MLB Player News

Manager Kevin Cash says Sulser (back) should return to the Rays "pretty soon," MLB.com reports .

Sulser has been facing hitters in live batting practice and is progressing well from a lower-back strain. It sounds like the 36-year-old right-hander will be able to dodge a minor-league rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Through 22 innings, Sulser has a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB.

Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, a solo homer and one walk in Friday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Brewers.

Smith continues to show signs of life at the plate, as he now has back-to-back multi-hit games with hits in nine of his last 11 contests. During that span, Smith has a pair of doubles, two homers and four RBI and has raised his average 25 points. After briefly losing some playing time in the Houston outfield, Smith has now started nine consecutive games and is slashing .221/.312/.358 with six homers, 21 RBI, 25 runs scored, seven stolen bases and a 22:59 BB:K across 219 plate appearances. His glove has helped keep him in the everyday lineup.

The Rays hope Wilson (back) will be able to start bullpen sessions June 8, MLB.com reports.

Wilson is only playing catch at this point, but Tampa Bay is optimistic he'll be able to advance his throwing program early next month. The right-hander has been sidelined since the spring due to lumbar disk inflammation as well as an appendectomy. Last regular season, Wilson posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings with the White Sox.

King was charged with a blown save Friday against the Brewers, allowing an inherited runner to score on one hit across 1.2 innings.

After Bryan Abreu came on and walked the first two batters he faced to begin the top of the eighth inning, Abreu got a flyout and was pulled in favor of King, who induced a game-tying RBI groundout from Jake Bauers. King retired five of the six batters he faced, but it was officially his third blown save of the season. The left-hander owns a 2.84 ERA and 19:10 K:BB across 25.1 innings this season. With Josh Hader (biceps) extremely close to making his 2026 season debut, King should soon settle into a setup role.

Cano (1-2) was charged with the loss and a blown save Friday against Toronto, allowing two runs on three hits and no walks in one-third of an inning.

Cano exited Wednesday's game against the Rays due to right hamstring discomfort, but he was able to get back on the mound after getting a day off Thursday. The right-hander gave up multiple runs for the first time this season Friday and was also saddled with his first blown save. For the year, Cano still has a strong 2.75 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB with four holds over 19.2 innings.

Teng didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Brewers, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks with seven strikeouts across five innings.

Teng generated a season-high 13 whiffs on his 91 pitches Friday and matched his season high with seven strikeouts. Over his last three outings, all starts since entering the rotation full time, Teng has racked up 20 strikeouts across 16 innings. However, walks have been a problem, as he's issued 11 free passes during that span. The long ball was an issue against Milwaukee, as Teng surrendered a solo homer and two-run shot for his only allowed runs. Since becoming a member of the Houston rotation, Teng has yielded six runs on 12 hits and 12 walks with 21 strikeouts across 19 innings.

Bello did not factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Guardians, allowing four hits and no walks with five strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.

Bello entered in the second inning with a 4-0 deficit and dominated, needing just 63 pitches to complete seven scoreless frames while generating 11 whiffs. He'll finish May with a 2.67 ERA in 30.1 innings, with the bulk of his damage coming in his lone start of the month while he yielded just two earned runs across four relief appearances. He owns a 5.63 ERA, 1.64 WHIP and 40:21 K:BB over 56 innings this season and lines up for a home matchup against the Orioles next week.

Cecconi did not factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 win over the Red Sox, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 4.1 innings.

Cecconi was staked to an early 4-0 lead and opened with four scoreless frames before allowing three runs while recording just one out in the fifth inning. The 26-year-old tied a season low with 69 pitches, which ironically came in the only other start this season in which he did not issue a walk. He'll carry a 5.25 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 50:20 K:BB across 61.2 innings into a tough road matchup against the Yankees next week.

Grissom went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored during the Angels' 8-5 loss to the Rays on Friday.

Grissom put the Angels on the board with an RBI single in the third before driving in another run with a double in the eighth. He's up to 23 RBI on the season, eight of which have come over his last four games. Grissom is slashing .235/.305/.383 with 11 extra-base hits and 10 runs scored across 132 plate appearances.

Urena did not factor into Friday's decision against the Rays, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out five across six innings.

Urena put the Angels behind early after giving up a leadoff home run to Yandy Diaz. The former collected himself after the long ball to keep the Rays off the board over the final five innings of his start, generating 12 whiffs and eight groundouts while tossing 60 strikes on 92 pitches (65.2 percent strike rate). It was Urena's fourth quality start of the season, and he was in line for the win before the Angels gave up seven runs in the seventh frame. He'll take a 2.44 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 44.1 innings into his next start, which is slated for next week at home against the Rockies.