MLB Player News

The Astros pulled Garcia (elbow) off his minor-league rehab assignment this week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Making his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Garcia made his first rehab start June 28 in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and his second July 4 with Double-A Corpus Christi. He didn't bounce back well from his start with Corpus Christi and hadn't throw a bullpen session since the outing, with the Astros having limited him to playing catch. While Garcia doesn't seem to be dealing with a major setback, he'll have to restart a 30-day rehab window once the team feels he's ready for game action. Clearly, a return from the 60-day injured list won't be in the forecast anytime soon for Garcia.

Kikuchi allowed seven runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings Sunday against the Diamondbacks. He did not factor into the decision.

Kikuchi had no trouble getting through four innings and went into the fifth with a 7-0 lead that quickly evaporated. Kikuchi loaded the bases after allowing an infield single and two walks before Ketel Marte took him deep. Kikuchi was left in the game and could not help his own cause. He allowed another walk and a base hit before punching out Christian Walker for the second out of the inning. From there, Kikuchi gave up another run-scoring single and then hit Jake McCarthy before he finally was pulled from the game. Both inherited runners went on to score before the frame concluded. The seven runs allowed were Kikuchi's most in a game this season and he now has not picked up a win since June 11. The lefty will head into the break with a 4.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 117:26 K:BB in 106 innings.

Stripling (elbow) made a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Las Vegas, allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk over three innings. He struck out one.

Stripling was originally slated to remain with Single-A Stockton for his second rehab start after a rocky start to his rehab assignment Tuesday, but those plans were apparently altered in recent days. The right-hander worked up to 56 pitches in Sunday's start, locating 37 of his offerings for strikes. The three runs charged to Stripling came off a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly, so he did a serviceable job of limiting hard contact. Stripling could make at least one more rehab start coming out of the All-Star break in order to further build up his pitch count before returning from the 15-day injured list.

Clevinger (elbow/neck) struck out three over four innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Charlotte, giving up one earned run on three hits and one walk.

Clevinger tossed 51 pitches (35 strikes) in his fourth rehab outing with Charlotte and his second since he resumed his assignment after he was briefly shut down with neck stiffness. The White Sox will reassess Clevinger on Monday before determining what's next for him. Considering that manager Pedro Grifol told MLB.com on Friday that the right-hander was "a ways away from taking the ball and going six innings," it's possible the White Sox will want Clevinger to increase his pitch count in one more rehab start with Charlotte before he returns from the 15-day injured list. Clevinger was initially placed on the shelf May 28 with right elbow inflammation.

Blackburn (foot) worked two-thirds of an inning in his rehab outing with Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout. He also hit a batter.

Blackburn's busy outing featured 23 pitches due to his subpar control, with the right-hander locating 14 of those offerings for strikes. He was originally slated to remain with Single-A Stockton for Sunday's rehab appearance after an even poorer outing that also lasted two-thirds of an inning Tuesday. However, that plan was apparently altered in recent days, and Blackburn may now remain with Las Vegas for the duration of his rehab assignment. Given how his first two minor-league appearances have unfolded, Blackburn will likely remain on the farm for at least another couple of outings before he's reinstated from the 60-day injured list.

Springs (elbow) covered 4.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Durham, giving up five runs (four earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out three batters.

After turning in a 3.12 ERA and 21:1 K:BB in 17.1 innings over his first six rehab starts with Durham, Springs took a step back Sunday from a performance standpoint. More importantly, however, Springs tossed 77 pitches (51 strikes) in the outing, so he looks to be stretched out enough to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation. The Rays have yet to offer an official word on the next step for the 31-year-old lefty as he nears the finish line in his recovery from his April 2023 Tommy John surgery, but fantasy managers in deeper leagues should be looking to stash Springs in anticipation of his return from the 60-day injured list shortly after the All-Star break. After moving into a full-time starting role with Tampa Bay beginning in May 2022, Springs delivered a 2.41 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 21.9 K-BB% over 138.1 innings before requiring elbow surgery.

Gilbert tossed seven scoreless innings Sunday against the Angels, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out nine. He did not factor into the decision.

Gilbert was magnificent once again and had another strong start wasted by the bullpen. Gilbert exited with a 2-0 lead that vanished in the eighth inning after two walks and a three-run homer by Jo Adell put the Angels in front for good. Sunday was the fifth time this season that Gilbert did not allow a run in a start and his nine strikeouts tied a season high. The 27-year-old will head into the break with a 2.79 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 124:25 K:BB in 132.1 innings. Since he pitched Sunday, Gilbert will not be available to throw in Tuesday's All-Star Game.

Dunning (shoulder) recorded no strikeouts and gave up one hit and no walks over two scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Double-A Frisco.

Dunning exited the contest after throwing just 18 pitches (13 strikes), but the Rangers had been targeting him for around 35 pitches heading into the rehab outing, per MLB.com. Despite not striking out a batter, Dunning was efficient during his brief time on the mound, with the lone hit he allowed being an infield single. He may have been able to build up his pitch count through a bullpen session after he exited the contest, and assuming he avoided any setbacks with the right shoulder in the rehab start, he's expected to be ready to return from the 15-day injured list shortly after the All-Star break, per Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com. Dunning has made 12 of his 15 appearances this season as a starter, but he's in line to serve as a multi-inning reliever upon coming off the IL.

Maeda came out of the bullpen and threw 3.2 shutout frames during Detroit's walk-off win over the Dodgers. He allowed one hit and struck out five batters.

For the first time this season, Maeda worked a bulk-relief role and the results looked great. He threw 34 of 55 pitches for strikes and generated 11 whiffs. He was crushed for 15 runs in just 6.1 innings over his previous two outings. Maeda will enter the second half without a clear role in Detroit. He's registered an unsightly 6.88 ERA and 55:23 K:BB through 69.1 frames.

Estes (4-4) earned the win Sunday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over six innings against the Phillies. He struck out five.

Estes began his start in an early hole after he allowed a one-out homer by Trea Turner in the first. However, the A's provided 10 runs prior to Estes being removed from the game, ultimately tallying 18 runs to allow the young righty to cruise to his fourth win. It was a nice bounce-back effort for Estes, who had allowed eight runs over just 1.2 innings during his previous start, which had come on the heels of his first complete-game shutout. Estes enters the All-Star break with a 5.29 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 49 strikeouts over 12 starts spanning 63 innings.