MLB Player News

Cortes allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out 10 across six innings Wednesday against the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision.

Cortes fell apart late in the start, as he began with 5.1 scoreless frames. Nevertheless, he struck out double-digit batters for the first time in 14 starts -- dating back to May 15 -- and also tallied his third quality start in his last five outings. Cortes has maintained an excellent 2.67 ERA and 125:29 K:BB across 118 innings for the season.

Sears allowed two earned runs on three hits and no walks while striking out three across 5.1 innings Wednesday against the Angels. He did not factor into the decision.

Sears was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas prior to the start and made his debut with the Athletics. He faced a subpar Angels lineup, and the only earned runs charged to him came after he exited the game with runners on first and second. Sears should have the chance to stick in the rotation after Paul Blackburn (finger) was placed on the injured list Wednesday. Across 27.1 frames this season, Sears has maintained a 2.30 ERA and an 18:5 K:BB in appearances split between the Yankees and Athletics.

Toussaint allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six across five scoreless innings Wednesday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision.

Toussaint has thrown at least four innings in each of his last two outings, but Wednesday marked his first official start. He took advantage of the opportunity, holding the Athletics to only two singles and two walks while generating nine swinging strikes on 71 total pitches. Toussaint has walked nine batters across 13.1 innings in the big leagues this season, but he has otherwise made a strong case to stick in the Angels' rotation moving forward.

Kremer won't start as scheduled Wednesday against the Blue Jays since the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

A two-hour rain delay preceded the postponement, and the game will be made up in early September. It's unclear how the Orioles plan to adjust their rotation, but Kremer could start Thursday in Boston with every other pitcher being pushed back a day.

Berrios won't start as scheduled Wednesday in Baltimore since the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

The Blue Jays have an off day Thursday but the Orioles do not, so the game won't be made up until early September. According to Hazel Mae of Sportsnet, Berrios will simply be pushed back to start Friday's series opener versus the Guardians.

Springs didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Brewers, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out eight.

The lefty got tagged for two runs in the first frame but settled down after that, giving the Rays a chance to tie things up before he hit the showers. Springs generated 16 swinging strikes among his 85 pitches and fell one strikeout short of his season high, and he'll take an impressive 2.56 ERA and 91:18 K:BB through 84.1 innings on the year into his next outing.

Stripling (hip) will make a rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Stripling has been sidelined since Aug. 3 due to a right glute/hip strain, but he threw off a mound Monday and has been cleared to return to game action in the minors Friday. Since he hasn't missed much time, it's possible that the right-hander will be cleared to return from the injured list after just one rehab start.

The Astros will activate McCullers (forearm) from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday's game against the Athletics at Minute Maid Park, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Houston had been running a five-man rotation since dealing away Jake Odorizzi ahead of last week's trade deadline, but McCullers' return from the IL will bring the Astros back to six starters. The right-hander will be making his first appearance for the big club since the ALDS last fall, after an offseason setback in his recovery from a flexor tendon strain kept him on the shelf for the first four months of the current campaign. McCullers wrapped up his four-start rehab assignment with a five-inning, 86-pitch effort at Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, so he's unlikely to face any major workload restrictions while he takes the hill this weekend on five days' rest.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said there's a "good chance" Wacha (shoulder) will be activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday against the Yankees, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

In anticipation of Wacha's return, Cora said that Rich Hill -- who started Tuesday against Atlanta -- will be available out of the bullpen for the weekend series rather than returning to the hill Sunday on his standard four days' rest. Assuming Wacha experiences no setbacks with his shoulder during an upcoming bullpen session, he looks like he'll face no restrictions in his start against the Yankees. While making the second start of his rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Wacha struck out five over 4.1 innings (79 pitches) while allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks.

The Guardians reinstated Civale (wrist) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start for Wednesday's game in Detroit.

Civale had been sidelined since the All-Star break with a right wrist sprain, but he'll be back in action Wednesday to put the Guardians rotation back at full strength. Since the right-hander tossed four innings and 55 pitches in his lone rehab start at Triple-A Columbus over the weekend, he could face a restricted pitch count Wednesday. Civale is unlikely to face any further workload restrictions in any of his starts to follow.