MLB Player News

Blackburn registered a no-decision during Saturday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox, allowing five hits while striking out four in five scoreless innings.

Blackburn cruised through four easy frames and escaped a two-on, no-out jam in the fifth to submit his second scoreless outing of July. With the top of Chicago's lineup due to bat a third time in the sixth, manager Mark Kotsay opted to pull the 28-year-old at 62 pitches, though Blackburn was effective by tossing 41 strikes with eight whiffs. Blackburn has compiled a 4.15 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 106.1 innings across 20 starts. He's scheduled to pitch again next weekend against San Francisco.

Cueto didn't factor into the decision during Saturday's 3-2 win against the Athletics, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk with two strikeouts in seven innings.

Cueto was tagged for two solo shots early but limited the damage thereafter -- retiring 10 of the final 11 batters he faced -- and Chicago eventually rallied to erase a potential loss. The 36-year-old has now posted six straight quality starts, and he's gone 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA across 40 innings in that span, though he's struck out a combined two batters over his last two starts. Cueto carries a 2.86 ERA and 1.17 WHIP into his next start, scheduled to come midweek against Texas.

Stripling did not factor in the decision against Detroit on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings.

Stripling breezed through four scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fifth. He allowed the first three batters in the inning to reach base, then gave up a sacrifice fly before being pulled for Adam Cimber. Cimber allowed one more run to score but otherwise contained the damage to preserve Stripling's four-game streak of allowing two or fewer runs. Stripling has pitched pretty effectively for Toronto, but he's exceeded five innings only once in his past six starts.

Toussaint was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Toussaint was traded from Atlanta to the Angels in early July and posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in eight innings over three starts in Salt Lake. Although the right-hander has served mainly as a starter over the last two years, he should be a multi-inning relief option in the Angels' bullpen.

Wells has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 oblique strain, Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun reports.

While manager Brandon Hyde downplayed the severity of Wells' injury, the Orioles' skipper said that the right-hander will need some time to recover. Wells landed on the injured list Thursday, but it seems likely that he'll spend more than the minimum of 15 days on the IL. A better timetable for his return should come into focus once he's cleared to begin a throwing program.

Ober (groin) was placed on the 60-day injured list Saturday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

This doesn't change anything for Ober, who hasn't pitched since June 1, but it does open up a 40-man roster spot for Minnesota. The tall righty has not yet started throwing off a mound but was expected to start playing catch this weekend.

Wacha (shoulder) will likely go on a rehab assignment next week, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

He hasn't seen game action since throwing five innings June 28, so Wacha will need at least one rehab start before rejoining the rotation. Wacha has a 3.45 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 31 strikeouts over 44.1 innings in his last eight starts. Rich Hill (knee) is expected back next week.

Milone was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a cervical muscle strain, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

He gave up four earned runs in one inning Friday and perhaps the neck issue was bothering him or was sustained during that appearance. Brennan Bernardino was brought up from Triple-A to take Milone's place in the bullpen.

Kirby's opportunity to pitch regularly will continue to be prioritized in the wake of the Mariners' trade for Luis Castillo on Friday, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

The promising right-hander has already logged 69.1 innings across 13 starts with the Mariners in addition to another 26.2 frames in the minors. Kirby just returned from Triple-A Tacoma on July 26 to serve as the No. 5 starter and turned in five scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Rangers on Tuesday, and the team is intent on helping him get through a 162-game season for the first time as a professional. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto noted Friday he and manager Scott Servais would sit down and work on creative ways to make sure the rookie "stays on a regular turn and continues to contribute" despite the starting rotation now including six pitchers.

Rodriguez (personal) will report to the Tigers' extended spring training facility Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Rodriguez has been away from the Tigers over the last month and a half due to a personal matter, but he recently regained contact with the team and began to ramp back up. The team hopes the left-hander will be ready to appear in games at Single-A Lakeland by the end of the week, and the goal is for Rodriguez to be ready to rejoin the Tigers' rotation around the third week of August.