MLB Player News

Williams (elbow) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on three hits and no walks over three-plus innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Columbus.

The Guardians seem to be building Williams up slowly as he works his way back from right elbow discomfort, an injury that first cropped up late in spring training after the 24-year-old hurt himself in a weighted-ball workout. Though Sunday's outing marked his third rehab outing, Williams was lifted after 50 pitches. He'll presumably need at least two more rehab starts to get stretched out to around 75 pitches, at which point the Guardians might be comfortable bringing him back from the 60-day injured list and inserting him into their rotation.

Lively returned to Cleveland on Monday to undergo further medical exams for an undisclosed injury, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

The injury presumably stems from Lively's most recent start in Miami on Saturday, when he was lifted from the game after throwing 65 pitches over five shutout innings. Per the Associated Press, manager Stephen Vogt said that Lively experienced some tightness after sitting for an extended period in the top of the fifth inning, when the Guardians erupted for six runs. Vogt didn't expound any further beyond that, but the fact that Lively temporarily left the Guardians to get examined more closely suggests that his early exit wasn't merely precautionary. The Guardians have off days Monday and Thursday and can get by with a shortened rotation for a bit if they choose, so Lively may not be in line to pitch during this weekend's series in Toronto even if he doesn't require a stay on the injured list. Lively has been a pleasant surprise for the Guardians and fantasy managers alike, as he's won each of his last five starts while ringing up a 2.54 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 28.1 innings.

Blackburn (foot) has shed his walking boot and is expected to begin a throwing program this week, MLB.com reports.

Although the right-hander remains without a timetable for return, this news is naturally encouraging. Blackburn isn't expected back before the All-Star break, considering he may need a full-length rehab assignment whenever he reaches that stage of his recovery.

Stripling (elbow) is set to begin a throwing program Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Stripling has been shut down from throwing since May 29, so this is certainly noteworthy news. The veteran right-hander will gradually up his throwing distance until he's deemed healthy enough to progress to throwing off a mound. Given the deliberate pace of his recovery, Stripling may not be a candidate for activation before the end of June.

Rodriguez (back) is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Buffalo, MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez is closing in on a return from the 15-day injured list after the Blue Jays deactivated him April 30 due to thoracic spine inflammation. The Blue Jays appear to be prepping for Rodriguez to take on a starting role upon his return from the IL -- or are at least keeping him available as a rotation option -- as MLB.com notes that the organization wants him to push his pitch count up to 75 before he's activated. In his most recent rehab start with Buffalo last Wednesday, Rodriguez tossed 43 pitches over three shutout innings, then tossed 15 more pitches in a bullpen session immediately upon leaving the game. If he's able to add around 15 more pitches to his workload Tuesday, Rodriguez could get the green light to rejoin the big club as soon as the upcoming weekend. Should the Blue Jays choose to include Rodriguez in their rotation, he would likely unseat Bowden Francis as the No. 5 starter, though even in that scenario, Toronto could deploy the two pitchers as a piggyback tandem like it did earlier in the season.

Sandoval did not factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Astros, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings.

Sandoval started out with two scoreless frames before the Astros manufactured three runs in the third on two walks and four hits. He then gave up a run-scoring double from Jose Abreu in the sixth before exiting the game for good. Abreu would end up scoring that inning as well. Sandoval just missed out on a third straight start of reaching six innings and the eight hits given up were his most since he allowed 11 on May 12. Walks also continue to be an issue for the left-hander, as he's allowed at least three walks in four of his last five starts. Sandoval now owns a 5.23 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 75:31 K:BB in 72.1 innings this year and lines up to take the mound again versus the Giants over the weekend.

Silseth (elbow) struck out seven over four scoreless innings while allowing three hits and no walks in his second rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Silseth has now turned in seven scoreless frames over his first two rehab outings in Arizona. Though Silseth has yet to walk a batter in either start, he hasn't exhibited pristine control, as he's uncorked two wild pitches and has hit two batters between those contests. More importantly, however, Silseth hasn't experienced any setbacks with his right elbow and has continued to increase his workload. He built up to 56 pitches Thursday and could reach the 70-pitch mark in his third rehab start, which will likely come Tuesday or Wednesday with a yet-to-be-determined affiliate. After he completes his next rehab start, Silseth could be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list and slot back into the Angels rotation.

Verlander did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Angels, allowing four runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three over five innings.

Verlander had another pedestrian outing against one of the weaker lineups in baseball. The positives were that he didn't allow a home run or walk a batter, though he did give up seven hits for a second straight start and isn't missing many bats, evidenced by his 2.9 swinging strike percentage Sunday. Verlander has just seven strikeouts over his last 10 innings, and this is after coming off of back-to-back nine-strikeout performances to end May. The 41-year-old will take a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB (57 innings) into his next start against the Tigers over the weekend.

Flaherty (back) is expected to make his next start during the Tigers' three-game series in Houston that begins Friday, MLB.com reports.

Flaherty was forced out of his most recent start against the Rangers this past Tuesday, when he tossed five scoreless innings before being lifted on account of back tightness. The right-hander downplayed his injury when he addressed the media after the game and said that he expected to make his next start in Tuesday's series opener versus the Nationals, but the Tigers have since elected to err on the side of caution and give Flaherty a few extra days to recover. Detroit will take advantage of Monday's off day to reshuffle the rotation, with Kenta Maeda, Reese Olson and Casey Mize picking up starts Tuesday through Thursday before Flaherty and ace Tarik Skubal start the first two games of the series in Houston in some order. Though Flaherty looks like he won't be operating under any restrictions against the Astros after playing catch Friday and throwing a bullpen session Sunday without issue, the change in the pitching order means that he'll miss out on a two-start week.

Macko could get promoted to Triple-A Buffalo in the near future, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 23-year-old southpaw, acquired from Seattle two offseasons ago, is having a strong campaign with Double-A New Hampshire thanks to improved control. He's found another gear over the last month, posting a 2.81 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 46:7 K:BB through his last six starts and 32 innings. Macko features a mid-90s fastball and a big curveball, but it's the development of his changeup and sweeper that will determine whether he can ultimately thrive in a big-league rotation.