MLB Player News

Bello (5-4) allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out five over 6.2 innings to earn the win Friday over the White Sox.

Bello has turned in four straight quality starts in June, allowing seven runs over 26.2 innings in that span. While his luck wasn't great to begin the month, he's won his last two starts, and he's gone five outings without giving up a home run. The right-hander looks to be settling in at the major-league level midway through his second season. He owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 62:21 K:BB through 66 innings across 12 starts this year. Bello is expected to make his next start at home versus the Marlins.

Bieber (5-5) took the loss Friday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings against Milwaukee. He struck out eight.

The right-hander gave up a run on two hits during the opening frame but didn't allow a hit across the next four innings. He ran into trouble in the sixth, however, and surrendered a single and a double before Willy Adames ended his night with a three-run homer. It's the second straight outing Bieber has faded late after pitching well through most of the game, and he's allowed nine runs and four long balls between those two contests. The 28-year-old has a 3.69 ERA and 77:27 K:BB across 100 innings this year and tentatively lines up to face the Royals next week.

Schmidt allowed an unearned run on six hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Rangers on Friday.

Schmidt turned in another solid outing, though his winless stretch extended to six starts. Over that span, the right-hander has allowed eight runs (seven earned) across 32 innings with a 22:7 K:BB. It's an improvement on his 4.32 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through 77 innings across 16 starts overall. He continues to be an effective fill-in while the Yankees wait for Carlos Rodon (back) and Nestor Cortes (shoulder) to return to the rotation.

Dunning allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Yankees on Friday.

Dunning threw 87 pitches (58 strikes) in his longest outing of the season. While he again lacked dominant strikeout stuff, he's put up four quality starts over his last eight appearances. The right-hander is at a 2.76 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 41:21 K:BB over 71.2 innings across 17 appearances (nine starts). Dunning is projected for a home start versus the Tigers next week.

Eickhoff signed a minor-league contract with the Guardians on Friday.

The right-hander was assigned to Triple-A Columbus. In 114.1 innings with Triple-A Indianapolis while a member of the PIttsburgh organization in 2022, Eickhoff registered a 4.93 ERA. It's likely he will just be organizational fodder despite 464 career innings of big-league experience.

The Astros transferred Urquidy (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Urquidy landed on the injured list at the beginning of May with right shoulder inflammation, and he isn't expected to return to the Astros until closer to the All-Star break. The move to the 60-day IL opens up a 40-man roster spot for Spenser Watkins, who was acquired in a trade with Baltimore on Friday.

The Orioles traded Watkins to the Astros on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

The Orioles designated Watkins for assignment Tuesday, and now the 30-year-old righty will add to the Astros' starter depth -- presumably with Triple-A Sugar Land. Watkins has spent all season in Triple-A, accumulating a 7.27 ERA and 1.92 WHIP through 26 innings across eight appearances (six starts).

Manoah threw 74 pitches in his latest simulated game and will make at least one start in the minor leagues before returning to the big-league rotation, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manager John Schneider said Manoah is trending in the right direction but that there is no target date for his return to the big leagues. The big righty was up to 94 mph with his fastball in his sim game and will throw a bullpen session this weekend.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that Cortes (shoulder) is roughly a week away from throwing off a mound, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Cortes landed on the injured list June 8 with a left rotator cuff strain and just began throwing Sunday. He'll presumably throw multiple bullpen sessions before facing live hitters and potentially beginning a rehab assignment, making a return to the Yankees' rotation still a few weeks away.

Skubal (elbow) will make another rehab start in the middle of next week for Triple-A Toledo, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

He tossed 52 pitches (32 strikes, eight swinging strikes) this week in his fourth rehab start, so it's possible his next rehab outing could be his final tuneup before joining the big-league rotation. Given the Mud Hens' schedule, Skubal's next rehab start will likely come Wednesday, which could set him up to come off the injured list July 4 at home against Oakland.