MLB Player News

Falter will be recalled to start Friday's game against the Cardinals, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Essentially the Phillies' sixth starter, Falter will again be summoned to join the big-league rotation due to Zach Eflin landing on the injured list with a bruised knee. According to Gelb, Eflin may be sidelined through the All-Star break, so Falter has a chance to stick up with the big club for more than one start. Falter has gone between three and five innings in his last three MLB appearances, registering a 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 10 strikeouts in 12.2 innings over that stretch. He most recently went six innings and allowed one hit with five strikeouts at Triple-A on June 25.

Matz (shoulder) is slated to build up to 30 pitches in his rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Memphis and will attempt to throw 45 pitches in a second rehab start this weekend, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Given this slow progression, Matz figures to need at least a third rehab start before he's ready to join the big-league rotation, unless the Cardinals opt to bring him back for what would amount to a bullpen game next week. He could return right before the All-Star break if all goes well.

Sears was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to his start Tuesday against the A's.

The Yankees haven't needed to use more than five starters for most of the season, so Sears has largely pitched at Triple-A, where he has a 2.25 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 33:6 K:BB in 28 innings over his last six starts. He also struck out five over five scoreless innings en route to a win in his lone MLB start this season, so there's reason to deploy him in this nice matchup in a spot start against Oakland.

The Brewers reinstated Woodruff (hand) from the 15-day injured list prior to his scheduled start Tuesday at Tampa Bay.

Woodruff was initially placed on the IL on May 30 with a high-ankle sprain, and though he quickly moved past that injury, his return date was pushed back when he was diagnosed June 10 with Raynaud's syndrome, a condition that caused numbness in three of the fingers on his pitching hand. The right-hander no longer seems to be exhibiting symptoms of the condition, as he was sharp during his second rehab start with High-A Wisconsin five days ago. He covered five innings in that outing and shouldn't have any major restrictions with his workload as he slots back into the Milwaukee rotation this week.

Eflin (knee) was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Eflin's 2021 campaign ended prematurely due to knee troubles, and they popped up again during his mid-June start against the Nationals. While he was able to make his next start, which came Saturday against San Diego, the issue remains a worry, so he'll skip at least his next two turns in the rotation. He'll be eligible to return July 11, as the transaction has been backdated to Sunday, but it's not yet clear if a minimum-length stay is on the table. Bailey Falter is likely the top candidate to take his place in the rotation, as he's made three spot starts already this year.

Kirby (2-3) took the loss against Baltimore on Monday, allowing seven runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out two over four innings.

Of the nine hits Kirby surrendered in the contest, six went for extra bases -- including four that left the yard. The rookie wasn't able to keep the Orioles off the scoreboard in any frame, and he needed 95 pitches to get through four innings. The performance was a big letdown after Kirby had tossed four quality starts over his previous five appearances. The four homers and seven runs were both season-worst marks for the right-hander, and his ERA shot up to 4.08 as a result of the rough night.

Wells (6-4) earned the win over Seattle on Monday, allowing one run on one hit and no walks while striking out three batters over five innings.

Wells had a perfect game going in the fifth inning before Cal Raleigh broke it up with a solo home run with two outs in that frame. The right-handed hurler got one more out, then called it a night after 63 pitches. That held true to the report that Wells would be on a limited pitch count for the contest after he tossed a season-high 94 pitches his last time out. In contrast to that previous appearance, Wells demonstrated excellent control Monday, throwing 41 of 63 pitches for strikes and avoiding issuing any walks for the first time in six starts. He's won each of his past five decisions, registering a 1.97 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB over 32 innings covering six starts during that span.

Bubic (1-5) took the loss Monday as the Royals were downed 10-4 by the Rangers, surrendering seven runs (five earned) on nine hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

The southpaw tossed 53 of 87 pitches in a shaky performance, and while Bubic didn't get much help from his defense, one of Kansas City's two errors on the night was his own. The 24-year-old has a 7.65 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 31:23 K:BB through 37.2 innings as a starter this season, and he could lose his rotation spot once Daniel Lynch (finger) is ready to return.

Wainwright (6-5) picked up the win in Monday's 9-0 rout of the Marlins, allowing seven hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out nine.

After a couple shaky performances, the 40-year-old regained his form, posting his second-highest strikeout total of the season en route to his ninth quality start. Wainwright snapped a streak of six straight outings without a win in the process, and he'll carry a 3.07 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 76:26 K:BB through 91 innings into his next start.

Lopez (5-4) took the loss Monday, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk over five innings as the Marlins were routed 9-0 by the Cardinals. He struck out five.

Homers by Paul Goldschmidt and Juan Yepez accounted for most of the damage off Lopez, marking only the second time this season in 15 starts the right-hander has been taken deep multiple times. Lopez will be happy to put June behind him, as he stumbled to a 5.34 ERA and 1.29 WHIP on the month after posting a 1.83 ERA and 0.98 WHIP through his first 10 outings.