MLB Player News

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Wednesday that Clevinger (elbow) could return from the 15-day injured list for his next outing, even though he's not fully stretched out for a typical starter's workload, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Clevinger needed 61 pitches to cover 2.2 innings in his third rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, yielding two runs with a 5:1 K:BB in the process. Even though he doesn't appear ready for a full workload just yet, Clevinger could start for the White Sox as soon as Sunday, as long as he recovers well from Tuesday's outing. Clevinger has been out since late May with right elbow inflammation and more recently a stiff neck. He holds a 6.75 ERA in four starts with the big club this season.

Springs (elbow) completed four innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out two in a rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.

Springs worked four innings for the second consecutive rehab outing, though he struggled to get strikeouts at the same rate as his past appearances. Nevertheless, Springs remains on a positive trajectory and is projected to return to the Rays in late July.

The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Festa will serve as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against the White Sox and will be available, if needed, in long relief. The young right-hander had previously allowed 12 runs over 10 innings in two starts for Minnesota this season.

The White Sox recalled Eder from Double-A Birmingham on Wenesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Eder will serve as the 27th man in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Twins. If he makes an appearance out of the bullpen, it would be the left-hander's major-league debut. Eder has made 15 starts with Birmingham this season, posting a 5.09 ERA and 86:31 K:BB over 74.1 innings.

Bello (9-5) picked up the win in Tuesday's 12-9 victory over the A's, giving up five runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out a career-high 11.

The right-hander's line was looking much better through five innings, but Lawrence Butler helped chase Bello from the game in the sixth with a three-run homer. The 11 strikeouts topped his previous career high of 10, set Sept. 15, 2023 against the Blue Jays. Despite the surge in Ks, Bello has been tagged for four or more runs in five of seven trips to the mound since the beginning of June, stumbling to a 7.00 ERA. 1.89 WHIP and 38:17 K:BB in 36 innings over that stretch. He lines up for one more outing before the All-Star break in a home series against the Royals this weekend.

Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Giants. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 13 over 7.1 innings while not walking a batter.

Kikuchi set a new career high with 13 strikeouts in this one and notched his fifth career 10-strikeout game. Both runs against him came via the long ball. Heliot Ramos took him deep in the fourth and then Tyler Fitzgerald led off the eighth with a solo blast, which ended Kikuchi's night at 100 pitches. He was still in line for the win at that point with the Blue Jays leading 3-2, but that lead was eventually squandered in the ninth. Tuesday's outing certainly boosted Kikuchi's trade value if the Blue Jays end up selling at the deadline. However, he does have a 6.38 ERA and has given up eight homers over his last five starts. For the year, Kikuchi owns a 4.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:23 K:BB in 101.1 innings. He lines up for another start over the weekend against the Diamondbacks before the All-Star break.

Mahle (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday.

This was Mahle's second rehab start. The outing was originally reported to be for Triple-A Round Rock but was moved to Frisco. He threw 32 pitches (23 strikes), up from 19 pitches in Mahle's first rehab start. The right-hander will make a few more starts before returning to the majors.

The Rays plan to bring Rasmussen (elbow) back as a reliever this season, Evan Closky of 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reports.

Rasmussen had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last July. Between the Rays' rotation depth and the length of time it would take to build him back up as a starter, it makes sense that the righty is being viewed as a reliever in 2024. The plan will be to return Rasmussen to the rotation in 2025. Rasmussen is slated to throw a live batting practice session Saturday, with the goal to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break.

Estes (3-4) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and a walk over just 1.2 innings as the A's were downed 12-9 by the Red Sox. He struck out one.

Every Boston starting position player has at least one hit and one run by the end of the second inning, chasing Estes from the game in the process after 55 pitches (38 strikes). It was a hard crash back down to earth after he twirled a shutout against the Angels in his last start, but Tuesday's outing is more representative of the 22-year-old right-hander's level right now. Estes will carry a 5.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB through 57 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Philadelphia.

Gilbert (6-5) got the win Tuesday over the Padres, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over 7.2 innings.

All three runs against Gilbert came at the tail end of his outing. He allowed a solo home run to Jake Cronenworth in the seventh, and Kyle Higashioka added on with a two-run blast in the eighth to force Gilbert's exit from the game. Tuesday was just the third time this year he's allowed multiple home runs in a start, but also was the first time this season he's picked up a win while allowing more than one run. The 27-year-old recently was named an All-Star for the first time in his four-year career, and rightfully so, as he sports a 2.94 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 115:25 K:BB in 125.1 innings so far. He lines up for a Sunday start against the Angels this weekend before the league heads into the All-Star break.