MLB Player News

Sale averaged 91.8 mph on his fastball Thursday, down significantly from the 94.5 mph he flashed in his first start off the injured list last Friday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Neither Sale nor manager Alex Cora were overly concerned after the game. The pitcher was pleased he was able to fight through his diminished velo and make pitches when he had to, but he continues to face a restricted workload. The left-hander wasn't fully built up when he started last week and was pulled after 58 pitches. On Thursday, he got up to 65 pitches when Cora pulled him in the fifth inning after Sale issued a pair of walks.

Sale (5-3) took the loss Thursday, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks over 4.1 innings against the Nationals. He struck out three.

After walking Jeter Downs to open the bottom of the third inning, Sale was plagued by two fielding errors, which would lead to the first run coming across for the Nationals. The veteran lefty would then be relieved by Josh Winckowski with one out in the fifth, after issuing two walks to begin the frame. It's been a tough go for Sale this season as he's failed to make it through five innings in either of his last three starts dating back to June 1, with a two-month stint on the IL due to shoulder trouble in the middle of that stretch. On a positive note, he has not allowed more than two hits in either of his two starts since returning from the shoulder injury.

Kirby did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings against the Royals. He struck out two.

Kirby pitched well for most of the afternoon, allowing one run over the first five innings before four consecutive hits and a sac fly led to three more runs coming across for Kansas City in the sixth. Kirby had allowed one or fewer runs in each of his previous three starts coming in, while his two strikeouts on the afternoon matched his season low. He now holds a 2.05 ERA through three August starts and has not issued a walk over that stretch.

The Yankees optioned Vasquez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday.

New York is off Thursday and again on Monday, so a thin rotation will suffice for the time being. Vasquez started Wednesday's game against Atlanta and allowed two earned runs on two hits and three walks over 3.1 innings as the Yanks fell 2-0.

Quantrill (shoulder) is expected to throw around 85 pitches Sunday in his third minor-league rehab start, Joe Noga of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Quantrill got roughed up in his rehab debut Aug. 9 with Triple-A Columbus before bouncing back to work 3.2 innings of one-run ball this past Tuesday with Double-A Akron. If all goes well Sunday on the farm, he should be able to return to the Guardians' rotation late next week. The 28-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since July 6 due to shoulder inflammation.

Skubal's next start has been pushed to Friday after Thursday's series opener in Cleveland was postponed due to rain, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Skubal will handle one half of Friday's makeup doubleheader and Matt Manning will take the mound for the Tigers in the other one. Skubal, 26, has registered a 4.18 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB across 32.1 innings (seven starts) since he returned July 4 from flexor tendon surgery.

Woo (forearm) is on track to rejoin the Mariners' rotation early next week against the White Sox, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Woo will throw what's expected to be a 30-pitch bullpen session Thursday and, as long he comes out of it with no issues, will be back with Seattle next week as part of a six-man rotation. The rookie right-hander has missed most of August with right forearm inflammation.

Brito is lined up to start or work as a bulk reliever in Friday's game against the Red Sox, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Randy Vasquez and Brito both are getting second turns through the rotation after the two rejoined the big club last week to replace the injured Carlos Rodon (hamstring) and Nestor Cortes (shoulder), respectively. Brito has previously made 12 starts for the Yankees this season, but he thrived as a bulk reliever his last time out Saturday in Miami, where he struck out six and gave up one run on three hits and no walks over five innings. Rodon threw a five-inning simulated game Wednesday and looks like he could be ready to return from the IL next week, but Brito could stick in the rotation if he turns in another quality showing Friday and if the Yankees elect to move the struggling Luis Severino to the bullpen.

Miller (elbow) struck out two and gave up no hits and one walk over two scoreless innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Single-A Stockton.

Miller tossed 16 of his 29 pitches for strikes in what was his first outing at any level since May 7. Though the Athletics have little to play for with six weeks remaining on the season, Miller still appears likely to build back up for a starting role before returning from the 60-day injured list and rejoining the big-league rotation. He'll presumably need two or three more rehab starts to get fully stretched out, making early September a logical target for his activation.

Woo (forearm) is slated to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session ahead of Thursday's series finale against the Royals, the team's official site reports.

The Mariners will assess Woo's progress once they have a chance to observe how he recovers from the session. The forearm swelling Woo was experiencing has mostly subsided and he's been playing catch in recent days, so he remains optimistic of potentially being able to return from the injured list when first eligible Sunday.