MLB Player News

Early (7-5) earned the win over the Yankees on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out nine batters over six innings.

The southpaw got into trouble early, giving up a run on three hits in the first inning. However, he settled down from there, yielding just one more run on a Jose Caballero solo homer in the fourth. Early racked up an impressive 17 whiffs and set a season-high mark with nine punchouts. He was also able to give the Red Sox some length, going six frames for a second straight start after failing to do so across his first three outings in June. Early has had occasional rough appearances but has held his own so far during his first full big-league season, posting a 3.59 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 88:32 K:BB through 87.2 frames.

Gore (5-6) earned the win Thursday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out five.

Toronto did all of its of damage during a three-run fifth frame, but Gore kept the Blue Jays off balance otherwise. The 27-year-old southpaw induced 10 groundouts on the evening, and he's now logged four quality starts in his past seven outings after recording just one such effort in his first 10 appearances of 2026. Gore, who has a 4.05 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 97:38 K:BB over 91 innings, is next set to face a Guardians lineup that has an atrocious .453 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the beginning of June.

Gausman (4-6) took the loss Thursday against the Rangers, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out four.

After being torched for seven runs Friday against the Cubs, Gausman struggled on the hill once again Thursday while matching a season worst in hits allowed. The Rangers did most of their damage during a five-run third frame while taking Gausman deep three times on the evening. The 35-year-old right-hander will try to get back on track at home against the Mets next week, now holding a 4.36 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 93:22 K:BB over 95 innings.

Melton (4-1) took the loss Thursday against the Astros, allowing one run on two hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out six.

That makes it back-to-back quality starts for Melton, who now has four such efforts over just six outings this year. The 25-year-old right-hander has been particularly hard to hit in 2026, giving up four hits or fewer on four occasions so far. Melton boasts a 2.39 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB across 37.2 innings, but his next matchup is an especially difficult draw in New York against the first-place Yankees.

Imai (5-3) notched the win Thursday against the Tigers, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out 10.

Imai was brilliant on the mound Thursday, scattering two singles over six shutout innings. The 28-year-old right-hander has recorded double-digit strikeouts in back-to-back quality starts, a stretch which comes on the heels of his second-shortest outing of the season June 12 in Kansas City, where he surrendered five runs over two-thirds of an inning. Imai will try to further improve on his 5.36 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 58:25 K:BB in his next scheduled appearance at home versus the Twins.

Springs did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Giants, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

It was a solid outing overall for Springs, who held San Francisco to one run through his first five innings before giving up two runs in the sixth. It's certainly a step in the right direction for the left-hander, who had allowed 21 earned runs in just 16.1 innings across his previous four starts. Overall, Springs is 3-7 with a 5.52 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 78:29 K:BB across 17 starts (88 innings) this season. He's currently in line for a tough home matchup with the Dodgers his next time out.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Scherzer (back) will travel to Dallas on Friday to get a cortisone shot to "help alleviate some left side stuff," Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Scherzer landed on the 15-day injured list last week because of back spasms, and it seems his side discomfort is related to that. The veteran hurler threw another bullpen session Thursday, and he will return to Toronto following Friday's cortisone shot before the next steps in his rehab are determined.

The White Sox will recall Sandlin from Triple-A Charlotte to start Friday's game against the Royals, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Sandlin has given up 12 earned runs in 13.1 frames with the White Sox this season, but he's logged a 2.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 11 innings at Charlotte since his last MLB appearance. The 25-year-old righty will now get another chance to showcase his talents in the big leagues but will likely make just the one start before returning to Triple-A, as Noah Schultz (knee) is expected to return from the injured list next week to fill the opening in Chicago's rotation.

Miller (3-2) took the loss Thursday against the Pirates, allowing three runs on five hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out 11.

Miller turned in another excellent outing Thursday, logging a season-high 11 strikeouts. However, he'd give up three runs on a pair of homers, which proved to be enough to stick him with the loss in an eventual 3-1 defeat. Miller now has at least seven strikeouts in each of his last four starts and has yet to give up more than three runs in any of his first eight outings after spending the first six weeks of the season on the IL. Overall, Miller's ERA sits at a pristine 1.97 with a 0.72 WHIP and 54:5 K:BB across 45.2 innings. He's currently in line to face the Angels at home his next time out.

Lugo (3-5) took the loss Thursday against the Rays, allowing seven runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.

Lugo fell victim to the long ball Thursday, with six of the seven runs charged to the right-hander coming on three homers (including two off the bat of Junior Caminero). Lugo's ERA is now up to 4.18 through 16 starts (90.1 innings) this season with a 1.37 WHIP and 69:30 K:BB. He'll look to rebound his next time out, currently scheduled to come next week at home in a rematch with the Rays.