MLB Player News

The Padres released McKenzie on Saturday.

McKenzie looked like one of the more promising young starting pitchers in the majors after submitting a 2.96 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 191.1 regular-season innings with the Guardians in 2022, but he's never come close to recapturing that form after his 2023 season was derailed by a shoulder strain and partially torn UCL. After electing free agency following the 2025 season, McKenzie joined the Padres on a minor-league deal over the winter but showed no ability to harness his stuff during his time at Triple-A El Paso. The Padres opted to part ways with the 28-year-old righty after he submitted a 15.98 ERA, 3.85 WHIP and 22:40 K:BB in 16.1 innings over 14 appearances in the Pacific Coast League.

May will be held to around 65 pitches during Monday's start against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

May made a quick recovery from a right ankle injury that forced him from last Thursday's start in Atlanta. However, the right-hander will be pitching on three days' rest Monday, and he has not thrown more than 44 pitches in a start in three weeks. The Cardinals will be cautious with May versus the Brewers, but assuming he comes out of Monday's outing with no setbacks, May should be ready for a normal workload this weekend against Atlanta.

Cavalli acknowledged after Sunday's 11-5 loss to the Pirates that he dealt with dehydration during his start, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal reports. "It was a weird thing," Cavalli said. "I knew it was going to be hot. These last two or three days, I've been trying to prepare my body as best I can for it. Drinking a lot of fluids, the right kind of fluids. I don't know why my body reacted the way it did to it."

After turning in a 13-strikeout gem over seven innings in a win over the Red Sox on Tuesday, Cavalli was unable to maintain that dominant form in his second start of the week. The high temperatures in Washington, D.C. appeared to take an early toll on Cavalli, who saw his fastball velocity drop from 97.6 mph in the first inning to 96.1 mph in the second inning and 94.2 mph in the third. Cavalli was able to stay in the game after a visit on the mound from manager Blake Butera and a team trainer, but he was pulled after walking the next batter he faced. The right-hander ended up taking a no-decision, finishing the afternoon with four runs allowed (three earned) on six hits and two walks across 2.1 innings and 63 pitches. While Cavalli should be rehydrated and ready to go when his turn in the rotation comes up again during next weekend's series against the Yankees, he's still awaiting the results of his appeal of the seven-game suspension he received last week for his role in the benches-clearing incident that took place during his start against Boston. If the appeal process is completed within the next few days and the ban is upheld, Cavalli wouldn't pitch again until after the All-Star break.

Oviedo (elbow) began a throwing program in mid-June but isn't considered close to a return from the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.

Oviedo has been on the shelf since April 3 after sustaining a right flexor strain during a long-relief appearance in his season and Red Sox debut March 30 in Houston. The Red Sox haven't revealed where Oviedo currently stands in his throwing program, but until he's cleared to begin a rehab assignment, a target date for his return from the 60-day injured list won't be available.

The Red Sox announced June 25 that Houck (elbow) has started light throwing off a mound, MLB.com reports.

The activity represents a step forward in a lengthy recovery process for Houck, who had previously been limited to playing catch off flat ground in his rehab for the UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair surgery he underwent Aug. 18, 2025. Houck is hopeful to pitch at some point for the Red Sox in 2026, though he likely won't have enough time to get stretched out for a starting role and will presumably work out of the bullpen if he ends up getting activated from the 60-day injured list.

Atlanta recalled Ritchie from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

One day after being optioned to Triple-A, Ritchie will rejoin Atlanta after Martin Perez exited his start in Sunday's loss to the Mets due to a forearm contusion and was moved to the 15-day injured list. Though the loss of Perez creates a need for a fifth starter, Bryce Elder is expected to slot back into the rotation during the upcoming week after having his previous turn skipped. As such, Ritchie will serve as a multi-inning option out of the Atlanta bullpen for the team's final seven games before the All-Star break, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

Atlanta placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a left forearm contusion.

Perez exited his start in Sunday's loss to the Mets after being struck in the pitching arm by a line drive. An X-ray and CT scan cleared Perez of any broken bones, but the southpaw will receive at least a couple weeks of down time to overcome soreness.

Atlanta selected Murphy's contract from Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

The 22-year-old Murphy has made 16 starts this season between Double-A Columbus and Gwinnett, registering a 4.44 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 92:38 K:BB over 81 innings. Murphy has never made a relief appearance in professional ball, but Atlanta is expected to deploy him as a long man out of the bullpen to begin his time in the majors, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

The Red Sox announced June 29 that Crawford (forearm) has been throwing plyometric balls during workouts at the team's spring training facility in Florida, MLB.com reports.

Crawford was expected to be in store for an abbreviated stint on the shelf to begin the season while completing his recovery from the wrist surgery he underwent last July, but he experienced forearm tightness coming out of his lone rehab start April 11 with Triple-A Worcester and has struggled to bounce back. While the fact that he's not shut down from activity entirely is promising, Crawford will still need to complete an extended throwing progression followed by a lengthy rehab assignment before he factors into the Red Sox's pitching plans. Given the multiple hurdles he still needs to clear, Crawford is unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list until August or September.

Rodon (elbow) is not expected to be ready to rejoin the Yankees' rotation until around mid-August, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports.

Rodon landed on the 15-day injured list this past Friday with a left elbow injury. While the hurler's UCL is uncompromised, he is dealing with significant inflammation that's likely to keep him shelved for at least 4-to-6 weeks. The southpaw got a late start to the season while recovering from offseason elbow surgery, so the Yankees undoubtedly will tread lightly here. Rodon has turned in a 3.30 ERA and 52:26 K:BB over 46.1 innings covering nine starts for the Yankees this season.