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.

Imanaga (4-6) took the loss against the Cardinals on Friday, allowing five runs on five hits and one walk with two strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Imanaga surrendered three homers for the second straight start and has now yielded 10 long balls across six May contests. The southpaw has really struggled over his past three outings, allowing 20 earned runs while watching his ERA climb from 2.32 to 4.37. He still owns a solid 1.07 WHIP and 69:18 K:BB across 70 innings this season and will aim to get back on track in a home matchup against the Athletics next week.

Vientos went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during the Mets' 9-7 extra-inning win over the Marlins on Friday.

Vientos extended the Mets' lead to 5-1 in the third inning after taking Max Meyer deep to left-center field for a solo home run. It was the seventh long ball of the year for Vientos, five of which have come over his last 24 games since May 3. He is slashing .224/.261/.391 with 24 RBI and 15 extra-base hits over 184 plate appearances this season.

Melendez went 1-for-1 with a home run and three RBI during the Mets' 9-7 extra-inning win over the Marlins on Friday.

Melendez didn't start Friday's game but came in to pinch hit in the seventh inning, when his flyball to left field was enough to bring Bo Bichette home. Melendez made a bigger impact in the 10th frame, when he took Pete Fairbanks deep for a two-run, walk-off home run. Melendez entered the game having gone 2-for-35 with 16 strikeouts over his last 18 outings, but perhaps his big night against Miami will be enough to spark a turnaround at the plate.

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.

Peralta did not factor into Friday's decision against the Marlins, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.2 innings.

Peralta retired the first six batters he faced in Friday's start, but he proceeded to give up four runs over the next three frames, though two were unearned due to a fielding error by Mark Vientos in the fifth inning. It was just the second time in 12 starts that Peralta failed to complete five innings, and he now sits at a 3.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 68:28 K:BB across 66 innings. His next start is slated for next week against the Mariners in Seattle.