MLB Player News

Crawford allowed one hit and struck out five over 6.1 scoreless relief innings in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Angels.

The game was delayed after 2.2 innings, necessitating a heavy bullpen day for both teams. As it was, Crawford's length would likely have been needed on a perfect day after Brayan Bello's rocky start (five runs, eight hits, 2.2 IP). The 19 outs recorded by Crawford represented a longer performance than all but one Boston start -- Garrett Whitlock's seven-inning gem Sunday. Given the state of the rotation, which has not been able to go deep into games, Crawford figures to be part of the long-relief crew for now but could eventually head back to Triple-A Worcester as a starter.

Javier (2-0) allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings to earn the win Monday against the Blue Jays.

Javier was handed a 7-0 lead after one inning, but he still needed 97 pitches to complete five innings of work. The only damage against him came on a solo home run by Matt Chapman in the fourth inning, and he otherwise relied primarily on strikeouts and flyouts to complete his outing. Javier has a fine 3.68 ERA through four starts, though he's only accrued 22 innings in that span while maintaining a mediocre 20.9 percent strikeout rate.

Dunning (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out five over 4.1 innings to pick up the win over Kansas City on Monday.

Dunning came in after Jacob deGrom was removed from the game with right wrist soreness. Like he's done all season, Dunning gave the Rangers strong work and length out of the bullpen. The right-hander has yet to allow a run over 15.1 innings (six appearances). After striking out just one batter over his first 7.1 frames, Dunning has eight punch-outs over the last eight innings.

Gray (elbow) played catch on consecutive days and is expected to throw an in-between starts bullpen session Wednesday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

The news couldn't be any better for Gray, who was smoked last Saturday by a 109.3 mph comebacker off his throwing elbow. After reporting minimal pain and playing catch Sunday and Monday, the right-hander is scheduled to throw a bullpen Wednesday ahead of Friday's start against the Athletics.

Flexen fell to 0-3 in Monday's 7-3 loss to Milwaukee on Monday. He surrendered four earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five batters over six innings.

Flexen pitched better than in his previous outing, when he was hammered for eight runs on 10 hits over 2.1 innings, but he couldn't avoid his third straight loss. The right-hander notched season highs with six frames and five punchouts, but he was done in primarily by a rough third inning during which he gave up three runs. Flexen's fantasy appeal is limited by his lack of strikeout stuff -- he's fanned just 11 batters through 17.1 frames -- and his 7.79 ERA and 1.73 WHIP thus far have him off the radar outside of deep leagues.

Muller dropped to 0-1 after allowing six earned runs on 13 hits and two walks over four innings in Monday's 10-1 loss to the Cubs. He punched out three batters in the outing.

Muller coughed up two runs through three innings before the Cubs broke the game open in the fourth. He was tagged with six hits in that frame, including three RBI singles. After allowing just three runs through his first 10.2 innings, Muller has given up 12 runs in his last two starts, spiking his ERA to 7.23. He'll carry a 14:9 K:BB into his next start, which is scheduled to be on the road against the Angels next week.

Bello (0-1) took the loss Monday, allowing five runs on eight hits with one walk over 2.2 innings against the Angels. He struck out five.

The 23-year-old began his season debut by yielding a three-run blast to Hunter Renfroe in the first inning. Bello would end his day with five earned runs but showed promise as he struck out five batters before being forced to exit the game due to an extended rain delay. Despite the disappointing performance, the right-hander will have a chance to redeem himself in his next start, scheduled for this weekend against Milwaukee.

DeGrom (wrist) will be re-evaluated Tuesday and hopes to make his next start this weekend against the Athletics, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

He said the wrist soreness that popped up early in his start Monday against the Royals got a bit worse as the night wore on and he didn't want to change his mechanics and create a bigger issue for himself. DeGrom said after the game that he could have kept pitching and hopes to make his next start, but more information on his status will become available after he's re-evaluated. Before departing Monday's 4-0 victory, deGrom struck out five and issued one walk over four shutout no-hit innings, but he didn't work long enough to qualify for the win.

The Rangers announced that deGrom left Monday's start against the Royals with right wrist soreness, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. He allowed no runs and no hits over four innings with one walk and five strikeouts before exiting.

It was a dominant effort for deGrom before exiting with 39-of-58 pitches landing for strikes. Dane Dunning took over in relief for the right-hander. The Rangers are calling his exit precautionary, but fantasy managers will want to pay close attention to see if the wrist soreness will require the ace to miss any amount of time.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that Blackburn came away from his latest rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday with a blister on his middle finger, and the right-hander's next appearance is in doubt, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports

Blackburn struggled in the outing with four runs allowed on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings, and the blister likely played a part in it. Considering that Blackburn was already rehabbing a middle finger avulsion before developing the blister, he may require some time off for the blister to heal before he resumes his rehab assignment.