MLB Player News

Bello introduced a cutter during Friday's 3-1 win over the White Sox, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. "I started working on the pitch this week," Bello said about the pitch he threw nine times.

Bello said he hadn't been able to control his slider the way he wanted to, so he tried out the cutter for the first time in a game situation. The 24-year-old right-hander adds the cutter to an arsenal that includes a four-seam and two-seam fastball along with a changeup and slider. Since allowing five runs over 2.2. innings in his first start of the season, Bello has been Boston's most consistent starter, posting a 2.70 ERA over 11 outings while not allowing more than three earned runs.

Williams is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday versus the Royals in Kansas City.

As anticipated, Williams will be sticking around for another turn through the rotation after he made his highly anticipated MLB debut this past Wednesday against the Athletics. Though he fell short of a quality start in the outing, he acquitted himself well enough by striking out four over 5.2 innings while allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks. Cleveland will have some tough decisions to make with its rotation when Cal Quantrill (shoulder) returns from the 15-day injured list, but the Guardians should be willing to make room for Williams as long as his performance warrants sticking around with the big club.

Bassitt didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 loss to the A's, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Oakland jumped on the right-hander for three runs in the top of the first inning, but Bassitt shook it off and left the game after 83 pitches (53 strikes) with the score tied 4-4. Even so, it's the third straight start in which he hasn't worked more than five innings, a stretch in which he's been tagged for 15 earned runs and four homers in only 11.2 frames. Bassitt will try to get back on track in his next outing, likely to come at home next week against the Giants.

Kaprielian didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 win over the Blue Jays, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out eight.

The eight Ks were a season high for the right-hander and came on the strength of 33 called or swinging strikes among his 95 pitches. Kaprielian has been fairly effective since rejoining the A's rotation in mid-May, posting a 4.00 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 39:17 K:BB through 45 innings over eight starts. He'll likely next take the mound at home next week against the Yankees.

Eflin (9-3) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings in an 11-3 victory over the Royals. He struck out seven.

The damage came on early homers by Nick Pratto and Salvador Perez (hamstring), but Eflin settled down while the Tampa Bay offense got rolling. The quality start was his sixth in his last seven trips to the mound, a stretch in which the right-hander sports a 3.32 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 40:10 K:BB through 43.1 innings. Eflin will look to stay sharp in his next outing, likely to come next week in Arizona.

Greinke (1-8) took the loss Friday, coughing up seven runs on nine hits and a walk over 4.2 innings as the Royals were dropped 11-3 by the Rays. He struck out three.

A three-run shot by Jose Siri in the second inning set the tone for the night, as Greinke continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the park. The 39-year-old righty has served up five homers in his last four starts and has a 15.3 percent HR/FB% on the season, leading to a 5.31 ERA -- his worst mark since he was a rookie in 2005. Greinke will try to get back into the win column in his next outing, likely to come at home next week against the Guardians.

France (2-3) took the loss Friday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks over six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out four.

France added another solid outing to his 2023 campaign despite the loss. The right-hander's 2-3 record is deceiving, as his only bad start of the year was May 17 against the Cubs (six runs allowed over 3.2 innings). His next appearance is tentatively slated to be against the Cardinals on Thursday, when he'll look for his fifth straight quality start.

Wentz (1-8) took the loss Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over five innings against the Twins. He struck out four.

Friday saw Wentz take a step backward after he fanned a career-high nine against Minnesota his last time out. The Twins were ready for him this time around, launching two long balls, and Wentz has now dropped five straight decisions. The Tigers aren't going anywhere and the southpaw is only 25 years old, but his audition in the rotation figures to end when Matt Manning (foot) and Tarik Skubal (elbow) come off the IL. Wentz's command and control issues point to a move to the bullpen down the road.

Quantrill (shoulder) is expected to begin his rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Akron, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Quantrill was initially expected to take the mound Friday for Triple-A Columbus before the change of plans. He's expected to rejoin the Guardians on a road trip to Kansas City next week if all goes well in his rehab start.

Gibson (8-5) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks over three innings against Seattle. He struck out four.

The right-hander produced a scoreless opening frame but floundered in the following two innings, as he needed 86 pitches to record just nine outs. It's the fifth time this season Gibson has issued as least three walks, though he has a 3.58 ERA and 3-2 record in those games. The 35-year-old will carry a 4.30 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 69:30 K:BB over 92 frames on the season into his next start, which projects to come at home next week against red-hot Cincinnati.