MLB Player News

Keller (shoulder) was reinstated off the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Keller recorded a 4.36 ERA in nine starts before suffering a shoulder injury in mid-May, though his combination of a 15.4 percent strikeout rate and a 19.9 percent walk rate portends worse results. He's worked as a reliever while on his rehab assignment, posting a 6.10 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 10.1 innings, and figures to step into a low-leverage relief role over the final few weeks given that he isn't stretched out to start.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has mentioned Vasquez and Jhony Brito as possible replacements for Luis Severino (side) in the team's rotation, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Severino exited Friday's game against the Brewers with a left side injury, and he was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday. That means New York now has a rotation spot to fill, and rookies Vasquez and Brito appear to be the leading candidates for the role. Vasquez has posted a solid 2.35 ERA and 1.16 WHIP over 26.2 innings this season, though his 22:13 K:BB isn't ideal. He's pitched twice in relief since being recalled from the minors Sept. 1 but was mostly used as a starter during earlier stints with the Yankees this season.

Brito is a candidate to replace the injured Luis Severino (side) in the Yankees' rotation, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Severino was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday after leaving Friday's start early due to an injury to his left side. Brito took over for him in the fifth frame, allowing a run on three hits and a walk while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings. Though the rookie right-hander has been coming out of the bullpen of late, 13 of his 20 big-league outings have been as a starter, and he's compiled a 4.83 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 57:26 K:BB over 76.1 innings overall. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that Brito and Randy Vasquez are both in the running to take Severino's spot in the rotation moving forward.

Severino landed on the 15-day injured list with an upper-body injury on his left side Saturday.

Severino's test results have not yet been revealed, so he's yet to be officially diagnosed with an oblique strain, but the Yankees don't seem optimistic. He'll technically have time to return to the mound before the end of the year, but there's a very real chance he's already thrown his last pitch in pinstripes given that his contract is up at the end of the year. If his season is indeed over, the 29-year-old righty will finish with a 6.65 ERA and 1.65 WHIP across 19 outings, a far cry from the career 3.39 ERA and 1.12 WHIP he'd posted through the end of 2022.

Houck (4-9) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on eight hits and two walks over 5.1 innings as the Red Sox were routed 11-2 by the Orioles. He struck out five.

The right-hander held Baltimore off the board for three innings before a Ryan O'Hearn solo shot in the fourth cracked open the floodgates. Houck has struggled since his return to the rotation, posting a 6.05 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 16:8 K:BB through 19.1 innings in four starts, and while the Red Sox remain on the fringes of the wild-card picture, they're more likely to stick with the 27-year-old in the name of his future development rather than shift him to the bullpen. Houck's next start lines up for a meeting with the Yankees next week at Fenway Park.

Bradish (11-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on four hits over six innings in an 11-2 rout of the Red Sox. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

The right-hander cruised to his fourth straight win and fifth straight quality start, and Bradish's nine strikeouts were his most since he fanned 10 Brewers on June 8. He hasn't taken a loss since late July, posting a 5-0 record with a 2.38 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 50:12 K:BB through 41.2 innings since the beginning of August, emerging as the O's ace as the team tries to win its first AL East crown since 2014. With John Means (elbow) set to join the rotation soon, Bradish will likely get an extra day of rest before his next start, which figures to come at home next week against the Rays.

Kikuchi came away with a no-decision Friday in the Blue Jays' 5-4 win over the Royals, allowing one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out eight.

The southpaw hasn't picked up a win in over a month, but he pitched well enough Friday, generating 32 called or swinging strikes on 88 pitches. During his winless streak, Kikuchi has posted a 3.24 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 41:9 K:BB through 33.1 innings, so his luck figures to turn at some point. He's next set to take the mound at home next week against the Rangers.

Marsh didn't factor into the decision Friday in the Royals' 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four relief innings. He struck out six.

Entering the game to begin the third inning after Collin Snider had supplied two scoreless frames as the opener, Marsh looked sharp as he generated 23 called or swinging strikes on only 65 pitches. The right-hander was briefly in line for his first win of the season when Kansas City took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh, but the bullpen immediately fell apart in the bottom of the inning. Marsh has given up three runs or fewer in five of his last six outings, and while a blowup against Boston has left him with a 5.14 ERA and 1.57 WHIP during that stretch, his 34:14 K:BB through 28 innings at least shows some promise. His next appearance, whether as a starter or bulk reliever, is likely to come on the road next week against the White Sox.

Kluber (shoulder) had his first rehab appearance pushed from Friday to Saturday, MLB.com reports.

Kluber had been scheduled to pitch Friday for Triple-A Worcester, but a travel issue delayed the outing until Saturday. He will return to the Red Sox as a reliever.

Canning (7-6) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over 5.1 innings to take the loss Friday versus the Guardians.

This is just the second time in five outings since he returned from a calf injury that Canning has allowed more than two runs. Despite his solid work in that span, including a 29:5 K:BB over 25.1 innings, he's gone just 1-2. The 27-year-old has maintained fairly pedestrian numbers on the year with a 4.34 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 120:30 K:BB through 110 innings over 21 appearances (19 starts). Canning is projected for a home start in Detroit next week, though he may move up to pitch in Seattle if Chase Silseth (concussion) isn't cleared to return.