MLB Player News

Gray (4-1) took the loss against Cleveland on Saturday, allowing three runs on 10 hits while striking out two batters over 6.2 innings.

Gray recorded his fifth quality start of the campaign, but he surrendered a season-high 10 hits. The right-hander is still pitching well, though after notching four wins over his first six starts, he hasn't taken a victory in any of his subsequent six outings. Gray has also seen his strikeout numbers dip of late, recording just five punchouts over his past two starts covering 12.2 frames. There's no reason to panic -- Gray still hasn't given up more than three runs in any outing this season and holds a sterling 2.15 ERA -- but he's looking more mortal after beginning the campaign with a dominant stretch during which he allowed only three runs over his first 35 frames.

Lynch (0-1) took the loss Saturday, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and one walk over five innings in a 6-4 loss to Colorado. He struck out seven.

Lynch was strong outside of a nightmare first inning where all five runs were scored against him, as he allowed just three hits over his final four frames. After suffering a strained left shoulder in spring training and missing early portions of the season, the left-hander owns a 4.35 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 10.1 innings through two starts. Lynch also has an 11.3 K/9, though he's faced off against two of MLB's worst offenses (Washington and Colorado) and may have a tougher time in his next time out, which is likely to come next weekend in Baltimore.

Allen improved to 3-2 in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Twins, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over six innings.

Allen surrendered a first-inning solo homer to Jorge Polanco but bounced back to allow only one more run over his remaining five frames. The southpaw registered his third straight quality start after notching just one such effort over his first five big-league outings. Allen was initially called up to the majors due to injuries in Cleveland's rotation, but he may have cemented a permanent big-league spot given his strong 2.76 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 47:13 K:BB through 45.2 innings. Even with Triston McKenzie (shoulder) slated to make his season debut Sunday, the Guardians likely won't need to make any decisions about the rotation spots of Allen and fellow rookie Tanner Bibee for at least a few weeks with Cal Quantrill (shoulder) hitting the injured list Friday.

Sandoval (3-5) took the loss against Houston on Saturday, allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out four batters over 3.1 innings.

Sandoval gave up a run in each of the first and third frames before enduring a rough fourth. He began that inning by striking out Jake Meyers before the Astros tagged him for four straight singles. That resulted in Sandoval getting the hook, and he was charged with three runs after his departure when Jacob Webb surrendered an Alex Bregman grand slam. This was Sandoval's fourth straight loss and his shortest outing of the campaign, while the six runs were the most he has given up in an appearance this season. The southpaw was a popular preseason fantasy sleeper, but he's been inconsistent so far, posting a 4.14 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 40:25 K:BB over 58.2 innings.

Javier (7-1) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out five batters over six innings.

Javier notched just two victories through his first seven starts this season, but he's now reeled off five straight wins and is tied for second in MLB with seven victories overall. The right-hander notched his fifth quality start over his past six appearances with six solid innings Saturday, and he was pulled after 102 pitches with Houston comfortably ahead. Javier has been remarkably consistent this season, tossing at least five frames in all 12 of his starts and giving up more than three runs just once. His strikeout numbers have waned lately -- he has just 18 over his past 23 innings -- but that's a minor complaint given his continued excellence.

Cole left Saturday's start against the Dodgers due to cramping, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. He allowed one run over six innings on two hits with five strikeouts and two walks before leaving.

Cole threw just 80 pitches in the start, but the cramping kept the right-hander from advancing deeper into the game. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day, but unless he's revealed to be dealing with something more significant than cramping, he should be ready to make his next scheduled turn through the rotation next weekend against the Red Sox.

Mozzicato was placed on the 7-day injured list Saturday and is expected to miss a month with an undisclosed injury, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Mozzicato suffered the injury after colliding with a teammate during practice. While the Royals haven't provided a timeline for his return, his exact injury remains unclear. The injury disrupts an excellent season for the 2021 seventh-= overall pick, as he owns a 40.0 percent strikeout rate and a 2.14 ERA in nine starts for Single-A Columbus.

Cease didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Tigers, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander took a shutout into the sixth inning before Zach McKinstry tripled to lead off the frame and scored on a Cease slider that was nowhere near the plate and got away from catcher Yasmani Grandal -- part of a bizarre contest that saw all three runs in the game score on wild pitches. Cease exited after 99 pitches (62 strikes), coming just short of his sixth quality start of the year. He'll take a 4.63 ERA and 74:32 K:BB through 68 innings into his next outing, likely to come at home next weekend against the Marlins.

Lorenzen didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the White Sox, allowing one run on two hits over seven innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander did uncork two wild pitches, one of which brought home the only run against him -- foreshadowing the game's ending, when a Jose Cisnero wild pitch ricocheted off the mask of home plate umpire Cory Blaser and allowed Yoan Moncada to score -- but otherwise Lorenzen delivered arguably his best outing of the season. He's produced quality starts in five of his last six trips to the mound, posting a 1.83 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB in 39.1 innings over that stretch, and he'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is likely to come at home next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

The Guardians moved Battenfield (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Battenfield landed on the 15-day injured list May 19 due to right shoulder inflammation, and his move to the 60-day IL will keep him out through the All-Star break. Michael Kelly was selected to Cleveland's big-league roster in a corresponding move.