MLB Player News

Kluber (shoulder) feels healthy but will not pitch again this season, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Kluber has been throwing off a big-league mound since late June due to shoulder inflammation, but he'd been working his way back, making a pair of rehab appearances for Triple-A Worcester over the last week. With the Red Sox falling out of the playoff race, they won't ask the 37-year-old righty to put more miles on his arm in what have become essentially meaningless games. The fact that Kluber at least made it back for some rehab games bodes well for his readiness for the start of next season, though his 7.04 ERA in 55 innings this season means his opportunities may be limited.

The Rangers selected Latz's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Latz has spent the entire season with Round Rock, posting an impressive 87:29 K:BB across 63.2 frames. He should fill a low-leverage role in the Rangers bullpen.

Ober will make a start during the team's upcoming series against the Reds in Cincinnati that begins Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

In his return to the Minnesota rotation Friday, Ober struck out six and limited the White Sox to two runs over five innings en route to claiming the win. The performance was solid enough to convince the Twins to keep him in the rotation for at least one more turn, with Ober most likely getting the ball Wednesday in Cincinnati if manager Rocco Baldelli elects to keep him on normal rest. Dallas Keuchel has been moved to the bullpen to open up the rotation spot for Ober.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that Keuchel isn't in line to make another start and has been moved to the bullpen, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Keuchel made his sixth start of the season Wednesday, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over four innings in a no-decision against the Rays. With the veteran southpaw now sporting a 5.34 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 30.1 innings with the big club this season, he'll cede his spot in the rotation to Bailey Ober, who will stick around in a starting role after limiting the White Sox to two runs over five innings Friday against the White Sox after being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. Keuchel could be available to make his first appearance out of the bullpen as soon as Sunday.

Eflin (15-8) allowed one earned run on one hit and no walks while striking out eight across seven innings to earn the win Friday against the Orioles.

In a pivotal series for the Rays, Eflin stepped up to deliver an excellent performance, marking the third time in his last 12 starts that he's managed to work at least seven innings. In that same span, he's allowed one run or zero on six occasions, a stretch that has helped him lock in a career-best year by nearly every statistical measure.

Flaherty (8-9) allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six across four innings to take the loss Friday against the Rays.

Flaherty had an uneven performance, with the positive being that he racked up 15 swinging strikes on only 79 pitchers. On the other hand, he allowed a lot of hard contact, including two doubles and a solo home run. Overall, Flaherty has now failed to work at least five innings in four of his last five turns through the rotation, during which he has a 9.15 ERA and 1.89 WHIP to go along with a 22:8 K:BB across 20.2 frames.

Cole allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Friday.

Cole's highly anticipated first start in Pittsburgh (the team that drafted him) since 2017 ended up being a bit of a dud, as the Cy Young contender failed to complete six frames for the first time in five starts and struggled at times with his control, tying a season high with three walks. The Yankees ace nonetheless gave up just two earned runs, and he's held opponents to that amount or fewer in 10 of his 12 starts since the All-Star break. While this certainly won't rank as one of Cole's best performances this season, he probably didn't do anything to hurt his Cy Young case, and his overall numbers -- including a 2.81 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 208:48 K:BB over 192 innings -- remain excellent.

Diaz allowed seven runs on seven hits and two walks over one-third of an inning in relief during Friday's loss to Detroit.

When Diaz entered the game for the Angels in the eighth inning, the game was still relatively close, with the Tigers leading 4-1. However, the lefty reliever couldn't keep it that way -- he allowed nine of the 10 batters he faced to reach base, with his only out coming on a sacrifice fly. Diaz had been unscored upon over 4.2 major-league innings coming into Friday, but his ERA now sits at 12.60.

Greinke did not factor into the decision Friday as the Royals downed the Astros 4-2, giving up three hits and a walk over two scoreless innings. He struck out one.

The 39-year-old got the start but was limited to 48 pitches (28 strikes) before being lifted in favor of Angel Zerpa, who wound up getting the win. It was Greinke's shortest appearance of the season by innings, although he did toss 44 pitches in a much more efficient five-inning outing May 3 against the Orioles -- his last, and only, win of the season. He hasn't completed five frames in any of his last six games, posting a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 22 innings over that stretch.

Javier (9-4) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings as the Astros fell 4-2 to the Royals. He struck out six.

Single runs by Kansas City in the third, fourth and fifth innings -- the latter two on solo shots by Nelson Velazquez and Bobby Witt -- proved to be too much for the Houston offense to overcome, and Javier got the hook after 81 pitches (52 strikes). The right-hander has served up at least one homer in nine straight outings, a stretch in which he has a rough 5.68 ERA and 1.47 WHIP despite a 44:22 K:BB through 44.1 innings. Javier will try to get back on track in his next start, likely to come at home next week against the Orioles.