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  • Sharp in first rehab start
    Kershaw (shoulder) completed three innings in a rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and one walk while striking out five batters.

    Advice: Kershaw impressed in his first game action since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, throwing 26 of his 36 pitches for strikes and hitting 90 mph -- right around his regular-season velocity -- on his fastball. The veteran left-hander began a bit shakily in giving up a one-out first-inning triple that was cashed in on a sacrifice fly, but Kershaw was in complete control thereafter, with his only walk coming on a pitch-clock violation that appeared to be intentional in order to allow him to face another batter. Kershaw is expected to log multiple additional rehab outings before potentially joining Los Angeles' rotation sometime around mid-July. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:17 pm
     
  • Remains perfect in save conversions
    Yates earned a save against the Mets on Wednesday, striking out one batter in a perfect ninth inning.

    Advice: Yates protected a two-run Texas lead in the top of the ninth frame, retiring the side in order on 16 pitches. The veteran reliever is a perfect 11-for-11 in save chances this season -- no closer in baseball has converted more saves without blowing any opportunities. Yates hasn't given up more than one run in any of his 26 appearances, leading to a superb 1.03 ERA. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:28 pm
     
  • Secures 15th save
    Megill struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Angels.

    Advice: Megill needed just seven pitches (six strikes) against the middle of the Angels' order to close out this contest. He's pitched four of the last five days, but he's thrown just 12 pitches over his last two outings. He's now 15-for-16 in save chances with a 2.01 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB through 22.1 innings this season. If Megill is unavailable for Thursday's series opener versus the Padres due to his recent workload, a potential save chance would likely go to Joel Payamps or Hoby Milner. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:19 pm
     
  • Trevor Megill secures 15th save vs. Angels
    Trevor Megill struck out one batter in a perfect ninth inning to record the save against the Angels on Wednesday.

    Advice: Megill was summoned with a two-run lead in the ninth to close it out against the Angels. He made quick work of Los Angeles, needing only seven pitches to put them away with one strikeout for his 15th save of the season. Rotoworld Yesterday, 9:05 pm
     
  • Solid in season debut
    Cole did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's 7-6 loss to the Orioles, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over four innings.

    Advice: Cole surrendered a run on an RBI double by Ryan O'Hearn in the first inning then settled in over the next three. He allowed a single to Cedric Mullins to open the fifth and was pulled after throwing 62 pitches, but Mullins scored on a home run surrendered by Yankees reliever Ron Marinaccio. Cole maxed out at 68 pitches during his minor-league rehab, so the Yankees appear to be easing him into his return. He touched 97 mph on his fastball and generated six swinging strikes in a solid season debut and will look to build up his workload early next week against the Mets. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:56 pm
     
  • Gerrit Cole allows two runs in four-plus innings
    Gerrit Cole lasted for four-plus innings in his return to the Yankees on Wednesday against the Orioles. He struck out five, walked one, and allowed two earned runs in a loss.

    Advice: Cole was not his sharpest, understandably, in this one. The Orioles are a tough matchup and they made lots of loud contact as Cole struggled with command, especially with his knuckle curve. The Yankees limited him to just 62 pitches in this one and he’ll have a chance to right the ship next week against the Mets. Rotoworld Yesterday, 8:15 pm
     
  • Kirby Yates secures 11th save
    Kirby Yates pitched a clean ninth inning with a strike out in a win over the Mets on Wednesday.

    Advice: Yates worked a pain-free ninth after struggling on Tuesday against this same Mets lineup in a tie game. He’s been one of the best closers in the league since earning the role in April with a sterling 1.03 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:53 pm
     
  • Clayton Kershaw goes three in first rehab start
    Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) went three innings in his first minor league rehab start at High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday night.

    Advice: The 36-year-old southpaw threw 36 pitches on the night — 26 of them for strikes — while hitting 90 mph on his fastball. Kershaw surrendered one run on two hits and a walk while punching out five in the ballgame. He’ll continue to work every fifth day or so in the minor leagues to build up his stamina with a goal of rejoining the Dodgers’ rotation at some point around the All-Star break. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:37 pm
     
  • Activated ahead of start
    The Yankees reinstated Cole (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

    Advice: Cole has been on the injured list all season due to nerve irritation in his right elbow, but he will now officially return to the Yankees' rotation and make his season debut Wednesday against the Orioles. The 33-year-old righty was dominant during his three rehab starts, posting a minuscule 0.73 ERA while striking out 19 batters and walking none in 12.1 innings. However, he only built up to 68 pitches during his time in the minors, so he will likely be working under some sort of restriction during his return to a big-league mound. Anthony Rizzo (arm) was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room for Cole on the 40-man roster. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:18 pm