MLB Player News

Manager Matt Quatraro said Sunday that Lorenzen (hamstring) is expected to make a rehab start Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The Royals haven't specified which minor-league affiliate Lorenzen will report to for the rehab assignment. He's recovering from a Grade 2 left hamstring strain sustained in late August, so Lorenzen may need just one rehab outing to get back up to speed, though a clearer timeline for his return from the 15-day injured list will likely emerge once he's completed the start.

Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and will start Sunday against the Marlins.

Johnson will make his MLB debut Sunday in Miami, and a strong showing could give him a longer look as Philadelphia's No. 5 starter down the stretch. The 26-year-old was acquired from the Orioles ahead of the summer trade deadline and was dominant in three outings for Lehigh Valley with a 0.56 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 13:6 K:BB across 16 innings.

The Rockies designated Blach for assignment Sunday.

Blach was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque on Sept. 1 after Cal Quantrill (tricep) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Blach took the loss in both of his starts since his call-up, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits and two walks while striking out two over 7.2 innings. Blach was serving as a placeholder in the Rockies' rotation, and with Antonio Senzatela (elbow) nearing his return from the 60-day IL, there doesn't appear to be any room on the 40-man roster for the former. Right-hander Victor Vodnik (biceps) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.

Williams (3-8) took the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing five runs on two hits and three walks over two-thirds of an inning. He did not record a strikeout.

Williams had a start he'd like to forget Saturday, issuing three consecutive walks with one out in the first inning before then surrendering a ground-rule double along with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to put Cleveland in an early hole. The right-hander did not make it through the frame and would end up being charged with a fifth run after being relieved by Pedro Avila. It easily marked Williams' shortest outing of the campaign and came after he hurled seven innings of one-run ball in his previous start, while it also marked his first start in which he failed to record a strikeout. Furthermore, Williams has now lost four of his last five starts, issuing multiple free passes in each of those outings.

Nola (12-7) took the loss Saturday, giving up five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks over 4.2 innings as the Phillies fell 9-5 to the Marlins. He struck out five.

A two-run homer by Connor Norby in the first inning and a solo shot by Jonah Bride in the fifth bookended Nola's shortest outing since June 13. The veteran right-hander has only one win in 10 starts since the All-Star break, posting a 3.45 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 51:18 K:BB through 57.1 innings over that stretch, and the 31-year-old could be running out of steam as the regular season draws to a close. Nola will try to get back in the win column in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Mets.

Kikuchi (8-9) picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits over six innings in an 11-5 victory over the Diamondbacks. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The lefty served up solo homers to Kevin Newman in the fourth inning and Eugenio Suarez in the sixth, but Kikuchi got more than enough run support to cover for his lapses. He has yet to be tagged with a loss since being traded to the Astros, going 4-0 in seven starts for his new club with a 3.07 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 53:10 K:BB through 41 innings. Kikuchi will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend against the Angels.

Rodriguez (2-2) took the loss Saturday as the Diamondbacks were downed 11-5 by the Astros, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out one.

The southpaw threw just 49 of his 88 pitches for strikes, and Houston batters got plenty of wood on the ones Rodriguez did get over the plate. The 31-year-old hasn't provided the boost to the Arizona rotation that the team was hoping for since he came off the IL in early August -- over six starts and 29.1 innings this season, he's stumbled to a 5.83 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB. Rodriguez will look to turn things around in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Brewers.

Cease (12-11) took the loss against the Giants on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out four.

Cease allowed at least one hit in each of his first four innings on the mound, including a three-run shot off the bat of Grant McCray in the top of the second as the Giants took an early lead. The right-hander also failed to retire each of the first three batters he faced in the fourth, leading to a fourth run coming home for San Francisco. Cease did still manage to make it through six innings for only the second time in his last eight starts (with one of those eight starts being shortened due to a rain delay), though he's now surrendered multiple free passes in three straight. It also marked his third loss in his last four decisions (spanning six starts).

Quintana (8-9) picked up the win Saturday, allowing five hits and two walks over 6.2 scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over Cincinnati. He struck out six.

The veteran southpaw delivered his 10th quality start of the season on exactly 100 pitches (60 strikes), while the win was the 100th of Quintana's career. He's bounced back from a rough stretch in August to post a 0.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB over his last three starts and 18 innings, and he's got a shot at his first season with double-digit wins since 2019. Quintana is scheduled to make his next trip to the mound on the road next weekend in Philadelphia.

The Rays placed Springs on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to left elbow fatigue.

The left-hander lined up to take the mound early this week in Philadelphia, but he'll instead head to the IL due to the elbow issue. Springs will be eligible to return from the injured list in late September, potentially in time for a couple starts, but there's a real chance he won't return with the Rays six games back of the final wild-card spot. If he is done for the season, the 31-year-old will close the campaign with a 3.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB across 33 innings (seven starts).