MLB Player News

Lauer (4-2) took the loss Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out seven.

Lauer was solid Wednesday, holding Chicago scoreless through his first three innings while allowing just one hit. However, the left-hander would surrender a pair of runs on three hits in the fourth, which proved to be enough to stick him with the loss in a 2-1 defeat. It's been an impressive year overall for Lauer, who joined Toronto's rotation in June when Bowden Francis (shoulder) landed on the IL -- he's yet to allow more than three runs in an outing. Lauer sports a 2.78 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 55 innings this season.

The Red Sox optioned Eaton to Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday.

Eaton had started at third base and batted out of the leadoff spot while the Red Sox faced left-handed pitchers in each of the past four games, but he'll end up losing his spot on the 26-man active roster with Boston bringing Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday. During his three-plus-week stay with the Red Sox, Eaton went 6-for-24 (.250 average) with zero home runs, three stolen bases, five runs and one RBI in 14 games.

Allard re-signed with the Guardians on a minor-league contract Wednesday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Allard was DFA'd by Cleveland last Thursday and elected free agency after clearing waivers. He's decided to return to the Guardians on a minor-league deal after logging a 2.55 ERA and 16:8 K:BB across 35.1 innings of work with the big-league club this season.

Leasure earned the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Toronto, allowing one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.

He made quick work of the Blue Jays after Grant Taylor successfully faced down Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero in the eighth inning, with Leasure striking out the first two batters he faced before working around an Alejandro Kirk single. It's the second save of the year for Leasure and his first since May 20. The 26-year-old right-hander sports a 4.18 ERA with a 1.55 WHIP and 39 strikeouts through 32.1 innings this season.

Burr exited Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the White Sox with a shoulder injury and will travel back to Toronto to undergo an MRI, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Burr missed most of the first half of the season with a shoulder injury and recently returned from the 60-day injured list to make his 2025 debut in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Angels. The righty threw 15 pitches Wednesday, recording two outs without allowing a baserunner before exiting due to the shoulder issue.

Houser (5-2) earned the win Wednesday over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out two.

Houser picked up a third straight win and fourth consecutive quality start against a Blue Jays team that came into Wednesday on a 10-game hit streak. The 32-year-old Houser has been nothing short of remarkable since signing with the White Sox in late May. Through nine starts, his ERA is down to 1.56 with a 1.13 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 57.2 innings.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said that Rutschman (oblique) hit off a tee Wednesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

He was not swinging at full effort, but it's a step beyond the dry swings Rutschman took Tuesday. Rutschman will continue to go through a hitting progression as he works his way back from a strained left oblique. A clearer picture of his timeline to return from the 10-day injured list should be available later this month.

Rafaela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rockies.

Rafaela will put his six-game hitting streak on hold and will head to the bench for the first time since June 18 while Jarren Duran gets a start in center field in his stead. With Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) returning from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and entering the lineup at designated hitter, the Red Sox will have a bit of a logjam in the outfield, where Roman Anthony is likely to be more of a factor moving forward. Though Rafaela is the Red Sox's best defensive center fielder, manager Alex Cora acknowledged that the 25-year-old could get consideration for more spot starts in the infield, according to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. Though he's played exclusively in center field in 2025, Rafaela made 71 starts at shortstop and four at second base last season, in addition to playing seven innings as a reserve at third base. The keystone would seem to be the most logical position for the Red Sox to use Rafaela in order to free up more at-bats for others in the outfield, as Boston has recently been getting by with a rotation of Romy Gonzalez, David Hamilton and Marcelo Mayer at the position.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that Akin will be shut down 5-to-7 days after receiving an injection in his injured left shoulder, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The hope is that the injection will speed along the healing process and allow Akin to begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break. Akin has put up a 3.38 ERA and 38:18 K:BB over 38 innings out of the bullpen in 2025.

Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Wednesday that Eflin (back) is tracking toward making a rehab start Sunday, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Eflin likely has one more throwing session to get through before the Orioles map out a rehab schedule for him, but assuming he experiences no further setbacks with his back, he should be ready to report to an affiliate Sunday. The veteran right-hander may need just one rehab start before rejoining the Baltimore rotation at the start of the second half. Eflin has been on the 15-day injured list since late June due to low-back discomfort.