MLB Player News

Rodriguez (back) will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list and start Friday against Minnesota, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After completing 5.1 strong innings on 78 pitches in his second rehab start last Saturday, Rodriguez will officially rejoin the big-league club on Friday and make his first appearance since June 14. This will wrap up the right-hander's second stint on the IL this season after missing over a month to start the year due to a shoulder injury. In six starts this season, the 26-year-old has posted an 8.06 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB through 25.2 innings.

Lopez will serve as the Athletics' opening pitcher for Friday's game against the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Lopez was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday and pitched in relief later that night, surrendering four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four over three innings in a loss to the Tigers. He'll pick up his 11th start of the season three days' later, but Lopez will most likely be capped around 1-to-3 innings before exiting the game. Friday had been Aaron Civale's turn in the rotation, so he's the most likely pitcher to work in bulk relief once Lopez exits the contest.

Sandoval took a no-decision Thursday against the White Sox, allowing one run on five hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

Making his season debut for the Red Sox, Sandoval fared well in what also was his first big-league appearance since 2024 following a lengthy recovery from internal brace surgery and several setbacks. The 29-year-old southpaw threw 41 of his 65 pitches for strikes, but he couldn't quite get through the fifth inning as his control began to wane. Connelly Early (elbow) and Ranger Suarez (groin) could both be back shortly after the All-Star break, which would likely force Sandoval into a bullpen role.

Kay (6-4) took the loss Thursday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

Kay got through three scoreless frames to begin the afternoon but fell apart a bit in the fourth inning, when he gave up both of his runs. Lack of control has been a recurring theme in the first half of the campaign for the 31-year-old left-hander amid his transition to the rotation, as he's issued multiple walks in 12 of his 19 outings while hitting at least one batter in 11 appearances. Through 89.1 frames, Kay has a middling 4.23 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 71:35 K:BB.

Ober took a no-decision Thursday against the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out five.

Sidelined since May 30 with a right flexor strain, Ober showed little to no signs of rust in his return to the major-league mound Thursday. The 30-year-old right-hander might have been able to last a bit longer had he been more stretched out -- he was pulled after tossing 74 pitches -- but it was still certainly his best showing since a May 12 shutout against the Marlins. Ober will look to have his workload restrictions loosened coming out of All-Star break, holding a 4.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 51:19 K:BB over 71.2 innings.

Williams (10-4) earned the win Thursday against the Twins, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out 11.

Williams emptied the tank Thursday, matching a season high with 103 pitches, though a Royce Lewis solo homer in the seventh inning put a slight damper on an otherwise dominant performance. A rough stretch since the start of June may have cost the 26-year-old right-hander his first All-Star appearance, but he still has four double-digit strikeout efforts under his belt to go with six starts of at least seven innings. Through 113.1 frames, Williams sports a 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 134:37 K:BB.

Rasmussen (7-5) took the loss Thursday against the Yankees, allowing six runs on seven hits and no walks in 2.1 innings. He struck out two.

The third inning was a disastrous one for Rasmussen, who managed just one out and was touched up for each of his season-worst six runs in the frame. The seven hits allowed matched a season high, and the 30-year-old right-hander came away with his shortest outing of the campaign, as well. Rasmussen, who has coughed up 11 runs in his two July starts after yielding only three across five June appearances, seems to be heading into the All-Star break at the right time, holding what's still a strong 3.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:17 K:BB over 99.1 innings.

Wacha (5-7) took the loss Thursday against the Mets, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

Wacha held the Mets to one run through his first four innings, but he'd unravel in the fifth, when New York would score five runs, including three with two outs. Wacha's performances have been up and down of late -- he's gone 1-5 with a 5.33 ERA in his last eight outings (49 innings). The right-hander figures to head into the All-Star break with a 3.77 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 96:34 K:BB across 19 starts (119.1 innings) this season.

The Athletics list Ginn (illness) as their scheduled starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.

Ginn had to be lifted from Tuesday's outing versus the Tigers due to illness, but it seems he is recovered and ready to take the ball this weekend for his final start of the first half. The right-hander has authored a 3.10 ERA and 86:43 K:BB over 98.2 innings covering 17 starts and three relief appearances for the Athletics this season.

Javier allowed a hit and two walks in a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 8-2 loss to the Nationals.

Javier was called upon for mop-up duty in the eighth inning Wednesday, as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder strain. The right-hander allowed a single and a walk to the first two batters he faced, though he'd ultimately make it through the inning unscathed. It's the first scoreless appearance of the season for Javier, who surrendered 13 runs across 9.1 innings prior to his IL stint, before giving up a run on two hits over two innings in relief against Tampa Bay in his return Sunday.