MLB Player News

Mahle (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Per Miller, it's a precautionary move by the Twins that allows the team to add a lefty reliever (Devin Smeltzer) against the lefty-heavy Rangers. Mahle was already expected to miss his next start. He is eligible to return Sept. 2.

Blackburn (finger) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

His right middle finger will be in a splint for the next six weeks, so Blackburn's season is over. He was a great story in the first half of the season, but his production plummeted over his final eight starts (7.94 ERA), in part due to the finger discomfort he dealt with over his final four starts. Blackburn will be a key part of Oakland's rotation in 2023.

May (elbow) was activated ahead of his start Saturday against the Marlins.

The runway is clear for May to be in the Dodgers' rotation for the rest of the regular season. He logged a 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB in 21 innings across six rehab outings.

Boyd (elbow) took the loss for Triple-A Tacoma against Albuquerque on Friday, allowing two earned runs on two hits, a balk and a hit batsman while recording four strikeouts.

As the busy final line implies, Boyd had some control issues in his third rehab appearance. The veteran southpaw did work up to 40 pitches (26 strikes), and his swing-and-miss stuff was encouraging. Boyd had logged a pair of scoreless one-inning outings in his first two trips to the mound for the Rainiers, and the Associated Press reports manager Scott Servais estimates the 31-year-old could join the big-league bullpen within the next two weeks.

Blackburn (finger) revealed Friday that he pitched through progressively worsening discomfort during his final four starts of the season before being shut down Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. "I was hoping that it would just kind of go away," he said. "... It just never went away. It got worse."

The right-hander was a first-time All-Star in 2022, and his 8.41 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 2.7 HR/9 over the 20.1 innings covering his last four starts are largely explained by what was ultimately revealed to be a torn flexor tendon sheath in his right middle finger. Blackburn apparently suffered the injury in his preparation for his July 13 start against the Rangers, the outing that marked the beginning of his slump. The combination of the increasing pain and the inability to extend his finger and finish pitches ultimately caused the early end to Blackburn's season, and although he'll be in a cast for up to eight weeks, he's expected back at full strength for spring training.

Walker (back) won't make his scheduled start Sunday against the Phillies, though he's expected to avoid the injured list and could start Tuesday against the Yankees, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Back spasms forced Walker to exit his previous start Tuesday against Atlanta, but the issue doesn't seem like a major one. While he'll need at least a couple extra days to rest, he may not need to miss even one full turn in the rotation. The Mets have yet to announce a starter for Sunday's contest.

Miley will be checked out by the Cubs' training staff Saturday after his shoulder failed to get loose enough for him to throw Friday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Miley seemed to be on the verge of a return from his shoulder strain, as he allowed only one unearned run in five scoreless innings in his fourth rehab start Tuesday. That no longer seems to be the case thanks to his potential setback. A new timeline for his return should become available after his examination.

Senzatela will undergo surgery on his torn left ACL next week, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Senzatela suffered the injury Thursday against the Cardinals and is expected to miss 6-8 months, placing his expected return date sometime between late February and late April. A more precise timeline could emerge once the procedure is complete.

The Phillies recalled Falter from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and designated him as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Mets. He'll start the second game of the twin bill.

Falter has made seven starts and four relief appearances for the Phillies this season, posting a 4.85 ERA. The long ball has been a problem, as he owns a 2.3 HR/9, thanks in part to a very low 28.8 percent groundball rate. He'll face a tough task keeping the Mets' lineup quiet at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park.

The Mets called Peterson up from Triple-A Syracuse in advance of his start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader in Philadelphia, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Peterson has been quite effective for the Mets this season, striking out 27.2 percent of opposing batters en route to a 3.30 ERA in 14 starts and four relief appearances. He hasn't been needed in the rotation since Jacob deGrom returned from a shoulder injury, but he remains the top name the Mets will turn to whenever they need a spot start.