MLB Player News

The Mets placed Blackburn on the 15-day injured list Thursday, retroactive to Monday, due to a right shoulder impingement.

Blackburn wasn't able to make it past the first inning of his last start -- partially because he had to sit for 89 minutes during a rain delay before coming out for the second frame, during which he allowed three runs on five consecutive hits. He also seems to have also come away from that outing with a shoulder injury, which will cause him to remain on the injured list through the All-Star break. He'll be joined on the IL by Dedniel Nunez (elbow), and the Mets will bring up Justin Hagenman and Rico Garcia to fill the openings on their pitching staff.

Manaea (elbow/oblique) allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out three batters over three innings in his rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Binghamton.

Manaea made the fifth start of his rehab assignment Wednesday and his first since June 19, after he was shut down for a brief spell when he required a cortisone shot to address a loose body in his elbow. The veteran southpaw had gotten stretched out to 5.1 innings and 62 pitches in his prior appearance at Triple-A Syracuse, and while he was less efficient Wednesday, he essentially replicated that workload by throwing 60 pitches (39 strikes). The Mets haven't provided official word on Manaea's next steps, but manager Carlos Mendoza said earlier this week that the 33-year-old lefty will most likely make another start in the minors next Tuesday before he's considered for a return from the 60-day injured list, per Ezra Lombardi of SI.com. With that in mind, Manaea doesn't appear on track to slot into the New York rotation any earlier than July 13 in Kansas City, which is the team's final game before the All-Star break.

Sanchez (7-2) picked up the win in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Padres, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The southpaw continued to dazzle, as he delivered his sixth straight quality start on 85 pitches (60 strikes). Sanchez has gotten sharper over the course of the streak, not allowing a walk or a homer in any of his last four outings, and since the beginning of May he's posted a 2.34 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 69:17 K:BB through 69.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in San Francisco.

Cease (3-8) took the loss in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Phillies, giving up four runs on eight hits over six innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

Homers by Max Kepler in the fourth inning and Brandon Marsh in the fifth accounted for most of the damage off Cease. It was the first time this season the right-hander didn't issue any free passes, but the third time he served up multiple long balls, including each of his last two starts. Cease will take a 4.62 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 121:36 K:BB through 97.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come early next week against the Diamondbacks.

Gomber took a no-decision Wednesday against the Astros, giving up two runs on eight hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out one.

Gomber was able to maneuver through some trouble, holding Houston in check for two runs despite allowing eight knocks. The left-hander has yet to work greater than five innings in any of his four starts this season, and he's fanned only two over his last three outings. Gomber's nine-run implosion from his June 20 start has left him with a bloated 5.49 ERA and 1.53 WHIP through his first 19.2 innings, and he doesn't shape up as a recommended fantasy option against the Red Sox at Fenway Park in his next scheduled start.

Imanaga (5-2) recorded the win Wednesday against the Guardians, giving up three runs on four hits and no walks in 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

Imanaga ran into trouble early, serving up back-to-back solo jacks in the second inning and another homer in the third, but he was able to settle down a bit thereafter. The left-hander was pulled after throwing 81 pitches in his second start following almost two months on the injured list with a hamstring injury, but he did toss at least five frames in his ninth consecutive outing. Imanaga will look to further extend his pitch count in his next scheduled appearance against the Twins in Minnesota. He sports a 2.78 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 41:15 K:BB through 55 innings for the campaign.

Roupp didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Arizona, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks over four-plus innings. He struck out four.

Roupp held the Diamondbacks scoreless through four innings, but he was promptly pulled before logging an out in the fifth frame. He yielded a leadoff homer, back-to-back walks and then a single, leaving the bases loaded for Erik Miller. Roupp has been excellent since being tagged for six runs across 1.2 innings during a June 14 start against the Dodgers, boasting a 1.17 ERA and a 15:9 K:BB in 15.1 innings across three starts since. He's scheduled to face the Phillies next time out.

Kelly didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against San Francisco, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over six innings.

Kelly got off to a rough start, allowing a solo homer, a triple and a walk as part of a two-run first inning for the Giants. While he settled in afterward and logged his fourth quality start in six outings, he notched his fewest strikeouts since May 2 and snapped a streak of five straight starts with at least seven Ks. On the year, Kelly owns a 3.55 ERA across 104 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to make his next start in San Diego.

Kershaw didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts over six innings.

Kershaw became the 20th player in MLB history to record 3,000 career strikeouts, and he did so in dramatic fashion. The 37-year-old labored through five innings, yielding four runs and throwing 92 pitches with merely two strikeouts, but he still came out for the sixth frame. Kershaw retired Mike Tauchman to start the inning before allowing a double to Michael Taylor. Taylor was caught stealing third base, setting up an inning-ending strikeout of Vinny Capra for Kershaw to etch his name in the history books. While he couldn't continue his four-start win streak, Kershaw maintained his lossless 2025 campaign since the Dodgers rallied for the walk-off win. In his last five appearances, Kershaw has a 2.48 ERA and a 24:5 K:BB across 29 innings. He's on track to face the Brewers for his next start.

Fuentes did not factor into Wednesday's decision against the Angels, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six across 3.2 innings.

Fuentes put Atlanta behind early, as he yielded a two-run single to Jo Adell in the first. Fuentes kept the Halos off the board for the rest of his outing, and he managed to generate 10 whiffs and log a season-high six punchouts while pushing his pitch count up to 92 pitches (52 strikes). Fuentes has not made it through four innings in each of his last two outings and has given up 12 runs over his first 12 big-league innings. He's adjusting to major-league hitting, but his call-up from Triple-A Gwinnett was out of necessity with four Atlanta starters on the injured list, most recently Chris Sale (ribs) and Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow). Fuentes is lined up to make his next start on the road against the Athletics next week.