MLB Player News

Manning (biceps/shoulder) was unable to make his scheduled rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Toledo after the affiliate's game against St. Paul was suspended in the top of the first inning.

The Tigers could opt to have Manning throw a simulated game in the next day or two to allow him to remain on schedule with his rehab program, as Toledo won't be back in action again until Friday due to the minor-league All-Star break. Manning is restarting his rehab assignment for a second time after he experienced a biceps injury during a late-May throwing session that kept him out of commission for nearly six weeks. The right-hander returned to action July 12 for Single-A Lakeland, tossing two scoreless innings in his lone appearance before the Tigers cleared him to move his rehab to Toledo. He's projected to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in early August.

Montas (shoulder) responded "really well" to Saturday's aggressive bullpen session according to manager Mark Kotsay, and the right-hander has a chance to make a start in one of the games in Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers, Matt Kawahara of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Saturday's bullpen session was expected to have significant bearing on the Athletics' immediate post-All-Star-break plans for Montas, and this latest news certainly seems to indicate the right-hander is trending in the right direction. Montas is likely to test his shoulder out again at some point during the All-Star break in order to facilitate a final decision on whether he can return to action during Thursday's twin bill against Detroit.

The Royals reinstated Singer (personal) from the restricted list Monday.

Singer was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. Since his last start came Wednesday against the Tigers before he was placed on the restricted list Thursday, Singer didn't miss out on a start while he was deactivated. The 25-year-old right-hander finished the first half of the Royals' schedule with a 4-3 record, 4.02 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB across 71.2 innings over his 14 appearances (11 starts) for the big club.

The Royals reinstated Keller (personal) from the restricted list Monday.

Keller was one of 10 Royals players who will rejoin the 26-man active roster after being ineligible to play during the four-game weekend series in Toronto due his vaccination status. He had been in line to start a game against the Blue Jays, but his move to the restricted list prompted Kansas City to call up Angel Zerpa from Double-A Northwest Arkansas to make a spot start Thursday. The 26-year-old right-hander closed the Royals' first-half schedule with a 5-9 record, 3.96 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 67:32 K:BB across 97.2 innings over his 17 starts.

Flexen gave up one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out three over 3.2 innings in a 6-2 win over the Rangers on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Flexen only threw 76 pitches -- the least he had thrown since June 3 -- but he held the Rangers to one run and left the game with the lead in the fourth inning. The 28-year-old right-hander now boasts an excellent 1.10 ERA in July and has only given up two earned runs all month. Flexen has a 70:35 K:BB in 99.2 innings this season. He appears to be in line for a two-start week beginning the Monday after the All-Star break with a rematch at home against the Rangers followed by a trip to Houston.

Peterson gave up one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight over five innings in a 3-2 loss to the Cubs on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Peterson took advantage of the Cubs sub-par lineup by racking up eight strikeouts over five innings of work. The 26-year-old left-hander found himself in a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after a fielding error by Eduardo Escobar on a tailor-made double play ball, but he got out of the inning by leaning on his slider to induce a couple of swinging strikeouts. Peterson's slider has tons of movement and opponents are only hitting .145 against it in 2022. Despite his success in the rotation this season, however, he could be the odd man out when Jacob deGrom (shoulder) comes off the IL some time after the All-Star break.

Clevinger (2-3) took the loss during Sunday's 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Diamondbacks, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings.

Clevinger was the first to flinch in what was a pitcher's duel with Arizona starter Merrill Kelly, surrendering a solo shot to David Peralta in the sixth that proved enough to saddle him with a third straight loss. Despite the defeat, the 31-year-old struck out a season-high eight batters with an impressive 16 swinging strikes and delivered only his second quality start in nine turns. Clevinger concludes an injury-plagued first half with a 3.50 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 46.1 innings across nine starts and 10 appearances.

Strider (4-3) allowed five runs on four hits and two walks over four innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against Washington.

Most of the damage against Strider came during an ugly four-run second inning; he yielded a two-run single to Ehire Adrianza and a two-run homer to Victor Robles in the frame. It was Strider's second straight start of fewer than five innings after tossing six innings in each of his previous three outings. The 23-year-old is now sporting a 3.03 ERA with a 114:30 K:BB through 21 appearances (10 starts).

Kelly (9-5) earned the wind during Sunday's 3-1 victory over San Diego, allowing one run on six hits with five strikeouts in six plus innings.

Kelly shut down San Diego's offense through six frames, surrendering his lone run on a Luke Voit solo shot to lead off the seventh that prompted his removal. The 33-year-old has now submitted four straight quality starts, during which he's pitched to a 2.05 ERA across 26.1 innings. Kelly concludes the first half with a 3.26 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 89 strikeouts in 110.1 innings across 19 starts.

Alexander didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 9-5 defeat at the hands of the Giants, allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts in five innings.

Alexander was originally tabbed to start Sunday's game, but manager Craig Counsell opted to go with Aaron Ashby instead with Alexander to follow. Ashby surrendered two runs in one plus innings and the 29-year-old was brought in during the second without much better fortune. He was sunk by a five-run third that opened with three straight hits and concluded with four two-out runs, then served up a two-run Brandon Belt homer in the sixth. Alexander has now been tagged for seven runs in two of his last seven appearances and ends the first half with a 5.60 ERA and 1.71 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 45 innings across 10 appearances and seven starts.