MLB Player News

Springs was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 7, with tightness in his lower right leg, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Springs presumably picked up the injury during his start last Tuesday against Boston, and he'll move to the injured list rather than make his next turn through the rotation Monday. The left-hander will be eligible to return immediately after the All-Star break July 22, though it's unclear if he's expected to be healthy by that time. Josh Fleming was promoted in a corresponding move and is likely to fill Springs' spot in the rotation.

Valdez (8-4) took the loss to the Athletics on Saturday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out three and walking two across eight innings.

Although he took the loss, Valdez pitched well Saturday, allowing two earned runs across eight frames while throwing 60 of 96 pitches for strikes. The game-tying run against the righty came on a passed ball, and the go-ahead run came on a wild pitch. Saturday's appearance was Valdez's 14th quality start in a row and his 15th of the year. He will take a 2.64 ERA into his next outing.

Perez did not factor into the decision against the Twins on Saturday, allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking one over six innings.

Perez threw 61 of 97 pitches for strikes in Saturday's outing, his worst since a four-run appearance June 27. It was just the third time this season that the lefty allowed more than three runs in a game. However, it could be a sign of things to come for Perez, since his xFIP sits at 3.72 and his SIERA sits at 3.86 compared to his 2.72 ERA.

Kremer (3-1) earned the win against the Angels on Saturday, allowing no runs on two hits while striking out seven and walking three over five innings.

Kremer did well against the Angels offense, throwing 58 of 98 pitches for strikes and limiting Los Angeles to just five baserunners. Aside from his last outing against Texas when he allowed five runs in 4.2 innings, Kremer has pitched well since he was called up June 5. Saturday's outing was the fourth time in seven games that the righty has not allowed a run. Kremer will take a 2.15 ERA into his next appearance.

Cardinals president of baseball operations said Friday that Matz (shoulder) will make one more minor-league rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Matz completed his third rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Memphis, working 3.1 innings while striking out four and allowing two earned runs on two hits and one walk. Since Matz exited after throwing 59 pitches, the Cardinals will likely want to see the lefty get stretched out to the 70-to-80-pitch range in his upcoming rehab start before bringing him back from the IL. Matz is likely to make his next minor-league appearance Tuesday before potentially slotting back into the St. Louis rotation for the Cardinals' final game of the first half July 17 against the Reds.

Sandoval (3-4) took the loss against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing one run on five hits while striking out 10 and walking two over 6.1 innings.

Sandoval did everything he could to keep the Angels in the game, but his offense gave him no support and he took the loss. He did earn a quality start, his seventh of the year. The lefty threw 61 of 95 pitches for strikes in the game. This comes one game after he allowed five runs in five innings, so it appears that Sandoval is back on track. He will take a 2.95 ERA into his next outing.

Cubs manager David Ross said Smyly (oblique) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Dodgers, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chicago will end up welcoming two starters back from the injured list to close out the weekend series in Los Angeles, as Marcus Stroman (shoulder) was activated Saturday and worked four innings in the Cubs' 4-2 loss. Smyly will be making his first appearance for the Cubs since May 30 after he was on the shelf for the past five and a half weeks with a right oblique strain. The southpaw covered four innings and tossed 52 pitches in his lone minor-league rehab start back on Monday, so he expects to be capped at around 85 pitches in his return from the IL.

Wood (hamstring) is listed as the Giants' scheduled starting pitcher for Sunday's game in San Diego.

Wood experienced cramping in his left hamstring during his most recent outing Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, but he was apparently able to complete a between-starts bullpen session without issue to keep himself on track for the two-start week. The southpaw has had mixed results over his six starts since the beginning of June, tossing two quality starts in that stretch but posting a 7.41 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across his last four appearances.

Montgomery allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four over 5.2 innings against Boston on Saturday. He did not factor in the decision.

Montgomery gave up a run in the second inning but didn't allow Boston to get back on the scoreboard until Rob Refsnyder tagged him for a solo homer in the sixth. Montgomery was pulled one out shy of a quality start, and he lost his hold on a win when the Red Sox tied the game in the eighth frame. The southpaw has been plagued by poor run support in July -- in two starts, he's yielded only three runs over 10.2 frames but has an 0-1 record to show for it. Still, it's been a nice bounce-back after Montgomery surrendered nine runs over 12.2 frames during his final pair of starts in June.

Crawford pitched five innings against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six. He did not factor in the decision.

Crawford did a good job of taming the potent Yankees offense, holding New York scoreless until Aaron Hicks launched a solo shot against him in the fifth inning. That was the only extra-base hit the right-hander allowed in the contest, and he also racked up six strikeouts. Crawford is making a case for sticking with the big club for the long haul with his past two appearances. In those outings, he's compiled 10.1 innings during which he's given up only one run while posting a 14:3 K:BB.