MLB Player News

Kikuchi came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Red Sox, giving up three runs on eight hits and five walks over five-plus innings. He struck out five.

The left-hander tossed only 56 of 99 pitches for strikes in a shaky outing, but Kikuchi had limited the damage until running out of gas in the sixth inning, when he began the frame with two free passes sandwiched around a two-run homer by Ceddanne Rafaela before getting the hook. Kikuchi has walked at least four batters in four straight starts, but Rafaela's long ball was the first homer he's served up during that stretch, allowing him to escape with a 2.11 ERA in 21.1 innings despite a worrisome 20:18 K:BB. Kikuchi will try to tighten things up in his next trip the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the A's.

Bieber (elbow) will have his rehab start for Double-A Akron pushed back a day to Friday, MLB.com reports.

Bieber's next rehab start was originally slated for Thursday, per Zach Meisel of The Athletic, but Meisel followed up with a note indicating the start will now come Friday, which confirms the MLB.com report. Bieber's first rehab start was in the Arizona Complex League where he tossed 2.1 scoreless frames for the ACL Guardians.

Francis (2-7) took the loss Tuesday against the Phillies, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out two in 1.2 innings.

The Phillies plated six runs in the first against Francis, which included back-to-back home runs from Trea Turner and Bryce Harper among the six hits they had in the inning. Francis has given up 17 home runs, the most in baseball. He's allowed seven hits or more in four starts and has allowed multiple homers five times. He'll aim to rebound on the road against Minnesota this weekend.

Sanchez (5-1) got the win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits and four walks while striking out four in six innings.

Sanchez battled control issues in this one, tossing 55 of 96 pitches for strikes, but he was able to get out of trouble when needed with a lot of groundballs. The lone run against him came in the fifth inning on a solo blast from Davis Schneider. This was Sanchez's sixth quality start of the year and his first win since May 7. He lines up to complete a two-start week on the road against the Pirates this weekend.

Rodon (8-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out eight.

The veteran southpaw was locked in a pitchers' duel with Tanner Bibee most of the way, but back-to-back solo shots by Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe to lead off the bottom of the seventh broke open a 1-1 tie. Rodon has won seven straight decisions, with his last loss coming back on April 13, and during his undefeated stretch he's rattled off seven quality starts in nine trips to the mound with a 1.27 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB in 56.2 innings. He'll look for his eighth straight win in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Red Sox.

Peralta (5-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Reds, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out nine in six innings.

Peralta got off to a blistering start, striking out five of the first six batters he faced while blanking the Reds through the first three innings. He then served up a two-run homer in the fourth and exited the game with two runners on in the seventh, one of which came in to score after Peralta was lifted. The nine strikeouts were a season high for Peralta and Tuesday marked his first time reaching six innings since May 4. Walks remain an issue for him, however, as he's walked 14 batters in his last five starts. Peralta's next start lines up for at home versus Atlanta next week.

Rodriguez (shoulder) is with the team in Atlanta and scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

This should be considered the in-between starts throwing session for Rodriguez, who is expected to be activated from the injured list this week for a start Friday in Cincinnati. He made a rehab start in the Arizona Complex League last Friday and is ready to return to a rotation that just lost Corbin Burnes (elbow). The left-hander's body of work is 2025 is not inspiring; Rodriguez was placed on the IL with a 7.05 ERA and one quality start among his nine outings.

Bibee (4-6) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over 6.1 innings as the Guardians fell 3-2 to the Yankees. He struck out six.

The right-hander delivered his fifth quality start of the year on a season-high 107 pitches (63 strikes), but back-to-back solo shots by Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe to lead off the seventh inning broke a 1-1 tie and stuck Bibee with the loss. After failing to strike out more than five batters in any outing through mid-May, Bibee seems to have re-discovered his ability to miss bats, posting a 3.44 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over his last three starts and 18.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Astros.

Gilbert (elbow) will make his second rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Manager Dan Wilson said Tuesday that the Mariners will re-evaluate Gilbert following his minor-league outing. If all goes well, Wednesday's appearance could be the right-hander's last during his assignment as he works his way back from a right elbow flexor strain. Gilbert's earliest possible return to Seattle's rotation looks to be some time early next week, when the team begins a three-game series Monday against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Megill allowed four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over six innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Megill allowed four baserunners in the first inning, and they all came around to score. He then retired nine straight batters and 16 of the last 17 he faced, and he left with the Mets ahead 5-4. That lead didn't last, as Huascar Brazoban blew a save chance in the ninth, but it was still a show of resilience for Megill to overcome his ugly first inning. He threw 105 pitches (69 strikes) in his longest outing since he went 6.1 innings versus the Nationals on April 27. Megill is now at a 3.77 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 79:28 K:BB through 59.2 innings over 12 starts. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at Colorado this weekend.