MLB Player News

Burke was shut down due to left shoulder discomfort, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

It was already known Burke wouldn't pitch again this season, but the previous report indicated he wasn't being shut down due to a health issue. The shoulder discomfort is significantly more concerning, though the specifics of the injury remain unclear. The Rangers plan to utilize a bullpen game in his place Saturday versus the Yankees.

VerHagen (4-3) allowed three runs over 4.1 innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Twins. He gave up four hits and two walks, while striking out two.

As has been the case lately, VerHagen piggybacked with starter Daniel Norris, as the latter was limited to just three innings. Norris actually held the Twins scoreless during his time in the game, and VerHagen did the same into the seventh, but Luis Arraez got to him for a two-run blast that ultimately saddled the righty with the loss. VerHagen now has a 5.90 ERA this season and will continue to serve in a long-relief role over the season's final few games.

Norris pitched three scoreless innings and did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Twins. He allowed just two hits and struck out five.

That's now nine straight starts of exactly three innings for Norris, as the team has made a conscious effort to limit the lefty's workload. Norris has actually pitched pretty well in this role with a 3.33 ERA and 27 strikeouts across the 27 innings. For the season, the 26-year-old has now logged a career-high 144.1 innings, and at this point, he's not scheduled to make any more starts.

Johnson will likely start Thursday against the Rangers, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Johnson hasn't pitched more than two innings all month, so he'll likely see a similarly light workload should he get the ball for Thursday's series finale. Across seven appearances in September, the southpaw owns a 3.18 ERA, 1.59 WHIP and 5:5 K:BB in 5.2 innings.

Burke is healthy but has been shut down for the season, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Burke will finish the season having made his big-league debut and starting six games. He wasn't very good in those starts, however, posting a 7.43 ERA while striking out just 11.7 percent of opposing batters. The Rangers will go with a bullpen game in what would be his next scheduled start Saturday against the Yankees.

Diaz was recalled by the Blue Jays on Wednesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Diaz received his first big-league opportunity in early August, walking four batters and allowing two runs while recording just two outs in his only appearance. He'll be hoping to pitch at least one more time over the final four games of the season.

The Tigers aren't counting on Fulmer (elbow) to make his 2020 debut until after the All-Star break, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Manager Ron Gardenhire noted that the Tigers will check back in with Fulmer in spring training and see where he stands in his recovery from Tommy John surgery before a more definitive target date for his season debut is established. The procedure typically carries a recovery period of around 12-to-18 months, and the Tigers are apparently eyeing the long end of that timeline for Fulmer's return. Fulmer underwent surgery in late March after a ligament tear in his elbow was detected following his third Grapefruit League outing.

Fairbanks (2-3) was credited with the win in an extra-innings victory over the Yankees on Tuesday, firing a scoreless 12th inning during which he allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout.

Fairbanks was the last of eight relievers utilized by manager Kevin Cash behind starter Yonny Chirinos, who worked a modest three innings by design. The right-hander has been reliable more often than not in September despite a 5.23 ERA, a figure that belies the fact half of the six earned runs he's surrendered during the month came in one outing.

Pressly allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three in the eighth inning to pick up the hold in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Mariners.

This was Pressly's second outing since coming off the injured list and marked a return to his traditional role as the eighth-inning bridge to closer Roberto Osuna. In his first game back last Friday, he pitched the seventh inning while Will Harris worked the eighth. Pressly has struck out five batters in two innings of relief since his return.

Santiago allowed seven runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out eight over four innings in Tuesday's 11-0 loss to the Tigers. He did not factor in the decision.

Santiago was the primary pitcher Tuesday and avoided a loss because opener Carson Fulmer was tagged for four runs in the first inning. Santiago, whose ERA rose to 6.89 following the outing, lines up to pitch in the season's finale Sunday against Detroit, although it's unclear if he would work as a true starter or follow an opener again.