MLB Player News

Stephen (shoulder) struck out two and gave up two hits and no walks over three scoreless innings Sunday for Double-A Akron after being activated from the 7-day injured list Friday.

Making his organizational debut for the Guardians after being acquired July 31, Stephen matched up Sunday against his old teammates at Double-A New Hampshire, with whom he had been pitching before being shelved with a shoulder impingement July 24 and then getting dealt a week later. Since Stephen didn't go out on a rehab assignment beforehand, his pitch count was managed carefully Sunday, though he should have the opportunity to work deeper into his next start. Over stops at three different levels in 2025, Stephen owns a 2.00 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 101:18 K:BB in 94.2 innings.

Fitts left Monday's game against the Orioles due to right biceps tightness, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

This is positive news for the right hander, as he appears to have avoided a long-term injury. It remains to be seen whether he'll require a trip to the injured list. Healey reported after the game that Fitts was encouraged by the fact the injury wasn't feeling serious, and the team plans to re-evaluate the right-hander Tuesday morning.

Soroka (shoulder) has resumed playing catch and is set to throw off a mound Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Soroka, who came over to Chicago in a trade before the deadline, left his team debut Aug. 4 after just two innings and 31 pitches due to a right shoulder strain. The veteran righty seems to be slowly working his way back, and the Cubs are targeting a mid-September return to the majors. Soroka could slot back into the rotation when healthy, either bumping No. 5 starter Colin Rea to the bullpen or potentially filling in for Jameson Taillon, who left his last start early due to left groin tightness.

Fitts left Monday's game against the Orioles with an apparent arm injury, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. He allowed three runs on two hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings before exiting.

Fitts came back out for the sixth inning but was removed after tossing one pitch. He'll presumably be taken to the clubhouse to be evaluated further. Steven Matz was called upon to replace Fitts.

Mahle (shoulder) recently resumed throwing off a mound and could advance to throwing live batting practice in the near future, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Grant noted that Mahle hasn't been cleared to throw breaking pitches during his bullpen sessions, so he'll need to make use of his full arsenal before he eventually advances to facing live hitters and then heads out on a rehab assignment. Mahle had turned in a 2.56 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 77 innings over his 14 starts prior to landing on the injured list June 15 due to right shoulder fatigue. He still has a realistic chance at returning before the end of the season, but he may not have sufficient time to get fully stretched out for a starting role and could wind up pitching out of the bullpen.

Severino (oblique) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Severino continues to work his way back from a left oblique strain, which resulted in him being placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 9. The veteran right-hander has apparently responded well to throwing bullpen sessions, so he'll take the next step forward in his recovery by facing hitters Wednesday. The Athletics will evaluate Severino following the sim game before determining whether he's ready to re-enter the big-league rotation next week, or if he'll first require a minor-league rehab start before being activated from the injured list. Severino posted a 6-11 record with a 4.82 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 136.1 innings prior to landing on the IL.

The Athletics announced Monday that Lopez has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 flexor strain in his left forearm and has been shut down from throwing, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Lopez was lit up for nine earned runs on six hits and six walks over two innings during his start in Sunday's 11-4 loss to the Mariners, with the Athletics revealing after the outing that the southpaw was battling forearm tightness. After undergoing an MRI, Lopez now has an official diagnosis of his injury, and manager Mark Kotsay said that the 27-year-old will be officially moved to the 15-day injured list Tuesday. The Athletics are hopeful that Lopez will be able to return at some point before the end of the season, even if it means he's working in a bullpen role, according to Gallegos. Joey Estes pitched in long relief of Lopez on Sunday and is the most likely candidate to enter the rotation as Lopez's replacement during the Athletics' series against the Rangers this coming weekend.

Gasser (elbow) struck out four batters and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks across 4.2 innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Nashville.

Gasser has now made eight starts in the minors since beginning his rehab assignment July 19 in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Though pitchers are typically allotted just 30 days of rehab time in the minors while on the injured list, pitchers like Gasser who are returning from Tommy John surgery are eligible for up to three consecutive 10-day extensions, and the Brewers appear to have taken advantage of that rule to give the right-hander some additional ramp-up time. Since shifting his assignment to Nashville on Aug. 8, Gasser has turned in a 1.98 ERA over 13.2 innings in four starts, but his other ratios (1.32 WHIP, 12:6 K:BB) aren't quite as shiny. Milwaukee will likely continue to allow Gasser to work as a starter during his rehab assignment, but if he rejoins the big club over the final five weeks of the season, he would presumably work out of the bullpen, unless injuries test the organization's starting depth.

The Brewers optioned Patrick to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Patrick was called up to start the Brewers' series finale versus the Giants on Sunday, when he came away with the no-decision in a 4-3 loss after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven across 5.1 innings. Though the right-hander will head back to Triple-A, he could be a candidate to make additional starts for the Brewers in September if the team loses another rotation member to an injury.

The Brewers recalled Myers from Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Myers has allowed just one unearned run with a 10:0 K:BB over 10 innings during his six relief outings in the majors this season. He will be deployed as a multi-inning reliever with the Brewers.