MLB Player News

Baker secured the save Thursday against the Royals, striking out one in a clean ninth inning.

Baker remains firmly entrenched as Tampa Bay's closer. The 31-year-old right-hander has yielded just one run in his past 15 outings and last blew a save back on May 13, converting 11 straight. His 22 saves trail only Cade Smith's 26 for the major-league lead, while Baker boasts a 1.89 ERA, 0.84 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB over 33.1 innings.

Seymour (5-1) earned the win Thursday against the Royals, allowing one run on three hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out eight.

That's now back-to-back quality starts for Seymour, who has excelled over his past five outings (three starts) while getting stretched out. During that span, the 27-year-old southpaw has a 2.52 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 27:6 K:BB covering 25 innings. Seymour, who holds a 4.02 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 60:21 K:BB over 56 innings on the year, is pushing for a permanent stay in the Rays' rotation, but a tough assignment against the Yankees awaits him for his next start.

Ragans underwent UCL repair surgery on his left elbow Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

It was unknown what type of procedure Ragans would need when the Royals announced last weekend that he was scheduled for surgery. Now confirmed to have undergone UCL repair surgery, the 28-year-old southpaw will officially miss the remainder of the season and is likely to remain out until at least midway through the 2027 campaign. He'll close the book on 2026 after putting up a 4.84 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 45:23 K:BB through 35.1 innings over eight starts.

The Rangers signed Voth to a minor-league contract Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Voth elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Twins on June 24. The right-hander has only appeared in three games at the major-league level between the Twins and Blue Jays in 2026. He has made 11 starts in the minors this season. He has yet to go past five innings pitched in his minor-league starts and has appeared only as a reliever in the majors this year.

The Royals optioned Cuas to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Cuas was just added to the roster Wednesday and permitted one run over two innings out of the bullpen in a loss to the Rays. He's clearing out to free up a roster spot for Stephen Kolek (personal), who will be the starting pitcher for Thursday's series finale versus the Rays.

Scholtens (wrist) completed a 20-pitch bullpen session June 8 but is without a clear target date for a return, MLB.com reports.

The Rays haven't indicated that Scholtens suffered a setback following that bullpen session, but the lack of recent updates on his status likely suggests that his return from the 15-day injured list isn't imminent. Scholtens posted a 3.82 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB in 37.2 innings over nine appearances (two starts) for Tampa Bay before hitting the shelf May 26 due to a right wrist strain.

Estevez (shoulder) received an injection Wednesday and will be shut down for the rest of the week before being re-evaluated, MLB.com reports.

Estevez had been making progress in recovery from a right rotator cuff strain, but he suffered a setback during Saturday's bullpen session. The Royals will allow the right-hander to rest following the injection before re-evaluating him and determining the next steps. Estevez made just one appearance this season before landing on the injured list due to a left foot contusion, eventually picking up the shoulder injury during a rehab appearance May 6.

Blanco (elbow) struck out four and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk across 4.1 innings Wednesday in a rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi.

Blanco pushed his pitch count up to 60 (45 strikes) in his third rehab start as he works his way back from the Tommy John surgery with an internal brace that he underwent last June. The right-hander will likely need to get stretched out to around 70-to-80 pitches before becoming a viable option for the Houston rotation, likely at some point shortly after the All-Star break. Before going under the knife last summer, Blanco turned in a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 48:20 K:BB in 48.1 innings over nine starts with Houston.

The Yankees activated Bednar from the paternity leave list Thursday.

Bednar missed all three games of the series against the Tigers as he welcomed a new baby to the family. The Yankees are idle Thursday, but they will have their closer available for this weekend's series versus the Twins.

Miles (4-1) picked up the win in Wednesday's 9-3 rout of the Mets, allowing one hit and one walk over three scoreless relief innings. He struck out five.

Taking over after opener Braydon Fisher had worked a scoreless first frame, Miles fired 34 of 46 pitches for strikes in a dominant performance while the Blue Jays built a 5-0 lead before he left the mound. Miles has been an outstanding find as a Rule 5 pick, and over 54 innings and 24 appearances (two starts) he's produced a 2.83 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 55:17 K:BB. Toronto is being very careful with his workload given his checkered injury history in the minors, but Miles has put himself firmly in the team's 2027 rotation plans.