MLB Player News

Garcia (elbow) made the fifth start of his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Sugar Land, striking out two batters over 2.2 innings while allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks.

Following stops in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, Single-A Fayetteville and Double-A Corpus Christi, Garcia moved up to the Astros' top affiliate for his most recent appearance. The Astros have been having Garcia build up slowly following his May 2023 Tommy John surgery and his subsequent elbow-related setbacks, as he has yet to hit the three-inning mark in any of his rehab outings and reached 50 pitches for the first time Friday. The right-hander's 30-day rehab window will come to a close later this week, but because he won't be fully stretched out by then, the Astros could opt to extend his assignment if they intend to bring him back from the 60-day injured list as a starter rather than a reliever.

Bassitt did not factor in the decision during Sunday's extra-inning loss to Kansas City. He allowed a run on one hit and three walks over six innings while striking out five.

The lone run against Bassitt came on a fourth-inning sacrifice fly by Mike Yastrzemski. It was a welcome bounce-back after Bassitt coughed up six runs in just 2.1 innings in his last appearance. He threw 91 pitches (54 strikes) Sunday and walked multiple batters for the first time since July 3; Bassitt had walked only two batters over his previous 23 frames. The veteran righty is now sporting a 4.12 ERA with a 126:33 K:BB through 129 frames. Bassitt is lined up for a road matchup with the Dodgers next weekend.

Lugo did not factor in the decision during Sunday's extra-inning win over Toronto. He allowed two runs on four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings while striking out three.

Lugo struggled with command throughout his start and needed 90 pitches (57 strikes) to record just 14 outs. He gave up a run in the second inning after a pair of walks and was knocked out of the game in the fifth after a Joey Loperfido RBI single. Lugo had completed at least five frames in 10 straight outings entering Sunday's contest, producing a 2.61 ERA during that span. The veteran righty has walked four batters in two straight outings and now owns a 107:41 K:BB across 113.1 innings this season. Lugo will carry a 3.06 ERA into his next outing, which is projected to be in Minnesota next weekend.

Cobb (hips) struck out two batters and allowed one unearned run on two hits and one walk over two innings in a rehab start with High-A West Michigan on Sunday.

Cobb has been on the shelf all season due to right hip inflammation, but he was pulled off a rehab assignment in June after experiencing soreness in both of his hips. The right-hander previously had his left hip surgically repaired following the 2023 season, so the Tigers have understandably brought Cobb along slowly in his recovery following the setback. He made enough progress in recent weeks to kick off a rehab assignment with West Michigan on Tuesday, and after tossing two innings in that contest, he turned in another two-inning start four days later while tossing 38 pitches. He sported a fastball that sat around 91-to-93 miles per hour Sunday, with that velocity being about a tick behind his average from 2024. The Tigers are expected to have Cobb continue to get stretched out as a starter during his rehab assignment, though it's unclear if the big club will have a spot in the rotation available for him once he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list.

Soler (back) hasn't resumed taking part in baseball activities since landing on the 10-day injured list July 26, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Soler is eligible to come off the IL on Monday, though it's clear that he'll need more than the minimum 10 days to recover from his bout with low back inflammation. The 33-year-old was previously shelved from June 20 through June 30 with a back issue, so the Angels could be motivated to take a more cautious approach with his recovery from his latest back problem. Gustavo Campero, Jo Adell and Luis Rengifo are likely to see most of the starts in right field while Adell is sidelined.

Stephenson (biceps) threw a bullpen session featuring his full repertoire Saturday, MLB.com reports.

The side session was Stephenson's second in less than a week, but he incorporated his full arsenal Sunday after throwing only fastballs Wednesday. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, Stephenson is slated to throw three more bullpen sessions before he advances to facing hitters and then heads out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Given all the checkpoints he still needs to hit in his recovery process, Stephenson appears unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list until late August at the soonest.

Akin (3-1) took the loss in Sunday's 5-3 contest against the Cubs, yielding two runs (one earned) on one hit while failing to retire a batter.

The Orioles southpaw entered the game with the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth. After Dansby Swanson reached on a throwing error, veteran Justin Turner cracked a walk-off, pinch-hit long ball on the first pitch he saw. Akin converted a save Saturday to stake a claim as Baltimore's go-to closer while Felix Bautista (shoulder) is out of action, but this performance could add uncertainty to his control over that position. He has pitched to a solid 3.38 ERA and 9.0 K/9 in 40 total innings and remains in a battle with Corbin Martin and Yennier Cano for the closer role.

Young conceded two unearned runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings while not factoring into the decision in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Cubs. He struck out four.

The Baltimore rookie right-hander fared well in this short, 80-pitch outing. Young allowed two unearned runs to score in the first but then settled in to tame the Chicago lineup, as he allowed just one extra-base hit -- an Ian Happ double that drove home one of those unearned runs. After pitching to a 7.52 ERA in 26.1 innings over his first six starts, the 26-year-old has performed better over his latest three outings, producing a 3.00 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB across 15 frames. Even with Cade Povich (hip) being slated to rejoin the Orioles rotation Monday, Young should continue to make starts while Zach Eflin (back) is sidelined. Young currently lines up to make his next appearance against the Athletics at home next weekend.

Orioles manager Tony Mansolino said Sunday that Eflin received an injection to address his lower-back discomfort, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Eflin is on the injured list for the second time in the past two months due to the back issue, which resurfaced after he made just two starts for Baltimore following his return from the IL. The Orioles are hoping that the injection will provide Eflin with some more permanent relief, but Mansolino noted that the right-hander is without a timeline to resume throwing. Given the Orioles' standing as non-playoff contenders, Eflin will likely be brought along deliberately even once he's cleared to start throwing again.

Boyle did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Dodgers, allowing three hits and two walks over five scoreless innings. He struck out two.

It was a strong rebound effort from Boyle, after he gave up six runs (four earned) in just 3.1 innings his last time out against the Yankees. Overall, the 6-foot-8 Boyle has impressed this season, posting a 2.30 ERA with a 0.88 WHIP and 26:11 K:BB through his first 27.1 innings. He'll remain in the rotation going forward after the Rays traded away Zack Littell and Taj Bradley at the deadline. Boyle is currently scheduled to face the Mariners on the road in his next outing.