MLB Player News

Civale was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right wrist sprain Thursday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Civale exited Wednesday's start against the White Sox due to the wrist injury, and he'll be sidelined until at least late July after receiving his diagnosis. The Guardians won't need to fill his place in the rotation until after the All-Star break, but it's not yet clear when the 27-year-old is expected to return to game action.

The Nationals transferred Strasburg (ribs) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Washington had been vague regarding a possible return timeline for Strasburg since he was deactivated June 14 due to to a stress reaction of his ribs, but the move to the 60-day IL ensures that he'll be out of commission until at least mid-August. The Nationals sit at 30 games under .500 entering Thursday's game against Atlanta, so the organization will have little incentive to rush Strasburg back to the mound, especially after he already missed the first two months of the season while recovering from last July's thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Anibal Sanchez (neck) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move and will step into the rotation Thursday for his season debut.

Williamson worked six innings in his second start for Triple-A Louisville on July 8, striking out four while allowing one earned run on six hits and one walk.

Williamson was roughed up for four runs in four innings in his first start with Louisville earlier this month, but the 24-year-old lefty showed better form his second time out with the Triple-A club and tied a season high by covering six frames. He was promoted to Louisville on June 28 after submitting a 4.14 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 74:40 K:BB across 67.1 innings in 14 outings with Double-A Chattanooga.

The Rays placed Baz on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right elbow sprain after he experienced discomfort while playing catch Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He'll receive a platelet-rich plasma injection for the elbow and will rest and rehab for a month before being re-evaluated, according to Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network.

Even if he's cleared to resume throwing following the four-week shutdown, Baz will likely need at least a couple weeks to get ramped back up for game action, so fantasy managers shouldn't count on the right-hander making his way back from the IL until at least early September. That reality likely makes Baz a comfortable drop in most redraft leagues, and his injury could prompt the Rays to explore acquiring another starting pitcher prior to the Aug. 2 trade deadline. After opening the season on the IL while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on the same elbow, Baz debuted June 11 and produced a 5.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB in 27 innings before succumbing to another elbow-related setback.

Matz (shoulder) is targeting a return from the 15-day injured list for Sunday's game versus the Reds, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz pitched well in his fourth rehab appearance Tuesday, striking out seven while allowing two hits and two walks in 4.1 innings for Triple-A Memphis. He threw 81 pitches in that contest for Memphis, which suggests he'd have only a minimal workload restriction, if any, should he return Sunday. Matz has been out with the shoulder injury since May 22.

The Red Sox promoted Groome from Double-A Portland to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.

A 2016 first-round draft pick, Groome's ascent through the Red Sox farm system was slowed by the Tommy John surgery he had in the spring of 2018 and the cancellation of the 2020 minor-league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He's enjoyed generally good health for the past season and a half, however, and the 6-foot-6 lefty has resumed displaying the skills that made him a sought-after prep arm a half-decade ago. Though his strikeout and walk rates have trended in the wrong direction at Portland compared to a year ago, the 23-year-old Groome still punched out 24.9 percent of the batters he faced in 2022 while submitting a 3.52 ERA over 76.2 innings.

Senzatela (shoulder) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Pirates, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Senzatela pitched five innings in a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Albuquerque, and he now appears set to make his return to the Rockies' rotation for the final game before the All-Star break. He's been out since July 2 with right shoulder inflammation, but he will spend the minimum 15 days on the IL. Senzatela has posted a 4.95 ERA and 1.80 WHIP with 34 punchouts over 60 innings through 13 starts this year.

Steele (3-6) took the loss Wednesday, allowing three earned runs on six hits and one walk over six innings against the Orioles. He struck out three.

Steele was reinstated from the paternity list ahead of Wednesday's start and returned with a solid six-inning effort after struggling in the opening frame. The left-hander allowed four of the first five Orioles to reach base, with three of them coming around to score before Steele got out of the jam by retiring Adley Rutschman and Ramon Urias. Steele has pitched at least five innings in eight straight starts and sports a 3.23 ERA with 39 strikeouts during that stretch. His next start isn't scheduled until after the All-Star break.

Watkins (3-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over five innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.

Watkins allowed leadoff baserunners in the third and fourthinnings but was able to escape both frames without giving up a run. However, he surrendered his first run of the game in the fifth following a triple from Christopher Morel and a sacrifice fly by Rafael Ortega. Over his last four starts, Watkins has given up just three earned runs across 22.2 innings while sporting a 17:5 K:BB during that span. He finishes the first half of the 2022 campaign with a solid 3.93 ERA over 52.2 innings.

Gray (7-6) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Mariners, surrendering five runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and three walks over five innings as the Nationals fell 6-4. He struck out seven.

The right-hander tossed only 57 of 97 pitches for strikes before exiting, and all five of the runs off him came via homer -- a three-run blast by Eugenio Suarez in the first inning, and a pair of solo shots by Jesse Winker and Adam Frazier in the fourth. Gray has been tagged for seven homers over his last four starts and 21 in 92 innings on the season, leading to a 4.40 ERA despite an otherwise palatable 1.27 WHIP and 106:39 K:BB.