MLB Player News

Webb (5-7) took the loss Wednesday, giving up five runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings as the Giants got routed 10-0 by the Blue Jays. He struck out two.

All five runs crossed the plate in the first inning, most of them on a Kazuma Okamoto grand slam, but Webb shook it off and gave his team six scoreless frames after that. The veteran right-hander exited after 106 pitches (72 strikes) and has now given up 12 runs across his last two starts after posting a 0.85 ERA over his six prior outings. Webb will head into the All-Star break with a 3.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 80:26 K:BB through 100.1 innings.

Cease (6-4) picked up the win Wednesday in a 10-0 rout of the Giants, scattering one hit and three walks over eight scoreless innings. He struck out 11.

The right-hander took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, but Heliot Ramos broke it up with a leadoff single, ending Cease's afternoon at 118 pitches (81 strikes). It was his sixth start of the season with double-digit strikeouts, and Cease heads into the All-Star break with a 2.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an American League-leading 148 strikeouts in just 98.1 innings. He's on the short list to get the start for the AL in the All-Star Game.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said Wednesday that Bello could be called up from Triple-A Worcester and to pitch Saturday against the Yankees if Ranger Suarez (adductor) is unable to start, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.

Suarez was pulled early in his most recent start Sunday against the Angels due to adductor tightness. The Red Sox are hopeful that the left-hander can avoid a stint on the injured list and make a start during the upcoming weekend, but Boston may have to turn to Bello to fill in either as a conventional starter or in a bulk-relief role if Suarez is unable to pitch. Since being optioned to Worcester on June 5, Bello has submitted a 4.34 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 22:4 K:BB across 18.2 frames over four starts.

Medical imaging revealed an injury to Woodruff's right anterior shoulder capsule Wednesday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff landed on the injured list Sunday with right shoulder inflammation -- an issue that has already caused the veteran righty to miss more than a month of action this year. However, his latest diagnosis is being described as a new injury, so there's no telling how long he may be on the shelf for. He's set to receive a second opinion from Dr. Keith Meister -- the surgeon who performed Woodruff's 2023 shoulder surgery -- that will aid in determining his return timeline.

Steele (elbow) was cleared to begin ramping up his throwing program Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Steele began a throwing program in late June, and although he's started to increase the intensity of his throwing sessions, the Cubs will hold off on having him throw off a mound until the first week of August. The left-hander won't have enough time to build up and be available as a starter this year, but returning as a reliever late in the season isn't out of the question.

Ober (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game versus the Guardians, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Ober has made two rehab starts, allowing a total of seven runs with a 6:0 K:BB over 8.1 innings. The big right-hander went five frames and tossed 76 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday, so he should be prepared for close to a regular workload against Cleveland. Ober has been on the shelf since late May while nursing a right flexor strain.

The Cardinals selected Gastelum's contract from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

Gastelum netted his first major-league promotion after logging a 2.27 ERA and 49:17 K:BB over 43.2 innings with Memphis. The righty was unscored upon in his last 18 appearances, authoring a 30:5 K:BB across 22.1 frames during that span.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough confirmed Wednesday that Junk (shin) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game versus the Mariners, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Junk has been sidelined since late May with right shin bone inflammation, but he convinced the Marlins he was ready to go by yielding two runs with a 6:0 K:BB over 5.2 innings in two rehab starts with Triple-A Jacksonville. The right-hander threw 61 pitches in his last rehab outing, so Junk will be fairly limited from a workload perspective against Seattle.

The Red Sox promoted Mullins from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday.

Mullins is expected to make his Worcester debut with a start Wednesday in Game 1 or 2 of the club's doubleheader with Rochester, per Brendan Campbell of BloggingTheRedSox.com. Though the 25-year-old submitted a 5.85 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 47.2 innings with Portland, he's been one of the Eastern League's most prolific strikeout artists this season, ranking second on the circuit with a 34.8 K%.

Whisenhunt joined the Giants' taxi squad Wednesday and could be formally recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to start Thursday's game against the Rockies in San Francisco, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Per Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area, manager Tony Vitello wouldn't fully commit to Whisenhunt joining the big-league rotation, but the skipper acknowledged that the southpaw is a candidate to make a start before the All-Star break. The Giants are currently listing Thursday's series opener as "TBA," so Whisenhunt would be a logical choice to slot into that spot while Robbie Ray, Tyler Mahle and Trevor McDonald all get pushed back a day in the schedule. Whisenhunt made his lone start of the season with the Giants back on June 17 in Atlanta, striking out two batters while allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over five innings. The 25-year-old owns a 4.42 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 82:37 K:BB over 77.1 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.