MLB Player News

Mesa is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Yankees.

Mesa started the previous five and nine of the last 10 games for the Rays, but he will exit the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Bronx Bombers. Jonny DeLuca will cover right field and bat fifth.

Oviedo (elbow) began a throwing program in mid-June but isn't considered close to a return from the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.

Oviedo has been on the shelf since April 3 after sustaining a right flexor strain during a long-relief appearance in his season and Red Sox debut March 30 in Houston. The Red Sox haven't revealed where Oviedo currently stands in his throwing program, but until he's cleared to begin a rehab assignment, a target date for his return from the 60-day injured list won't be available.

The Red Sox announced June 25 that Houck (elbow) has started light throwing off a mound, MLB.com reports.

The activity represents a step forward in a lengthy recovery process for Houck, who had previously been limited to playing catch off flat ground in his rehab for the UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair surgery he underwent Aug. 18, 2025. Houck is hopeful to pitch at some point for the Red Sox in 2026, though he likely won't have enough time to get stretched out for a starting role and will presumably work out of the bullpen if he ends up getting activated from the 60-day injured list.

The Rays recalled Roycroft from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Tampa Bay optioned right-hander Mason Englert to Triple-A to open up a spot on the active roster for Roycroft, who will join the big club for the first time since being acquired via trade with St. Louis on June 23. Roycroft owns a 5.02 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 28.2 innings at the Triple-A level this season and will likely be limited to a low-leverage relief role while he's up with the Rays.

The Rays optioned Englert to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Englert will head back to Triple-A after he was summoned from Durham on Sunday to make a spot start while the Rays looked to give the five members of their rotation an extra day of rest. The right-hander was excellent in the Rays' 2-0 loss to the Astros, striking out a career-high nine batters while permitting two runs on five hits and one walk across 5.2 innings. The Rays will open their second-half schedule July 17 with 11 games in a 10-day period, and Englert looks like a good bet to be recalled to make at least one start during that stretch.

Pasquantino (hand) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Pasquantino has been rehabbing at the Royals' spring training complex in Arizona and is now ready to test things out in games. The first baseman had surgery in mid-June to remove a fractured hamate bone in his right hand and is tracking toward a return to the active roster immediately following the All-Star break.

Isbel will not begin a rehab assignment Tuesday as hoped after feeling soreness in his left foot while running this past weekend, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Isbel has been sidelined for nearly a month after being diagnosed with a Grade 3 tear of a portion of his left plantar fascia. He had aimed to play a handful of rehab games before returning to the Royals' active roster after the All-Star break, but now Isbel will be re-evaluated before next steps are determined. With Isbel's status unclear, Lane Thomas will get more run in center field for Kansas City.

The Red Sox announced June 28 that Story (sports hernia) is taking part in full baseball activities, MLB.com reports.

Story hasn't yet been cleared to do every activity at 100 percent intensity, so until he reaches that benchmark in his recovery from sports hernia surgery, he won't be ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment. The 33-year-old shortstop previously said that he expected to miss around eight weeks after undergoing surgery May 21, so he may have a shot at returning from the 60-day injured list at some point shortly after the All-Star break.

The Red Sox announced June 29 that Crawford (forearm) has been throwing plyometric balls during workouts at the team's spring training facility in Florida, MLB.com reports.

Crawford was expected to be in store for an abbreviated stint on the shelf to begin the season while completing his recovery from the wrist surgery he underwent last July, but he experienced forearm tightness coming out of his lone rehab start April 11 with Triple-A Worcester and has struggled to bounce back. While the fact that he's not shut down from activity entirely is promising, Crawford will still need to complete an extended throwing progression followed by a lengthy rehab assignment before he factors into the Red Sox's pitching plans. Given the multiple hurdles he still needs to clear, Crawford is unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list until August or September.

Rodon (elbow) is not expected to be ready to rejoin the Yankees' rotation until around mid-August, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports.

Rodon landed on the 15-day injured list this past Friday with a left elbow injury. While the hurler's UCL is uncompromised, he is dealing with significant inflammation that's likely to keep him shelved for at least 4-to-6 weeks. The southpaw got a late start to the season while recovering from offseason elbow surgery, so the Yankees undoubtedly will tread lightly here. Rodon has turned in a 3.30 ERA and 52:26 K:BB over 46.1 innings covering nine starts for the Yankees this season.