MLB Player News

Eovaldi (elbow) threw a bullpen Thursday that went well, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Eovaldi is working his way back from right posterior elbow inflammation that landed him on the 15-day injured list Aug. 10. The right-hander resumed playing catch last week and is progressing more slowly than anticipated after initially being expected to potentially miss just the 15-day minimum. The 36-year-old could soon be cleared to face live batters and begin a rehab assignment.

Mesa is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rangers.

Mesa has gone 3-for-8 across the two games he's played in since returning from a strained left hamstring Tuesday. He'll receive some rest Thursday while Jonny DeLuca gets the start in right field and bats fifth.

Walls is not in the lineup against the Rangers on Thursday.

Walls started the Rays' previous six games, during which he went 7-for-20 with two RBI and two stolen bases. He's getting a breather Thursday while Jorge Mateo starts at shortstop and bats seventh.

Brown (5-3) earned the win Thursday over the White Sox, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.

It was another strong outing for Brown, who held Chicago to a pair of runs that came with two outs in the second inning. The right-hander has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his last four outings, allowing just six runs across 23.1 innings in that span. Brown's ERA now sits at 3.31 through 16 starts (87 innings) this season with a 1.30 WHIP and 93:46 K:BB. He's tentatively lined up to face the Phillies on the road his next time out.

Hicks is not in the lineup against the Rangers on Thursday.

Hicks went 2-for-8 with an RBI in the Rays' last series against the Mets that concluded Wednesday. The catcher is set to get some rest Thursday while Nick Fortes starts behind the plate and bats ninth.

Soriano didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Guardians, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

Soriano did a decent job limiting the damage Thursday, though he'd ultimately come an out shy of qualifying for the win, as the Blue Jays turned to the bullpen with two outs in the fifth after Soriano threw 98 pitches. The results have been mixed lately for the right-hander, who's posted a 5.64 ERA across 22.1 innings in his last four starts. Overall, Soriano has gone 11-7 with a 3.52 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 151:70 K:BB through 28 starts (156 innings) between the Blue Jays and Angels this season. He's currently in line to face the A's in hitter-friendly Sacramento his next time out.

Varland earned the save in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Guardians, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

Varland managed to strand a pair of baserunners in the ninth to log his eighth consecutive save and 32nd of the season, which is tied for fourth most in the majors. Varland's ERA is down to a pristine 1.16 across 69.2 innings with a 0.99 WHIP and 86:19 K:BB.

Bibee (5-15) took the loss Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing five runs on four hits and five walks over four innings. He struck out four.

Bibee held Toronto to one run over his first four innings, but he unraveled in the fifth, allowing four runs without recording an out. It's the first time in four outings that Bibee's failed to record a quality start -- he had held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in nine straight starts prior to Thursday. The right-hander's ERA now sits at 4.06 on the season with a 1.18 WHIP and 132:51 K:BB across 29 starts (166.1 innings). Bibee will look to bounce back his next time out, tentatively scheduled for next week on the road in Baltimore.

Allen will start the first game of Friday's doubleheader versus the Tigers, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

All four of Allen's appearances since he was recalled in mid-August have come out of the bullpen. However, he has made 20 starts between the majors and minors in 2026 and will be pitching on five days' rest, so he should be capable of providing decent length if he's pitching well.

Loftin isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

Loftin has recorded a base hit in eight of his last nine games, but the Royals will give him a breather during Thursday's series finale. Josh Rojas will step in to start at third base and bat seventh.