MLB Player News

Darvish (elbow) is expected to throw around 40 pitches in a simulated game Saturday, per MLB.com.

Darvish continues to inch toward his Padres season debut, with Saturday's scheduled sim game coming after he tossed multiple bullpen sessions in the early part of June. The veteran right-hander threw four innings in a minor-league rehab start with Double-A San Antonio on May 14, but he experienced some soreness afterward and temporarily halted his throwing program. The Padres have remained very patient with Darvish and appear content to allow the hurler take as much time as he needs to ramp up before he joins the big-league rotation, though a late-June or early July activation remains on the table.

Flaherty (5-7) allowed seven runs on five hits and five walks across 4.2 innings to take the loss Saturday against the Reds. He struck out five.

Flaherty was coming off a strong three-start stretch during which he allowed just one run across 18 innings and was the winning pitcher in all three games, but Saturday was a different story, as his ERA climbed from 3.41 to 4.03. The righty was taken deep three times, and the five walks and seven earned runs were new season worsts. On a more positive note, Flaherty now has 90 strikeouts in 76 innings this year, which is good for sixth in the American League. He will look to get back on track in his next appearance, which is currently penciled in for Friday against the Rays on the road.

The White Sox promoted Schultz from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte on Saturday, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Though Schultz has struggled with his control in the minors this season, posting a 14.4 percent walk rate and 1.57 WHIP over 61.2 innings, he's managed a 3.06 ERA and has struck out 63 batters in Double-A ball. That's good enough to earn him a promotion to the top level of the minors, moving him a step closer to making his major-league debut. Schultz is one of the league's top lefty pitching prospects and could reach the majors before the end of the current campaign if he fares well with Charlotte.

Rocker is with the Rangers in Texas and could be asked to start Sunday versus the White Sox if Tyler Mahle (shoulder) is unable to pitch, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Though Rocker is with the team, no roster move has been made, so for now he is a contingency plan. Mahle felt some shoulder soreness during his most recent start Tuesday, but it's not yet clear if the issue is serious enough to prevent him from making his scheduled start Sunday. If Rocker is ultimately recalled to start, it would be his first appearance with the big club since he gave up five runs over 3.1 innings in a loss against Tampa Bay on June 4.

Mahle is dealing with a sore right shoulder ahead of his scheduled start against the White Sox on Sunday, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that Mahle felt some soreness in his shoulder during his most recent start Tuesday against Minnesota, during which the right-hander gave up four runs over 5.2 innings. It's not yet clear if Mahle will miss Sunday's start versus Chicago due to the issue, but Kumar Rocker is with the Rangers in Texas and could be called upon if Mahle is unable to take the mound.

The White Sox added Civale to their active roster Saturday.

Civale was acquired by Chicago in a trade with Milwaukee on Friday. He's slated to make his White Sox debut as a starter Sunday versus Texas. To make room for Civale on the 26-man roster, lefty reliever Tyler Gilbert was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.

Houston transferred Arrighetti to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Arrighetti broke his right thumb after being hit by a ball during batting practice in early April and had been on the 15-day IL since. The move to the 60-day IL doesn't affect the hurler's timeline to return -- early July remains a best-case scenario -- but it does open a spot on the team's 40-man roster. Arrighetti will likely need a minor-league rehab stint before he's ready to rejoin Houston's rotation.

Tong has racked up a 2.15 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 91:19 K:BB through 54.1 innings this season for Double-A Binghamton.

The 21-year-old right-hander has been all but untouchable over the last month, posting a 1.09 ERA and 14.5 K/9 over his last six starts, and a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse is likely on the horizon. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns didn't rule out Tong making his big-league debut in 2025 either, David Adler of MLB.com reports. If a spot in the majors for a top prospect opens up later this summer, Tong would be competing with Nolan McLean for the honor, as the latter has more than held his own since getting bumped up to Triple-A in early May.

Scherzer (thumb) tossed 4.1 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out four batters.

This was Scherzer's first time pitching in a game since March 29. The veteran hurler landed on the IL due to a right thumb injury shortly after that contest -- his lone regular-season appearance this year -- and had his recovery temporarily stalled by a back injury, but he's now seemingly past the latter issue. Scherzer threw 56 pitches (39 strikes) in Friday's rehab start and sat at 91.9 mph with his fastball, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. He'll likely need at least one more rehab appearance before he's ready to make his return to Toronto's rotation.

Bieber (elbow) received good news Friday from the doctor that performed his Tommy John elbow surgery, Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com reports. Dr. Keith Meister told Bieber his discomfort was normal and not structural.

Bieber had his rehab assignment paused after feeling discomfort in his elbow, All the tests the right-hander went through came back with good news, and the next step is to resume throwing. The Guardians have not yet established a program, but Bieber will likely throw at least one bullpen session before resuming his rehab assignment.