MLB Player News

The Red Sox recalled Criswell from Triple-A Worcester to start Friday's game against the Royals, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Criswell made 11 starts with the Red Sox earlier this season, but he's spent the better part of a month at Triple-A after being optioned June 18. However, with Josh Winckowski moving to the bullpen, Boston opted to bring Criswell back up to fill a rotation spot. Criswell has a 4.15 ERA and a 49:13 K:BB across 52.0 innings with the Red Sox this season.

The Athletics reinstated Harris from the paternity list Friday. Harris will start Friday's game against Philadelphia.

Harris missed the maximum three games on the paternity list and will be activated in time to start Friday on six days' rest. The southpaw hasn't allowed more than three runs in eight consecutive starts and owns a 3.22 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 44.2 innings on the year. Michel Otanez was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in a corresponding move.

Harris is in line to return from the paternity list to start Friday's game in Philadelphia.

Harris has been away from the team for the maximum three games since being placed on the paternity list Tuesday, so Oakland would have had to add him back to the roster Friday even if he wasn't scheduled to start. He'll be taking the hill on six days' rest after facing Baltimore last weekend. Harris has been a dependable innings eater for Oakland, working between five and six frames in all but one of his last seven outings while delivering a 3.00 ERA and 1.36 WHIP during that stretch.

Kochanowicz (0-1) was charged with the loss against the Mariners on Thursday, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits over three innings while striking out one.

The 23-year-old got rocked right out of the gate in his major-league debut, allowing four consecutive hits to open the contest while also hitting Luke Raley with a pitch. Kochanowicz would allow four runs in the frame, though only three would be charged to him on account of a fielding error by Luis Guillorme. Kochanowicz then surrendered a leadoff homer to Cal Raleigh in the third, though the right-hander would at least make it through the inning before being relieved by Kenny Rosenberg to begin the fourth. It was an ugly first start for Kochanowicz, and there's no guarantee the rookie will remain in the rotation coming out of the All-Star break.

Castillo (8-9) picked up the win over the Angels on Thursday, allowing four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings while striking out five.

Castillo allowed baserunners in each of the first three innings but managed to work his way out of trouble on each occasion. The right-hander threw first-pitch strikes to 17 of 23 batters and induced 12 whiffs on the night to earn his second consecutive win. Castillo has now gone at least six innings in back-to-back outings after previously failing to do so in three straight. However, he's also issued multiple free passes in four of his last five starts.

Bloss did not factor into the decision in a win over the Marlins on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over four innings while striking out four.

Bloss got off to a bit of a rough start, surrendering a solo homer to Bryan De La Cruz in the second at-bat of the game before then throwing two wild pitches in the second inning, which helped lead to another run coming across for Miami. However, the right-hander appeared to settle in after that, hurling two scoreless innings before being relieved by Shawn Dubin to open the fifth. Bloss threw 82 pitches in his first start since returning from the injured list and induced nine whiffs while throwing first-pitch strikes to 13 of 18 batters. He'll look to build off this performance in his next start, which will come after the All-Star break.

Medina (2-4) took the loss against Boston on Thursday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over five innings.

Medina fell behind 3-0 after one inning and then 5-0 after allowing a solo homer in each of the third and fourth frames. He ended his outing having tied a season-worst mark with six runs allowed despite recording a campaign-high seven punchouts. The poor performance stalled the momentum Medina had built up in allowing just two runs over 11 frames across his previous two starts.

Houck (8-6) earned the win over the Athletics on Thursday, allowing two hits and issuing three walks while striking out six batters over six scoreless innings.

The A's managed just two hits (both singles) off Houck and didn't get a runner to second base until the sixth frame. Houck was pulled after that inning with 103 pitches and having recorded his 14th quality start of the campaign -- tied for fourth-most in the majors. The right-hander also ranks fifth among qualified pitchers with a 2.54 ERA and 13th with a 1.03 WHIP.

Cortes (4-8) took the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 4.1 innings.

A two-run homer by Randy Arozarena put Cortes behind in the first inning, but New York tied the score with solo homers in the second and third. However, the southpaw surrendered three runs in the bottom of the third frame, and the Yankees never managed to catch up. Cortes thus took his third loss across his past four outings, and he's already doubled his previous career-worst mark with eight defeats on the campaign. He hasn't been as bad as his record indicates, though, recording a 3.67 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 110:22 K:BB over 115.1 innings.

Baz allowed three runs six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Yankees on Thursday.

Baz allowed solo homers to Austin Wells and Juan Soto in the second and third innings, respectively, but entered the fifth holding a 5-2 lead. He didn't stick around long enough to qualify for the victory, however, since he was removed in that frame with two runners on base and one out. It's not necessarily surprising that Baz was pulled in that situation given that it was just his second big-league appearance since his 2022 Tommy John surgery, though he had thrown only 68 pitches and demonstrated good control with 48 strikes after tossing 92 pitches in a six-inning win during his season debut July 5. It's not yet clear if Baz will remain in the rotation when Jeffrey Springs (elbow) returns to action, which could happen shortly after the All-Star break.