MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Friday that German (shoulder) could fill the rotation spot of Luis Severino (lat) after the All-Star break, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.

German made his final rehab appearance with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, pitching six scoreless innings and allowing three hits and one walk while striking out one. He threw 65 pitches in the outing, so he's at least within range of a starter's workload. German will likely be on a pitch count for a start or two if he does move into the big-league rotation, and it's not yet clear how long Severino will be out, so expectations should be tempered in terms of German's second-half outlook in fantasy.

McCullers (forearm) threw approximately 40 pitches over two innings during a simulated game Saturday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers has faced hitters several times over the last few weeks, and he was able to mix in all of his pitches Saturday, including about 15 breaking balls. He said afterward that he felt good, and he'll be evaluated Sunday to see how he feels. If he checks out well Sunday, the right-hander will likely be cleared to begin a rehab assignment soon.

Manoah (10-4) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings in an 8-1 victory over the Royals. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander did plunk two batters, but Manoah otherwise dominated as he piled up 17 swinging strikes among his 86 pitches. The quality start was his 15th in 18 trips to the mound -- tying him with Sandy Alcantara for second in the majors behind Framber Valdez's 16 -- and Manoah will take a 2.28 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 103:25 K:BB through 114.2 innings into what will probably be the first of many All-Star Game appearances for the 24-year-old.

Greinke (3-6) took the loss Friday as the Royals were toppled 8-1 by the Blue Jays, giving up four runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out three.

The 38-year-old righty is now less than 150 strikeouts away from 3,000 for his career, but that was about the only positive takeaway from Friday's outing as Greinke got the hook after 83 pitches (49 strikes). He'll carry a 4.64 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 42:15 K:BB through 77.2 innings on the year into the All-Star break.

Whitlock struck out three over two scoreless innings in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Yankees.

Whitlock, making his first appearance after being activated off the injured list, held Boston's one-run lead by setting down the side in order over the seventh and eighth innings. He had been a starter before hitting the IL, but Whitlock will serve a multi-inning relief role that could involve save opportunities. Closer Tanner Houck eventually blew the save Friday, but he's pitched well otherwise while stabilizing Boston's ninth-inning relief issues.

Groome allowed five hits and three walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

Groome picked up the win in his first-ever start at the Triple-A level following Thursday's promotion from Double-A Portland. The left-hander fanned the side in the first inning and worked around traffic in four of his six innings. A 2016 first-round draft pick, Groome's rise through the minors was stalled by Tommy John elbow surgery in 2018 and the wiped-out 2020 season due to the pandemic.

Montgomery didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Red Sox, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out four.

The southpaw was effective, tossing 68 of 93 pitches for strikes in his eighth quality start of the season and first since June 17, but he left the game with the score tied 3-3. He's gone five starts without a win. On the season, Montgomery sports a 3.26 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 80:19 K:BB through 102 innings.

Houck (5-3) recorded the win in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings victory over the Yankees after blowing his first save of the season, allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks over two innings. He also hit a batter with a pitch and didn't get a strikeout.

Entrusted with a 4-3 lead in the ninth inning, Houck put the first two batters of the inning aboard before throwing the ball wide of third base on what was intended to be a sacrifice bunt by Isiah Kiner-Falefa, allowing Gleyber Torres to score the tying run. The right-hander avoided any more damage thanks to double plays in the ninth and 10th, however, and he was still the pitcher of record when Boston scored in the top of the 11th. Houck hasn't picked up a save since June 25, but for now he still appears to be manager Alex Cora's first choice to close out games.

Eovaldi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Yankees, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

Making his first start after returning from a five-week absence due to lower back inflammation, Eovaldi looked a bit rusty and managed only nine swinging strikes among his 78 pitches. The right-hander will take a 3.34 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 76:12 K:BB through 72.2 innings into the All-Star break, but his 4.59 FIP and 2.11 HR/9 suggest he could be headed for a bumpier second half.

Sandoval (3-5) allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 4.2 innings, taking the loss versus the Dodgers on Friday.

Sandoval wasn't all that sharp in the contest, but that likely didn't make much of a difference Friday. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took a perfect game through seven innings, giving the Angels' offense nothing to work with, which left Sandoval had no support in his third consecutive loss. The 25-year-old southpaw now has a 3.00 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 87:37 K:BB through 81 innings in 15 starts overall. He's given up 10 runs (eight earned) in 16 innings in July.