MLB Player News

Rea (6-2) yielded three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out six and earning a win over the Reds.

Rea allowed a run in each of the first, third and fourth innings Sunday but limited the damage enough to deliver his second straight quality start. He forced nine swinging strikes, his best total since generating 11 against the Pirates on May 13. The 33-year-old righty has been very consistent over his last five starts, posting a 1.93 ERA with a 19:7 K:BB through 28 frames. Rea lowered his season ERA to 3.29 through 76.2 innings. His next start is lined up to be in San Diego.

Gilbert (4-4) earned the win Sunday, allowing two hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over eight scoreless innings against Texas.

Gilbert generated 21 whiffs Sunday, punching out eight batters for the fourth time this season while blanking the Rangers. The 27-year-old has now gone deeper than six innings in three straight starts and has walked merely one batter across his last 33.2 innings. He's tied with Corbin Burnes and Tanner Houck for the league lead with 12 quality starts and paces MLB with 98.1 innings pitched. Gilbert is lined up for a start in pitcher-friendly LoanDepot Park next weekend.

Silseth (elbow) struck out four and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Salt Lake.

Making the fourth start of his rehab assignment and his second in a row with Salt Lake, Silseth built up to 78 pitches. Though he threw only 47 strikes, issued three free passes and uncorked one wild pitch, Silseth's outing still represented a step forward from his last rehab start Tuesday, when he walked five over 2.2 innings. According to MLB.com, Angels manager Ron Washington said that Silseth could return from the 60-day injured list to make his next appearance with the big club, though a decision on that front will depend on how the right-hander feels physically coming out of the Triple-A start.

Eflin did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against Atlanta. He struck out seven.

Eflin entered the sixth inning with a four-run lead, but after retiring the first two batters in the frame, he allowed four consecutive singles and was removed one out shy of completing six full innings. The seven strikeouts marked a season high for Eflin, who had failed to record more than three strikeouts during any of his previous five starts. He'll carry a 4.12 ERA and 1.17 WHIP into his next start, currently slated to take place over the weekend when the Rays travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates.

Burnes (8-2) earned the victory Sunday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Phillies. He struck out seven.

Burnes matched a season high by allowing nine baserunners, but it didn't matter as he limited the damage, allowing only two runs over six innings as the Orioles provided him with eight runs of support. Burnes has still yet to allow more than three earned runs in any start this season, and he's allowed two or fewer runs 12 times in 15 games. He also notched his 10th consecutive quality start Sunday. Burnes will carry a 2.14 ERA and 1.04 WHIP into his next start, currently scheduled to take place when the Orioles travel to Houston to take on the Astros next weekend.

Kremer (tricep) struck out three and allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk over 3.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk.

Kremer spotted 37 of his 59 pitches in the rehab outing, his first since he was placed on the 15-day injured list May 21 with a right tricep strain. The Orioles haven't decided on Kremer's next step, but since teams typically want rehabbing starters to hit the 70-to-75-pitch mark prior to being activated, the right-hander could be in line for one more start with Norfolk or another affiliate during the upcoming week.

Wheeler (8-4) suffered the loss Sunday, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Orioles. He struck out four.

It was a long day for Wheeler, who allowed four homers after having previously allowed only six long balls over his first 14 starts this season. The eight earned runs allowed matched a career high for Wheeler, who hadn't given up that many in a start since 2018. Sunday's poor effort raised his ERA from 2.16 to 2.84. Wheeler had won his previous eight decisions prior to Sunday's loss, which dropped him to 8-4 on the season. He'll look to get back on track during his next start, currently slated to take place next weekend when the Diamondbacks come to Philly for a rematch of last season's NLCS.

Kershaw (shoulder) will begin his rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw came out well from a series of recent simulated games and is now set to take the final step toward a return from offseason shoulder surgery. The left-hander is said to be ahead of progress in his recovery, though he'll almost certainly need several rehab outings before he's ready to come off the 60-day injured list and make his season debut for the big club. Kershaw remains in line to return around the All-Star break.

Taillon (3-3) suffered the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Cardinals. He struck out three.

Taillon scattered baserunners throughout, completing only a single 1-2-3 inning, but was able to limit the damage with the only runs coming on a second-inning two-run homer by Pedro Pages. However, Taillon was given no run support and left the game after six still facing that same two-run deficit. It was the second consecutive quality start for Taillon, who has allowed just two runs in 12 innings over those two starts after having allowed 14 runs over 21.1 innings in his previous four. He'll look to keep things rolling the next time he toes the rubber, which is likely to be next weekend when the Mets roll into the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Verlander (neck) could pitch either Wednesday or Thursday against the White Sox in Houston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Espada suggested earlier in the day that Verlander could rejoin the rotation for the Chicago series, and Brown's comments help further narrow down a potential return date for the 41-year-old righty. Verlander was unable to make his scheduled start Saturday versus the Tigers after experiencing neck discomfort during his bullpen session Wednesday, prompting the Astros to push both Spencer Arrighetti and Ronel Blanco ahead in the pitching schedule. The extra rest appears to have done Verlander some good, as he was able to play catch prior to Sunday's series finale with Detroit. He'll likely try to throw another bullpen session Monday or Tuesday before the Astros lock him for a start against the White Sox.