MLB Player News

Eflin (6-4) took the loss Saturday as the Orioles were routed 9-0 by the Yankees, coughing up six runs on 10 hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over three innings. He struck out four.

In his shortest outing of the season, Eflin served up a long ball to Trent Grisham in the first inning before J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice took him deep in the second. It's the fourth time in his last seven starts that the right-hander has been tagged for multiple homers, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 6.87 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 29:8 K:BB over 38 innings. Eflin will try to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Rays -- the team that traded him to the O's last July.

Pepiot (5-6) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in an 8-3 victory over the Tigers. He struck out seven.

The right-hander wasn't particularly efficient, needing 96 pitches (63 strikes) to record 15 outs, but Pepiot generated 31 called or swinging strikes in another strong outing. He's given up three runs or fewer in 12 straight starts, a stretch in which he's delivered a 2.48 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Pepiot has also found another gear with his strikeouts in June, posting a 35:8 K:BB in 24.2 innings on the month. He will look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Baltimore.

Gray (wrist) threw a bullpen session of roughly 35 pitches Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Gray is targeting a late-July return, and he's been making significant progress recently in his recovery from a right wrist injury. He threw around 35 pitches against ghost hitters, likely meaning he's throwing his full pitch mix. He was limited to throwing fastballs in his June 13 bullpen session.

Eovaldi (triceps) threw around 50 pitches in three simulated innings of live batting practice and could be activated from the 15-day injured list sometime during the upcoming week, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Eovaldi is likely to skip a rehab assignment, as he's instead been able to get stretched out through sim games. A precise date for his return hasn't been set yet, but the Rangers begin a three-game road series against the Orioles on Monday before returning to Texas on Friday for a three-game set versus the Mariners.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Crawford has been shut down from throwing after experiencing continued issues in his right wrist coming out of his bullpen session Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Crawford had been scheduled to throw his second bullpen session in less than a week Friday, but it ended up being cancelled due to ongoing soreness in his wrist. He will head back to Boston to undergo further testing before the Red Sox determine his next steps. In the meantime, Crawford will be shut down from throwing, and he doesn't look as though he'll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list until some point after the All-Star break.

Manager Alex Cora said that Hicks (toe) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and has "a good chance" of returning from the 15-day injured list next Friday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Before he was traded to the Red Sox on June 15, Hicks had been on the Giants' IL since June 3 due to right big toe inflammation. Given the relatively short time that he's been on the shelf, Hicks likely won't need more than an appearance or two to prove to the Red Sox that he's ready for activation. Hicks had opened the season in the San Francisco rotation before being moved to the bullpen in mid-May, and he'll continue to work in relief with his new organization.

Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Gil (lat) is on track to return in late July or early August, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

Gil threw live batting practice Saturday for the first time since sustaining a preseason lat injury, and Boone offered more insight into Gil's recovery timeline afterward. Boone said the Yankees are considering Gil the equivalent of a trade deadline acquisition, as the right-hander is expected to return near the July 31 deadline. Gil may throw live BP once or twice more before being sent off on a rehab assignment.

Crawford (knee/wrist) threw a bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

This was the second such session this week for Crawford, who's had multiple setbacks in attempting to go on a rehab assignment. It's unclear what the next steps are for the right-hander. The report estimates a return date in July or August.

Matthews (shoulder) started playing catch Friday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Matthews was diagnosed with a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder June 8 and was shut down from throwing for two weeks. He'll need to progress to throwing bullpen sessions before a clearer timeframe for his return comes into focus.

Lorenzen came away with a no-decision in Friday's 6-5 win over the Padres, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander left the mound after 89 pitches (60 strikes) with the Royals ahead 4-2, but Lucas Erceg coughed up the lead in the seventh inning to deny Lorenzen his fifth win. Lorenzen's control has been shaky of late, and he's issued multiple free passes in four of his last five starts, posting a brutal 7.20 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 19:12 K:BB in 25 innings over that span. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Rays.