MLB Player News

Baz (8-7) yielded two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings Sunday, striking out five and taking a loss against the Reds.

Baz coughed up a pair of runs in the first inning before settling in to finish his outing with four scoreless frames. He's now lost four consecutive starts, registering a 5.90 ERA during that span. Baz generated 15 swinging strikes on 100 total pitches Sunday, including seven with his fastball that averaged 96.8 mph. He now owns a 4.61 ERA with a 116:44 K:BB through 119 frames. Baz's next outing is projected to be at home against the Dodgers.

Lugo and the Royals are expected to finalize a multi-year contract extension in the coming days, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Lugo was rumored to be a potential trade candidate ahead of Thursday's deadline, but an extension with the Royals would take a move elsewhere off the table. The right-hander is in the midst of his second season with Kansas City and has posted a 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with 99 strikeouts over 113 innings in 19 starts. He's now set to make his regularly scheduled start Tuesday in Atlanta with no concerns of potentially being shipped out prior to the deadline.

Silseth (undisclosed) struck out a batter and allowed two hits over a scoreless inning of relief for Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday in his first appearance since being activated from the 7-day injured list Friday.

Silseth has served largely in a starting role at his various stops in the minors and majors since entering the professional ranks in 2021. However, after struggling to a 4.45 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 29:22 K:BB in 28.1 innings over his first seven starts of the season with Salt Lake prior to landing on IL on May 20, the right-hander looks set to work out of the bullpen at the Triple-A level. If he can string together a few quality relief appearances for Salt Lake, he could get a look in the Angels bullpen before the end of the season.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that Wells (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Chesapeake on Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Wells will be ready to pitch in a game setting for the first time since undergoing a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in June 2024. Assuming the Orioles are planning on having Wells build back up as a starter, he'll likely need most of the 30-day rehab window to ramp up before he's activated from the 60-day injured list. Prior to getting the season-ending procedure last summer, Wells made three starts for Baltimore in 2024 and logged a 5.87 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 15.1 innings.

Jackson went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Rockies.

Jackson picked up his third start behind the dish in four games, with all three starts coming against left-handed pitchers. The 29-year-old backstop had produced four total extra-base hits (two home runs, two doubles) in his last three games, but his batting average dropped down to .269 after the 0-for-3 showing Sunday. Jackson has been sharing time with Jacob Stallings behind the dish, but one of the two could be at risk of losing his roster spot with Adley Rutschman (oblique) due back from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Paredes' right hamstring strain is "a little bit more severe" than originally projected, and the third baseman is set to receive a second opinion within the next week, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Paredes was placed on the injured list exactly one week ago, but other than manager Joe Espada labeling the hamstring strain as "pretty significant," the team hadn't elaborated further on the severity of the injury. Once Paredes gets a second opinion, a clearer timeline for his return could emerge, but the Astros are seemingly bracing for the 26-year-old to be sidelined well into August, if not September. Mauricio Dubon has taken over as Houston's primary option at the hot corner since Paredes landed on the IL.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed after Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Tigers that Heineman will see the majority of the playing time at catcher while Alejandro Kirk (concussion) is on the 7-day injured list, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After Kirk sustained the concussion Saturday before landing on the shelf a day later, Heineman drew the start Sunday and went 1-for-4 with a double. The journeyman backstop has seen limited starts behind Kirk this season, but he's been productive when called upon, slashing .326/.389/.495 with three home runs and two steals in 106 plate appearances. Until Kirk returns, Heineman could be worthy of a short-term pickup in AL-only leagues and mixed leagues that start two catchers.

Williams earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Phillies, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Williams turned in another clean inning Sunday, converting his 11th straight save chance and 16th overall this season. The right-hander has lowered his ERA to 4.58 with a 1.09 WHIP and 53:15 K:BB across 39.1 innings this year.

Rodon (11-7) earned the win Sunday over the Phillies, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out eight.

Rodon held the Phillies to just four hits Sunday, though three were solo home runs. Still, the Yankees managed to hang on for a one-run victory and give Rodon his 11th win this season, tied for third-most in the majors. The left-hander sports a 3.18 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and 147:47 K:BB across 22 starts (130 innings) this season. Rodon is currently lined up to face the Marlins on the road in his next outing.

Kochanowicz is expected to be called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to start Monday's contest against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Kochanowicz will return to the Angels being sent down to the minors July 11 and making a lone start with Salt Lake last Sunday, when he allowed an unearned run over five innings. The right-hander hasn't been a meaningful fantasy contributor during his time with the Angels this season, logging a 3-9 record, 6.03 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 65 strikeouts over 94 innings in 19 starts.