MLB Player News

Matthews (foot) is slated to start Friday's game against the Angels at Target Field.

Matthews was forced out of his previous start last Saturday against the Yankees due to a right foot laceration, but he was apparently able to make it though his bullpen session earlier this week without incident and won't have to miss a turn through the rotation. Since tying a season high by allowing seven earned runs in a June 11 outing versus the Tigers, Matthews has enjoyed a strong run of form over his subsequent four starts, posting a 3.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB in 24.2 innings.

The Red Sox placed Suarez on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left groin strain.

Suarez exited his previous start Sunday against the Angels due to what the Red Sox referred to as left adductor tightness, but a subsequent MRI revealed a groin strain, which will keep the southpaw out through the All-Star break and prevent him from pitching in the Midsummer Classic. Suarez earned his second All-Star nod after compiling a 3.15 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 97:26 K:BB across 91.1 innings in his first season with Boston. His turn in the rotation had been set to come up Saturday at Citi Field, and the Red Sox are now likely to call up Brayan Bello from Triple-A Worcester to either start or pitch in bulk relief in that game against the Mets.

The Twins placed Prielipp on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a blister on his left middle finger.

Prielipp started Wednesday's game against the Guardians but didn't factor into the decision in the 6-5 win after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts across five innings. The rookie has submitted a 5.00 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 71:25 K:BB across 66.2 innings this season, though a 3.98 SIERA paints a rosier picture for his performance. As a result of his move to the IL, he won't be eligible to rejoin the Minnesota rotation until July 24.

The Twins activated Ober (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Ober has been sidelined since May 30 with a right flexor strain, but he'll take the mound Thursday against Cleveland after making a pair of rehab starts. The right-hander is 6-3 with a 4.59 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 46:18 K:BB across 66.2 innings this season.

Stephen (elbow) underwent surgery to repair his UCL on Monday and will be sidelined 10-to-12 months, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

As opposed to a UCL reconstruction, the repair comes with a slightly shorter recovery timeline. Stephen is obviously done for the 2026 season and likely won't see any game action until some point in the first half of the 2027 campaign. The 23-year-old was a second-round pick by the Blue Jays in 2024 and was acquired in the Shane Bieber deal last summer. Across 12 starts with Double-A Akron this season, Stephen pitched to a 3.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 49:23 K:BB across 55 innings.

Rodon (elbow) will play catch Thursday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

It will be the first time Rodon has done any throwing since he landed on the 15-day injured list Friday with left elbow inflammation. The Yankees will ease Rodon back into a throwing progression and do not expect the southpaw back until at least early-to mid-August.

Melton (5-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-1 victory over the A's, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out nine.

The nine Ks were a career high for Melton, who fired 62 of 91 pitches for strikes and racked up 15 swinging strikes while topping out at 98.7 mph with his fastball. The 25-year-old right-hander has given up one run or fewer in four straight starts since dealing with some back tightness in June, producing a 0.76 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB through 23.2 innings during that impressive stretch. Justin Verlander (hamstring) and Jackson Jobe (elbow) could both return from the IL in early August, but it's hard to imagine Melton losing his spot in the rotation if he continues dealing.

Springs (3-9) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up six runs on six hits and four walks over 4.1 innings as the A's were downed 6-1 by the Tigers. He struck out four.

Homers by Jake Rogers in the second inning and Spencer Torkelson in the fifth accounted for most of the damage off Springs, who got the hook after 92 pitches (49 strikes). The southpaw has been tagged for five or more runs in five of his last six starts, sending his ERA soaring from 4.37 to 6.08. The A's remain on the fringes of the playoff picture, both in the AL West and the wild-card race, but they might have to make some major rotation upgrades at the trade deadline if they're going to make any kind of serious push.

Kremer (1-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Orioles fell 9-7 to the Cubs, giving up four runs -- all on solo home runs -- on six total hits and one walk over five innings. He struck out four.

Pete Crow-Armstrong took Kremer deep twice, while Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly also went back-to-back in the fifth inning. Kremer left the mound after 92 pitches (55 strikes), and while his 24:9 K:B through 22 innings on the season is encouraging, the right-hander has also served up nine homers in his four big-league starts, leading to a 4.09 ERA despite a 1.00 WHIP. However, as long as he can stay healthy, Kremer seems locked into a rotation spot on the other side of the All-Star break, barring some major trade acquisitions by the O's.

Scherzer (back) was charged with five runs (four earned) on six hits and no walks over four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday. He struck out five.

It wasn't a great outing from a run-prevention standpoint, but Scherzer picked up 16 whiffs on his 72 pitches, which is encouraging. He averaged 93.4 mph with his four-seamer, which is slightly up from what he's averaged during his time with the Blue Jays this season. Scherzer will pitch in the Florida Complex League on Tuesday and could be back in the majors following the All-Star break, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca. Scherzer has a 10.23 ERA in six starts with the big club in 2026.