MLB Player News

Medina did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over four innings against the Nationals. He struck out four.

Though Medina was pulled prior to the fifth inning for a second consecutive start, he turned in a strong outing and walked only two batters after handing out five free passes his last time out. The 24-year-old has quietly put together a handful of solid performances, tallying a 3.62 ERA and a 25:11 K:BB over his last five appearances (19.1 innings). Medina's tentatively lined up to face the Orioles for his next start.

Houck (face) will make one more rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck has been out since getting hit by a comebacker in mid-June, an incident which led to a facial fracture and subsequent surgery. He's made a pair of rehab appearances but has only built up to three innings, so the Red Sox presumably want him to get a bit deeper into the game before activating him. The team is planning on having him return during their series in Houston, which runs from Aug. 21 through Aug. 24.

McClanahan's (forearm) season is officially done, as he was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

McClanahan hit the injured list in early August with tightness in his left forearm, and it's since become clear that the injury is a serious one. Surgery is reportedly a possibility, and even if McClanahan can avoid it, he won't be back on a major-league mound until next year. The move creates space for Josh Fleming (elbow) to return from his own stay on the 60-day IL.

Brito is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind starter Michael King in Saturday's game in Miami, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

King is making his first start of the season and has maxed out at 3.1 innings across 38 appearances, and since he'll be taking the hill on three days' rest, he should provide more length than the typical opener. Even so, Brito -- who was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday -- should be tasked with working multiple innings behind King and is probably the Yankees pitcher most likely to factor into any decision. The Yankees are relying on the King/Brito tandem to help fill the rotation spot of Nestor Cortes (shoulder), who went back on the 15-day injured list Friday.

Miller (elbow) will throw another live batting practice Saturday at the Athletics' complex in Arizona, the Associated Press reports.

The right-hander was able to get through a live 15-pitch BP session Tuesday without issue, and he'll now repeat the process for the equivalent of two innings, per the team's official site. The Athletics have maintained they remain optimistic about a 2023 return for the promising rookie, and another successful session Saturday could potentially tee up a rehab assignment.

Berrios (9-8) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays fell 6-2 to the Cubs, giving up six runs (four earned) on nine hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

While his defense did him no favors, Berrios dug his own hole by serving up homers to Nico Hoerner and Cody Bellinger in the first inning. The right-hander has been more lucky than good since the All-Star break, posting a 3.62 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB through 32.1 innings over his last six starts, but he'll look to rebound in his next outing, which is likely to come next weekend in Cincinnati.

Blackburn (2-3) took the loss Friday as the A's were downed 8-2 by the Nationals, giving up four runs on eight hits and four walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

While he wasn't hit all that hard -- only one of the hits off Blackburn, a Keibert Ruiz solo shot in the fifth inning, went for extra bases -- the veteran right-hander tossed only 60 of 103 pitches for strikes as he tied his season high in free passes. Blackburn has stumbled to a 5.19 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB in 34.2 innings over seven appearances (six starts) since the beginning of July, but he'll look to rebound in his next outing, which is likely to come next week in St. Louis.

Keuchel (0-1) took the loss Friday, coughing up six runs on six hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in a 13-2 rout at the hands of the Phillies. He failed to strike out a batter.

After a promising first start for the Twins, Keuchel reverted back to being the pitcher who posted a 9.20 ERA in 60.1 innings last season. The 35-year-old southpaw managed to escape the first inning unscathed thanks to a double play, but the first five Phillies to come to the plate in the second reached base, including back-to-back doubles by Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott to lead off the frame. Minnesota is hoping to get Joe Ryan (groin) back soon and the team has off days coming up Monday and Thursday which would allow it to go with a four-man rotation. If Keuchel does make another start, it would likely come at home next weekend against the Pirates.

Kopech did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over 4.1 innings against the Brewers. He struck out four.

Kopech was consistently behind in the count, throwing first-pitch strikes to just eight of the 23 batters he faced. He still maintained a lead into the fifth but was pulled at 96 pitches after allowing three consecutive singles to close out his night. Kopech has been the pillar of inconsistency this year in his 21 starts, splitting evenly with seven games of four or more earned runs allowed, seven with no more than one earned run allowed and seven directly in-between. His next start is currently projected to take place next Friday in Colorado.

Gray (8-5) allowed two hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over seven scoreless innings to earn the win Friday over the Giants.

Gray turned in an excellent start, his third scoreless outing of seven or more innings this season. Both hits he allowed were singles, while the seven strikeouts were his most in a start since he fanned 12 Cardinals on June 7. Gray has a 3.51 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 102:39 K:BB through 120.2 innings over 21 starts this season. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Angels next week.