MLB Player News

Higashioka (ribs) played five innings at catcher and went 1-for-3 with a double in a rehab game with Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Higashioka began a rehab assignment this weekend at Round Rock, initially getting five at-bats as the designated hitter Saturday before making his first start behind the plate Sunday. He'll likely come off the Rangers' 10-day injured list at some point during the upcoming week and will supplant Tucker Barnhart as the team's No. 2 catcher.

Rocchio did not appear in the recently completed three-game series against the Phillies.

Rocchio watched Gabriel Arias start all three games at shortstop against Philadelphia and hasn't played since last Wednesday. It's been a challenging start to the season offensively for Rocchio, who has zero hits and walks over his last 28 at-bats. He sports a .165/.235/.198 slash line through 35 games. Arias (.735 OPS) and Daniel Schneemann (.888 OPS) are holding down the middle infield for the Guardians.

Cecconi (oblique) allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three over 5.2 innings for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

This was Cecconi's third rehab start and best to date. He worked into the sixth inning and threw 68 pitches (48 strikes). Through his three outings, Cecconi has allowed seven runs on 12 hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 13 innings. Most encouraging is that he's not allowed a home run, which has been an issue for the right-hander. There currently isn't an obvious spot for Cecconi in the Guardians' rotation, which suggests he may join the Clippers' rotation once activated.

Kirby (shoulder) completed his second minor-league rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in three innings, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Kirby threw 54 pitches (36 strikes) Saturday, and his fastball touched 97 mph. The hard-throwing right-hander is next expected to make a third rehab appearance while he enters the final stages of his recovery from right shoulder inflammation. If all continues to go well, Kirby should be able to make his season debut for the Mariners at some point before the end of May.

Severino (1-4) took the loss Sunday against the Yankees, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out two in four innings.

Severino got through the opening frame unscathed but was roughed up for five runs in the second while needing 37 pitches to complete the inning. He made it into the fifth but was relieved after allowing back-to-back singles. Both runners would end up scoring as part of another five-run inning for the Yankees. Sunday was just the second time this season Severino has failed to reach six innings, while his nine hits allowed marked a new season high. Sunday was also the third time Severino has allowed five runs or more in six starts at home this year. He'll aim to bounce back on the road versus the Giants over the weekend.

Ortiz (2-4) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out nine over six innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Phillies.

Ortiz logged his third quality start of the season, with the lone blemish being a Kyle Schwarber solo shot in the second inning. Two of those quality starts have been in Ortiz's last three outings, though he had a clunker in between those efforts by allowing six runs (five earned) to the Nationals on Tuesday. Ortiz's overall numbers are still rather pedestrian -- he's at a 4.78 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 49:21 K:BB through 43.1 innings over eight starts, but he has shown flashes of potential. The 26-year-old's next start is projected to be at Cincinnati.

Bleday went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Yankees.

Bleday had the team's only extra-base hit of the afternoon with a solo blast to right in the fifth inning. He's now hit three home runs since May 2 and is up to five for the season. Bleday's average has suffered all season long after he saw it jump up to .243 last year. Thus far, the 27-year-old outfielder is slashing .216/.313/.388 with 16 RBI, 25 runs and a 20:34 BB:K in 160 plate appearances.

Lugo went 1-for-1 with a solo home run in Sunday's loss to the Orioles.

Lugo stepped up to the plate as a pinch hitter in the ninth and delivered a 421-foot solo homer to left field. His first two major-league hits have now been an RBI triple and a solo home run in three games. It's still hard to envision Lugo carving out more consistent at-bats in the short term, but he definitely made some noise this past weekend and could be afforded some extra looks.

Anderson (2-1) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out five in five innings.

Anderson got tagged in the opening frame for a double and a triple (one of the hits dropped after it was lost in the sun) but escaped allowing only one run after punching out a pair. Anderson kept the Orioles at bay over the next three frames, but an error to begin the fifth awarded them two unearned runs before his day was done. It was his first time in his last five starts not reaching six innings but also his first time since April 18 not allowing a home run. Anderson's allowed three runs or fewer in every outing thus far but will have his hands full against the Dodgers on the road over the weekend.

Miller (2-4) allowed seven runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over five-plus innings to take the loss versus the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Miller struggled throughout the 92-pitch outing, though the game didn't get out of hand until he allowed a three-run home run to George Springer in the fifth inning. The seven runs allowed were a season high for Miller, who has also given up four runs on three other occasions. He's now at a 5.22 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 35:21 K:BB through 39.2 innings over eight starts, and he's yet to complete six innings in any of them. He's tentatively projected to make his next start on the road in San Diego.