MLB Player News

Stephenson (elbow) had his minor-league rehab assignment moved up to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Stephenson pitched in two games with Single-A Inland Empire prior to being bumped up to Salt Lake. He's gotten into two contests in Triple-A so far, allowing a run on two hits while striking out two batters and walking none over two innings. The righty reliever underwent UCL repair surgery in May of last year, and he appears on the brink of a return to the majors. If all goes well moving forward, Stephenson could join the Angels' bullpen as soon as early June.

Jobe (4-1) took the loss against the Guardians on Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out three across five innings.

Both of the runs Jobe yielded came in the first inning. He kept the Guardians off the board over the next four frames and generated 11 whiffs on 89 pitches (53 strikes), but he didn't receive enough run support to avoid the loss, his first of 2025. Jobe has yielded three earned runs or less in eight of nine starts this season and has a 4.06 ERA and 1.42 WHIP across 44.1 innings. His next start is tentatively slated for next week at home against the Giants.

Clase earned the save in Friday's 3-1 win over the Tigers, striking out one batter in a perfect ninth inning.

Clase needed 12 pitches (eight strikes) to protect the Guardians' two-run lead in the ninth, highlighted by a three-pitch punchout of Trey Sweeney. Clase has converted 10 of 12 save opportunities this season and hasn't yielded an earned run since April 30 against the Twins. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 4.29 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB across 21 innings in 2025.

Ramirez went 1-for-4 with a steal, an RBI triple and a run scored in Friday's 3-1 win over Detroit.

Ramirez got the Guardians on the board in the first inning on an RBI triple to right field, and the veteran third baseman came around to score two batters later. Ramirez has reached base safely in 20 consecutive games and is on a 16-game hitting streak, during which he's slashed .381/.451/.683 with five steals, 14 runs scored, four home runs and 10 RBI in 71 plate appearances.

Soler went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the Marlins.

Soler had not homered since May 1, but he supplied an insurance run in the eighth inning of this contest. During that power drought, Soler hit .194 and slugged just .242 over 17 games while adding a 9:19 BB:K. The 33-year-old is up to seven homers, 19 RBI, 20 runs scored, 10 doubles and a .227/.301/.407 slash line across 47 games this season as the Angels' primary designated hitter. He's also seen some time in right field to put a little pressure on Jo Adell for playing time.

Cecconi (1-1) came away with the win in Friday's game against the Tigers. He allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings.

Cecconi kept the Tigers off the board until the sixth inning, when he yielded a solo home run to Spencer Torkelson. Cecconi was able to finish off the frame to earn his first quality start of the season (and first since June 18 as a member of the Diamondbacks) and finished with 14 whiffs on 84 pitches (56 strikes). He should remain in the Guardians' rotation with Ben Lively (elbow) set to undergo season-ending surgery. Cecconi's next start is slated for next week at home against the Dodgers.

Ward went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a second RBI, a walk and two total runs scored in Friday's 7-4 win over the Marlins.

Ward's hitting streak is up to nine games (15-for-36), and that includes six homers, 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBI. It's an impressive power surge for any player, but this has been a big bounce back in May for Ward after his slump in late April leaked into early May. For the year, he's up to 15 homers, 36 RBI, 30 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases through 49 contests. While he's batting just .228, he's posted a .799 OPS and continues to make a big impact with power.

Jansen walked two and struck out one over a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Friday's 7-4 win over the Marlins.

After pitching four times in five days from May 16-20, Jansen had a couple of days off before the Angels' next save chance occurred. He made this one a little interesting, as he put two runners in scoring position, but he got Graham Pauley to pop out to end the threat. Jansen has given up just one run over his last 5.1 innings despite allowing at least one baserunner in all five appearances in that span. For the year, he's at a 4.96 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB over 16.1 innings while converting all 11 of his save chances, so his status as the Angels' closer isn't in danger.

Kikuchi (1-4) allowed seven hits and four walks while striking out four over 5.2 scoreless innings to earn the win over the Marlins on Friday.

Kikuchi came up an out short of a quality start for the second time in a row, though this time it was due to his workload rather than an injury scare. He threw 110 pitches (70 strikes) in Friday's outing, and he was strong despite his ongoing issue with walking too many batters. He's allowed one run or fewer in three of his last four outings. Kikuchi's 3.17 ERA is strong, but his 1.49 WHIP and 54:30 K:BB over 59.2 innings (11 starts) raise plenty of concerns about sustainability. His next start is projected to be a tough home matchup versus the Yankees.

Mahle (5-2) took the loss against the White Sox on Friday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out three across five innings.

All three runs charged to Mahle came in the third inning in a span of three plate appearances, capped off by a Luis Robert RBI single to center field. Mahle was able to keep the White Sox off the board otherwise, but he didn't receive enough run support to avoid the loss. It was the first time that the 30-year-old right-hander yielded three runs or more in a start this season, but his 1.80 ERA (across 60 innings) ranks fourth in the majors. Mahle is slated to face the Blue Jays at home next week.