MLB Player News

Kikuchi did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Giants. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out 13 over 7.1 innings while not walking a batter.

Kikuchi set a new career high with 13 strikeouts in this one and notched his fifth career 10-strikeout game. Both runs against him came via the long ball. Heliot Ramos took him deep in the fourth and then Tyler Fitzgerald led off the eighth with a solo blast, which ended Kikuchi's night at 100 pitches. He was still in line for the win at that point with the Blue Jays leading 3-2, but that lead was eventually squandered in the ninth. Tuesday's outing certainly boosted Kikuchi's trade value if the Blue Jays end up selling at the deadline. However, he does have a 6.38 ERA and has given up eight homers over his last five starts. For the year, Kikuchi owns a 4.00 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 111:23 K:BB in 101.1 innings. He lines up for another start over the weekend against the Diamondbacks before the All-Star break.

Mahle (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday.

This was Mahle's second rehab start. The outing was originally reported to be for Triple-A Round Rock but was moved to Frisco. He threw 32 pitches (23 strikes), up from 19 pitches in Mahle's first rehab start. The right-hander will make a few more starts before returning to the majors.

Clement went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Giants.

Clement gave the Blue Jays a 3-1 lead in the seventh after taking Ryan Walker deep to left center, but the lead would end up slipping away in the ninth. Clement's homer was one of three hits the team mustered up on the night and his fifth long ball of the season. Clement should continue to see a steady dose of at-bats as long as Isiah Kiner-Falefa (knee) is on the shelf. The 28-year-old is now slashing .250/.266/.407 with 17 RBI, 20 runs and a 3:15 BB:K in 179 plate appearances.

The Rays plan to bring Rasmussen (elbow) back as a reliever this season, Evan Closky of 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reports.

Rasmussen had an internal brace procedure on his right elbow last July. Between the Rays' rotation depth and the length of time it would take to build him back up as a starter, it makes sense that the righty is being viewed as a reliever in 2024. The plan will be to return Rasmussen to the rotation in 2025. Rasmussen is slated to throw a live batting practice session Saturday, with the goal to begin a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break.

Butler went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 12-9 loss to the Red Sox.

He also struck out twice, and the 24-year-old's inability to make consistent contact remains an issue. Butler has been productive since the calendar flipped to July, however, batting .292 (7-for-24) with three homers, a steal, six runs and seven RBI in seven games despite a 1:9 BB:K.

Estes (3-4) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering eight runs on seven hits and a walk over just 1.2 innings as the A's were downed 12-9 by the Red Sox. He struck out one.

Every Boston starting position player has at least one hit and one run by the end of the second inning, chasing Estes from the game in the process after 55 pitches (38 strikes). It was a hard crash back down to earth after he twirled a shutout against the Angels in his last start, but Tuesday's outing is more representative of the 22-year-old right-hander's level right now. Estes will carry a 5.53 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 44:14 K:BB through 57 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Philadelphia.

Raleigh went 3-for-5 with a pair of two-run homers, a double and three runs scored in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Padres.

The switch-hitting Raleigh was able to accomplish hitting a home run from both sides of the plate Tuesday night. He began with a two-run blast in the third from the left side and then matched it with a two-run shot from the right side in the seventh to put the Mariners up 7-0. Raleigh has just 62 hits this season and is hitting .210, but 17 of those have gone for home runs, leading to 55 RBI, which is tied for second among catchers. Raleigh has never been a guy to hit for much average but has always made up for it in the power department. His 74 home runs since the beginning of 2022 lead all catchers in the MLB and his 17 homers this season are the most by a Mariners' catcher before the All-Star break. The 27-year-old is slashing .210/.295/.414 and is on pace for career highs in home runs and RBI.

Rodriguez (quadricep) went 4-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, two RBI and three runs scored in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Padres.

After he was out of the lineup for the Mariners' previous game Sunday while he managed a quad injury, Rodriguez took back his spot in center field for the series opener in San Diego. He began his night with an RBI single in the first inning and later padded the Mariners' lead with a towering blast to left that landed in the second deck. Rodriguez doubled in the seventh for his fourth hit of the night before he was eventually replaced in the eighth inning as a precautionary move with the team up big. Rodriguez still maintains a disappointing slash line of .256/.354/.658 for the season, but he's been hot to begin July with a 1.229 OPS.

Gilbert (6-5) got the win Tuesday over the Padres, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over 7.2 innings.

All three runs against Gilbert came at the tail end of his outing. He allowed a solo home run to Jake Cronenworth in the seventh, and Kyle Higashioka added on with a two-run blast in the eighth to force Gilbert's exit from the game. Tuesday was just the third time this year he's allowed multiple home runs in a start, but also was the first time this season he's picked up a win while allowing more than one run. The 27-year-old recently was named an All-Star for the first time in his four-year career, and rightfully so, as he sports a 2.94 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 115:25 K:BB in 125.1 innings so far. He lines up for a Sunday start against the Angels this weekend before the league heads into the All-Star break.

Clase got the save in Tuesday's 9-8 extra-inning win over the Tigers. He pitched one inning and allowed one unearned run on two hits.

Clase allowed the phantom runner to score in the bottom of the 10th but worked around trouble to get his 28th save. The 26-year-old was named an All-Star for the third straight season thanks to his minuscule 0.83 ERA through 44 appearances. Clase is as consistent as they come in a position that can have volatility -- he's led MLB in saves each of the last two seasons and trails only Ryan Helsley in 2024.