MLB Player News

Paxton (elbow) was removed midway through the first inning of his first rehab start Thursday in the rookie-level Florida Complex League after experiencing lat tightness, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Pitching in a competitive game for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in April of 2021, Paxton retired the two batters he faced before exiting the contest on account of another injury. Even if follow-up tests clear Paxton of a lat strain or a more serious injury, he's still likely to be shut down from throwing for at least a few days. The Red Sox already weren't counting on Paxton being ready to return from the 60-day injured list until early September, and the lat issue will likely push his potential season debut back further, if it even happens at all.

The Twins announced Thursday that the MRI taken on Mahle's right shoulder revealed no issue, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports. Mahle remains day-to-day with an injury the Twins are describing as "general soreness and fatigue."

After his average fastball velocity was down approximately four miles per hour from his season average during his start Wednesday versus the Royals, Mahle was pulled after 2.1 innings, despite having allowed only one baserunner. Fortunately for Mahle, his shoulder is structurally sound, and he doesn't appear to be dealing with a strain either. He's tentatively lined up to make his next start Aug. 23 in Houston, but the Twins will likely wait and see how he fares during a bullpen session this weekend before locking him in for his next turn through the rotation.

Matz (knee) could throw off a mound this weekend, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, Matz played catch off a mound Wednesday and did some running on the field, so throwing pitches off the mound would mark another step forward in his recovery from a torn MCL in his left knee. Matz is still likely a week or more away from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, so he's not expected to be a rotation option for the Cardinals until September at the soonest.

Atlanta reinstated Fried (concussion) from the 7-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Thursday against the Mets.

Right-hander Freddy Tarnok was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett to open up room on the active roster for Fried, who will make his first start since Aug. 6 after clearing MLB's concussion protocol. The southpaw will be facing the Mets for the fourth time this season after turning in a 3.18 ERA and 16:6 K:BB across 17 innings in the previous three matchups.

Kluber did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over six innings against the Yankees. He struck out eight.

Kluber kept the Yankees off the board until the sixth inning, when Gleyber Torres launched a two-run homer. Even with the solid performance, the righty has struggled lately with a 5.62 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 49.2 innings across his last nine starts. Additionally, the 36-year-old has allowed four runs or more in five of those nine outings.

Lopez (7-8) took the loss Wednesday, coughing up six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings as the Marlins fell 10-3 to the Padres. He struck out two.

A first-inning grand slam by Jake Cronenworth set the tone for the afternoon, and Lopez didn't escape the frame until a fifth run had crossed the plate. The right-hander settled down after that, but the damage was done. Lopez has failed to complete six innings in any of his last four starts, going 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA, 2.00 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB through 18 innings over that brutal stretch.

Clevinger didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Marlins, giving up three runs on six hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out one.

The Padres provided the right-hander with plenty of support, piling up five runs in the top of the first inning alone, but Clevinger's inefficiency cost him a win -- he needed 89 pitches (56 strikes) to record only 13 outs. The 31-year-old has failed to last longer than five innings in any of his last three starts, and he could be fading in his first season back from Tommy John surgery after tossing only 41.2 innings in 2020 and none last year. Clevinger will take a 3.63 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 66:25 K:BB through 74.1 innings into his next outing.

Striping didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Orioles, allowing only one hit over 6.1 scoreless innings while striking out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander was absolutely dazzling in his return to the mound from a hip issue that had sidelined him for a couple weeks, and Stripling took a perfect game into the seventh inning before Cedric Mullins rapped out a leadoff single. Stripling exited after an incredibly efficient 72 pitches (52), but Austin Voth matched him goose egg for goose egg, and the Blue Jays offense didn't break through until the bottom of the seventh. The quality start was Stripling's fourth of the year, and he'll take a 2.93 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 74:15 K:BB through 89 innings into his next outing.

German did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over 4.2 innings against the Rays. He struck out six.

German surrendered three doubles, two of which came off the bat of third baseman Yandy Diaz, accounting for all three runs against him . The righty has allowed five or more hits in five of his six starts during 2022 but hasn't served a home run in three straight starts. Prior to this outing, the had allowed two runs or fewer in four straight appearances.

Lynch (4-8) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings as the Royals were downed 4-0 by the Twins. He struck out two.

The southpaw didn't allow much traffic but had trouble shutting the door when he did, with a two-out, two-run homer by Jose Miranda in the first inning giving Tyler Mahle (shoulder) and the Minnesota bullpen all the run support they would need. While it barely qualified, the quality start was Lynch's second of the season and his first since late April. He'll take a 4.52 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 91:38 K:BB through 93.2 innings into his next outing.