, Tuesday appeared like the night Quintana would turn it around. However, Twins second baseman Brian Dozier had a different plan and crushed two homers off the 27-year-old, a solo shot off a fastball in the second and a three-run drive off a curveball in the sixth. After allowing just two home runs in his first 12 starts, the left-hander has now dealt six of them over his last four outings. The damage inflated Quintana's ERA to a season-high 3.18.

Kluber (8-7) limited the Braves to two runs on three hits over eight innings in Tuesday's win. He walked one and struck out seven.

For the first time this season, Kluber went eight-plus innings in back-to-back starts. In five June starts, he finished 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA and 37:7 K:BB. Kluber lowed his WHIP to an AL-best 0.98 while moving into second for strikeouts (110) and innings pitched (110.2) among AL starters. The former Cy Young winner is back to his winning ways after a slow start to the 2016 campaign, and the ceiling is high considering the Indians have surprisingly become the hottest team in baseball, having outscored opponents 73-25 during their 11-game winning streak.

Kaprielian (elbow) had an MRI on Tuesday which revealed a flexor tendon strain of the right elbow, Mark Feinsand of NY Daily News reports.

Kaprielian will be evaluated again in the next week after suffering this injury in late April. The 22-year-old hasn't pitched since April 21, but had touted a 1.50 ERA with a 0.61 WHIP with 21 strikeouts during 18 innings of work prior to landing on the disabled list. The Yankees prospect is expected to return in mid-July, yet could spend even more time out based on how his evaluation with Dr. Neal ElAttrache goes next week.

Worley (groin) pitched in another rehab game at High-A Frederick on Tuesday, and said he is ready to return to the Orioles, Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Sun reports.

Worley was placed on the 15-day DL on June 14 with a right groin strain, but could be back to the team as early as Friday. He pitched in an earlier rehab stint Saturday, allowing one earned run on five hits during 1.2 innings of work, but said that it went well Tuesday as he was able to sequence pitches and locate better than his previous outing. Before going down with the injury, Worley had posted a 2.66 ERA with a 33:13 K:BB ration in 40.2 innings with the Orioles this season.

McCullers (hand) will return to the rotation Monday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Manager A.J. Hinch did not use the words "expected" or "likely" when discussing the situation, which suggests the team has very little doubt McCullers will be able to take the hill Monday after missing one turn. McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday due to a blister and was replaced by Scott Feldman.