MLB Player News

Ragans (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Astros, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings.

Ragans was unable to follow his strong big-league debut with a similar performance. Both Martin Maldonado and Alex Bregman launched moonshots off Ragans as the Astros got out to a 5-0 lead. He struggled with his command throughout the outing and tossed just 49 of his 88 pitches for strikes. Through 9.1 innings in the majors, the 24-year-old has a 4:7 K:BB after posting a 113:31 K:BB in 94.2 minor-league innings. His next start will likely come early next week against Oakland.

Rodriguez (personal) struck out five over three innings in his rehab start Saturday for Single-A Lakeland, giving up an earned run on three hits and one walk.

The start with Lakeland was Rodriguez's first at any level since early June, when he was rehabbing a rib injury before he went on personal leave for nearly two months. Though he's fully healthy at this point, Rodriguez will need more time to build up after the extended absence before the Tigers reinstate him from the restricted list. According to Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, manager A.J. Hinch said that Rodriguez is expected to make his second rehab start Thursday at Triple-A Toledo. He'll likely make at least two starts with Toledo before slotting back into Detroit's rotation in the latter half of August.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the team is still gathering information on Houck's back injury, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Houck was placed on the injured list Tuesday with lower-back inflammation. The pitcher has a couple of appointments with physicians coming up, and the Red Sox will have a better idea about a timeline after Houck has been evaluated.

Gray did not factor in the decision against the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five batters.

Gray gave up a pair of runs in the second inning but was staked to a lead when Minnesota scored four times between the third and fifth frames. The veteran right-hander couldn't capitalize on the support, however, surrendering two runs in the bottom of the fifth before getting pulled with two outs. It was the first time Gray has failed to complete five innings in four starts and also marked the first time he's given up more than one run over that stretch. His 3.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP on the season are solid, but Gray is on pace to strike out less than a batter an inning for the first time since 2018.

Verlander pitched six innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision.

Verlander returned to earth Wednesday, allowing more than one earned run for the first time in eight starts. The Rangers scratched two runs across in the top of the fourth and a sacrifice fly by Leody Taveras in the sixth frame provided the final tally against Verlander. The 39-year-old was able to extend his quality-start streak to eight consecutive outings, producing an absurd 1.17 ERA and 0.82 WHIP with 53 strikeouts over 53.2 innings during that stretch. His season numbers now sit at a 1.85 ERA and 0.86 WHIP with 134 punchouts over 136 frames in 21 outings.

Bubic tossed 5.2 innings, giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out six batters in Wednesday's win over the White Sox. He did not factor into the decision.

Bubic pitched five scoreless frames before the wheels fell off in the sixth inning, a development that was only partly his fault. After Bubic allowed the White Sox to load the bases with one out in the inning, two runs came around to score due to a fielding error by Michael Massey on what could have been an inning-ending double play. Another baserunner subsequently crossed the plate with two outs in the frame and Bubic was removed from the game. He fell one out shy of a fifth consecutive quality start. Over the left-hander's last five starts, he's posted a 2.27 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 26 strikeouts over 31.2 innings.

Cueto pitched six innings, surrendering three runs (two earned) on nine hits and a walk while striking out four in Wednesday's loss to the Royals. He did not factor into the decision.

Cueto was not his sharpest Wednesday, allowing the Royals to reach base 10 times, but he was able to hang in there for a quality start. The right-hander allowed one run in the bottom of the third before two more runs came around to score in the sixth frame. Cueto has now produced eight straight quality starts, though he has allowed 20 hits over 14 innings in his last two starts. He now owns a 2.91 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 68 strikeouts over 102 frames in 16 outings this season.

Civale pitched four innings, allowing two runs on three hits while hitting a batter and striking out four in Wednesday's win over the Tigers. He did not factor into the decision.

Civale returned to the mound Wednesday after missing almost a month while nursing a wrist injury, limiting the Tigers to just four baserunners. Both runs he surrendered came in the bottom of the fourth inning with Harold Castro and Eric Haase driving them in. Civale was limited to 62 pitches in the outing and will likely face a pitch limit for at least a couple more starts moving forward. After starting off the season cold, Civale has produced a very solid 3.24 ERA with 29 strikeouts over 33.1 innings in his last seven outings.

Ray allowed two earned runs on three hits and five walks while striking out seven across 6.1 innings Wednesday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Ray was effective from a run suppression standpoint, allowing only a two-run home run to Kyle Higashioka. However, he lost control of his pitches for most of his start and has now walked 11 batters across the 16 innings covering his last three starts, although he still has a 3.94 ERA in that span. For the season, Ray has a 3.90 ERA with a 156:49 K:BB across 136 frames.

Battenfield will have his contract selected by the Guardians ahead of Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old will receive his first big-league promotion Friday with James Karinchak unable to travel to Canada for the three-game series in Toronto this weekend since he's unvaccinated. Battenfield was acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline last year and has a 3.19 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 79:41 K:BB across 121.1 innings (12 starts) with Triple-A Columbus this season.