MLB Player News

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.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Astros, giving up two runs on six hits over seven innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The southpaw looked like he was headed for a disastrous outing when Jeremy Pena and Isaac Paredes launched back-to-back homers to lead off the game, but Kikuchi kept his focus and shut the door on Houston until exiting the mound after 103 pitches (69 strikes), including 33 called or swinging strikes. The quality start was his seventh of the season, and he'll take a 3.01 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 87:43 K:BB through 89.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Red Sox.

Rocker is slated to start Saturday's game against the Pirates at PNC Park.

The Rangers recalled Rocker from Triple-A Round Rock last weekend to make a start against the White Sox, and though he battled persistent cramping in his legs throughout the afternoon, he emerged from the outing with a win after striking out six batters over five shutout innings. With Nathan Eovaldi (triceps) and Tyler Mahle (shoulder) not yet ready to return from the injured list, Rocker will make his second turn through the rotation Saturday.

Brown came away with a no-decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Angels, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Brown nearly fell apart in the third inning -- the right-hander plunked Zach Neto with a pitch with one on, and after the two got into a shouting match that sparked both benches to empty, Brown walked Mike Trout to load the bases before escaping the jam by coaxing a grounder from Taylor Ward. A solo shot by Jo Adell in the fourth inning ended up accounting for the only damage off Brown, but the shaky third ran up his pitch count and he was lifted after 87 pitches (48 strikes). He's given up two runs or fewer in five straight outings, posting a 1.53 ERRA, 0.95 WHIP and 38:12 K:BB over 29.1 innings during that stretch. He'll look for his first win since June 1 in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Phillies.