MLB Player News

The Tigers promoted Melton from Double-A Erie to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

After turning in a 5.10 ERA and giving up 19 home runs in 23 starts at Double-A in 2024, Melton showed stark improvement in keeping the ball in the yard upon returning to Erie to begin the 2025 season. He yielded just one home run in 39 innings over his 10 starts, allowing him to bring his ERA down to 3.23 this season despite his 20.7 K-BB% being right in line with his 2024 rate. Melton will look to replicate that success against International League hitters and could be in the mix for a late-season call-up to the Detroit rotation if the Tigers' pitching staff is hit hard by injuries.

The Twins are expected to recall Festa from Triple-A St. Paul to start Thursday's game against the Athletics, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Previous reports indicated Festa would join the big club for this weekend's series against Toronto as a replacement for Pablo Lopez (shoulder), but he will instead start Thursday while the rest of the rotation gets some extra rest. Festa missed a couple weeks of action in May with right arm fatigue, but he's yielded only one run with a 12:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings since returning. The righty holds a 1.38 ERA and 15:5 K:BB across 13 frames this season in the majors. With Lopez set to miss 8-to-12 weeks, Festa could remain in the Minnesota rotation indefinitely.

Springs worked 6.2 innings in bulk relief Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in a no-decision.

Justin Sterner opened the game for the Athletics and gave up one run in one inning, and he was ultimately tagged with the loss. Springs handled a starter's workload with 106 pitches (68 strikes) after entering in the second, and he got through three scoreless frames before serving up a two-run homer to Harrison Bader in the fifth. This was by no means Springs' finest outing, but he did notch his second-highest strikeout total of the season and bounced back reasonably well after yielding six runs over two innings during his previous start. It's not clear if the lefty will continue to work behind an opener or return to a traditional starting role, but regardless he's next lined up to take the mound on the road against the Angels.

Matthews (1-1) earned the win over the Athletics on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Matthews held the A's scoreless until allowing a run in the fifth inning. Despite that tally, the right-hander emerged with his first win this season and just the second of his big-league career. Matthews didn't miss many bats Wednesday, notching a modest seven whiffs and finishing with a season-low four punchouts, but this was the first time through four starts this year that he's given up less than two runs and the second time he's completed five frames. Matthews appears to be becoming more entrenched in Minnesota's rotation, especially with Pablo Lopez (shoulder) facing an extended absence. Matthews' next start is lined up to be home matchup against a woeful Texas offense that has scored the fourth-fewest runs in the league so far.

Gilbert (elbow) gave up two earned runs on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts in three innings during Wednesday's rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Working his way back from a right elbow flexor strain, Gilbert was able to get up to 60 pitches in his second minor-league outing. The Mariners have not yet determined whether the right-hander will need another rehab appearance before rejoining the rotation, but a return early next week in Arizona against the Diamondbacks remains a possibility. Once Gilbert is ready to be activated from the injured list, Emerson Hancock stands out as the most likely candidate to be optioned to the minors to make room on the roster.

Vasil didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Detroit, allowing two hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 scoreless innings.

Vasil followed opener Jared Shuster, who allowed four runs in his lone inning of work, and steadied the ship for the White Sox. The outing marked Vasil's third consecutive scoreless appearance, each of which lasted at least three innings. The 25-year-old rookie has been great to start 2025, owning a 1.89 ERA across 37 innings, though he could improve upon his 27:21 K:BB.

Gipson-Long didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.

Gipson-Long made his first MLB start since 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024 and a hip operation last July. He worked up to 53 pitches during his rehab assignment and stretched out to 70 pitches Wednesday. Still, there was some lingering rust for Gipson-Long, and he got tagged for three runs. While it's encouraging to see Gipson-Long back in action, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to stick around the rotation long term, as he'll likely be the first to get bumped from the rotation once Jackson Jobe (elbow) or Reese Olson (finger) returns. Gipson-Long's next start is expected to come early next week against the Orioles.

Povich didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Povich failed to complete six innings for a fourth consecutive start. However, the left-hander bounced back from a poor outing last time out against the Cardinals and didn't allow a long ball for the second time in his past six starts. On the year, Povich owns a 5.11 ERA and a 58:21 K:BB over 56.1 innings. He is tentatively scheduled to face the Tigers next time out.

Hancock didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Baltimore, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Hancock blanked the Orioles through five innings before Adley Rutschman broke the stalemate with a solo homer in the sixth frame. Aside from a rough start May 12 against the Yankees, Hancock has been excellent lately. Outside of that game in which he gave up seven runs, Hancock owns a 2.93 ERA across 27.2 innings since the start of May. With Logan Gilbert (elbow) on the mend, Hancock's time in the Mariners' rotation could be coming to a close.

Lopez was diagnosed Wednesday with a Grade 2 teres major strain in his right shoulder and is expected to be out for approximately 8-to-12 weeks, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Lopez reported tightness in his right shoulder during his start Tuesday against the Athletics and requested to come out of the game after throwing a few warmup pitches prior to the sixth inning. After being sent in for further testing, Lopez has now been determined to have suffered a moderate-grade strain that will keep him out for at least two months. The Twins haven't yet announced a replacement for Lopez in their starting rotation, though David Festa looks to be a leading candidate to come up from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the void.