MLB Player News

Sale (11-3) allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings to earn the win over the Giants on Wednesday.

Sale has allowed just one run in each of his last three starts, though he was unlucky to come away with just two wins in that span. His 11 wins rank first in the National League, and Sale is tied with Kansas City's Seth Lugo for the major-league lead. Sale is now at a 2.71 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 127:19 K:BB through 99.2 innings over 16 starts this season. The southpaw's next start is projected to be on the road in Arizona.

Hicks (4-5) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings, taking the loss versus Atlanta on Wednesday.

Hicks is winless in his last eight outings, going 0-4 with a 5.02 ERA in that span. He's walked multiple batters in six of those starts, though Wednesday was the fourth time in that span that he's avoided giving up a home run. Hicks is at a 3.47 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 82:35 K:BB through 90.2 innings over 18 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home against one of his former teams, the Blue Jays.

Jones was removed from his start Wednesday versus St. Louis due to a right lat strain, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Jones managed to get through five innings of one-run ball while striking out five batters and walking two before coming out of Wednesday's contest. The 22-year-old said after the game that he could have kept pitching if necessary, but the team opted for a cautious approach in order to prevent his injury from worsening. Pittsburgh will keep an eye on Jones' lat as his next start approaches, but the initial level of concern seems relatively low.

Manager Bud Black said Wednesday that Marquez (elbow) will make two more rehab starts with Double-A Hartford, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Marquez struggled heavily in his latest rehab outing at Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday, allowing four earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning and throwing just 33 pitches. The 29-year-old righty was originally slated for just one additional start after Friday, but his abbreviated appearance will cause the Rockies to add another game to his rehab stint, ruling him out for a return to Colorado before the All-Star break. Since restarting his assignment June 12, Marquez has allowed eight earned runs in 8.2 innings while striking out 13 batters and walking three.

The Diamondbacks recalled Mena from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.

Mena was in the Diamondbacks' clubhouse Tuesday, and manager Torey Lovullo noted that the right-hander, if officially called up, would deserve the opportunity to start Wednesday, per PHNX Diamondbacks. Mena was part of the package acquired by the Diamondbacks from the White Sox in the Dominic Fletcher trade in February. Mena has spent the entire year in Reno, and over his 16 minor-league starts, the 21-year-old is 3-2 with a 4.90 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 89:38 K:BB over 82.2 innings. He will make his major-league debut Wednesday on the road against the Dodgers.

Yamamoto is no longer feeling pain in his right shoulder, but he hasn't yet started throwing, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Yamamoto was diagnosed with a right rotator cuff strain two days after being able to complete only two innings in his most recent start June 15. While the rookie right-hander is now pain-free, he isn't yet throwing, and manager Dave Roberts indicated that there's no clear timeframe for when the hurler will pick up a ball again. The organization figures to be cautious with Yamamoto, and he almost certainly won't return to action until after the All-Star break.

Kershaw (shoulder) is expected to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw was shut down from throwing last week after feeling soreness in his left shoulder following a rehab start June 19, but a subsequent MRI didn't reveal any damage, and he returned to throwing Tuesday. If his bullpen Wednesday goes well, the left-hander could resume his rehab assignment in short order. The shutdown isn't expected to make much of an impact on Kershaw's overall timeline to return to the Dodgers, though that isn't likely to happen until after the All-Star break.

The Marlins optioned Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Bellozo made two starts for the Marlins, permitting five runs with a 10:1 K:BB over 10 innings of work. His turn in the rotation will come up Sunday and it's not clear at this point who Miami intends to use to fill that slot.

Blach gave up one earned run on three hits and one walk while striking out a batter out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers.

Blach made his second relief appearance since losing his spot in the rotation when the Rockies welcomed Kyle Freeland back from the injured list June 23. Over his nine starts with Colorado, Blach turned in a 5.83 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 46.1 innings.

Lopez will start on regular rest Sunday versus the Phillies for just the second time this season, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lopez struggled in his last start Tuesday versus the Giants, allowing just two runs but walking four over five inefficient innings. Atlanta has baked in extra rest for Lopez whenever it can during the first half as the right-hander shifts from reliever to starter, but he'll take the ball on normal rest against the division-rival Phillies this weekend. With 79.1 innings in 2024, Lopez has already exceeded his workload from each of the previous two seasons.