MLB Player News

Clevinger (2-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out six.

Clevinger turned in a vintage performance in his second start (third appearance) back from the COVID-19 injured list, inducing 14 swinging strikes on 86 pitches. The right-hander made two prior trips to the IL this season before the COVID stint -- first for a knee injury and then a triceps issue. He's been limited to 29 innings so far as a result, after missing all of last year following Tommy John surgery.

Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday the Red Sox are considering utilizing Whitlock (hip) out of the bullpen upon his return from the 15-day injured list, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 26-year-old landed is scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday before potentially starting a rehab assignment, per Cotillo, and once he's healthy, it appears Boston is leaning toward using him as a reliever. Whitlock made his first four appearances of the season out of the bullpen before moving into the rotation, and he has a 4.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB across 39 innings as a starter.

Lodolo (back) will rejoin the Reds' rotation Monday or Tuesday against the Mets, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo made his fourth rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Louisville and allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out five in 4.2 innings. The Reds will have a six-man rotation next week since they have a doubleheader, but manager David Bell declined to reveal the team's rotation plans past that point.

Watkins is listed as the Orioles' scheduled starting pitcher for Friday's game in Minnesota, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Unsurprisingly, Watkins will draw a second straight turn through the rotation after he allowed an unearned run while striking out four over five innings in his start over the White Sox last weekend. The right-hander should hold down a starting role for the Orioles until Kyle Bradish (shoulder) is ready to come off the 15-day injured list.

Manager Oliver Marmol said Liberatore will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start Saturday's game against the Phillies in Philadelphia, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Liberatore has been optioned back to Memphis immediately after three of his first four big-league starts, but Marmol suggested that the rookie could have some staying power in the rotation during his upcoming stint in St. Louis, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. With Jack Flaherty (shoulder) moving to the 15-day injured list Monday and Steven Matz (back) unlikely to be ready for a return from the IL until the second week of July, Liberatore should be in store for at least two starts. Liberatore has produced a 4.00 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 6.1 K-BB% across 18 innings through his first four outings.

Liberatore rejoined the Cardinals on Wednesday and is expected to be formally called up from Triple-A Memphis later this week to make a start during the big club's upcoming series in Philadelphia, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

He'll likely be joining the rotation as a replacement for Jack Flaherty (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday. Liberatore has previously made four starts for St. Louis, covering 18 innings over those outings while churning out a 4.00 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 6.1 K-BB%.

Bradish (shoulder) is throwing on the field ahead of Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Bradish landed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation Friday but has been able to throw on the field over the last several days. Manager Brandon Hyde still hopes that the right-hander will return from the injured list around when he's first eligible.

Lodolo (back) worked 4.2 innings in his rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Louisville, striking out five while allowing one run on six hits and one walk.

In what was his fourth rehab start overall and third in a row at Louisville, Lodolo built up to 78 pitches, throwing 47 strikes. He looked relatively sharp in the outing, as two of the hits he allowed were infield singles, while the run he was charged with was surrendered by a Louisville reliever. Based on his workload, Lodolo looks ready to make his next start in the big leagues, provided he checks out fine following a bullpen session over the weekend. Lodolo has been on the injured list since late April with a lower-back strain.

Bednar was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list for an undisclosed reason Wednesday, Single-A San Jose broadcaster Joe Ritzo reports.

Bednar has struggled in the minors over the last several weeks, logging a 6.52 ERA, 24:12 K:BB and 1.45 WHIP in 19.1 innings. The right-hander hasn't pitched in a game since June 12, and he'll be forced to miss at least a week due to his unspecified injury.

German (shoulder) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings for Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three batters.

After throwing 39 pitches in his first rehab outing with Single-A Tampa last week, German upped that count slightly to 43 pitches Tuesday. Twenty-nine of his offerings were strikes, and he has now racked up 6.1 scoreless frames over two rehab starts. It's uncertain how long German will be rehabbing in the minors, and there isn't a clear path to a rotation spot waiting for him in the majors. However, he's pitched well enough so far to be worth consideration in deep fantasy leagues in case a big-league starting slot does open up.