MLB Player News

Martin is expected to start in one of the two games during Tuesday's doubleheader against the Guardians, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Martin was sent to Triple-A Charlotte on June 22 and has posted a 2.84 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 12.2 innings over three minor-league appearances since then. The right-hander last pitched Wednesday, so he should be fully rested if he's ultimately called up to start during Tuesday's twin bill.

McCullers (forearm) threw all of his pitches and sat between 92 and 93 mph with his fastball in a live batting practice session Friday, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

McCullers continues to ramp up his activity and is expected to throw a few more live batting practice sessions before advancing to simulated games and ultimately a rehab assignment. With several steps still needed prior to his activation, McCullers is expected to be activated at some point in August.

Manning (biceps/shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo next week, Joey Pollizze of MLB.com reports.

Manning resumed mound work last weekend, and he threw an up-down bullpen session Friday. The right-hander will likely require several rehab appearances since he's been on the injured list for two and a half months, but it's possible that he'll be cleared to rejoin the Tigers sometime in late July or early August.

Flexen is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday in Washington against the Nationals rather than in Sunday's series finale with the Blue Jays in Seattle, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

After getting the Independence Day start against the Padres, Flexen appeared primed for a two-start week, but the Mariners instead used Wednesday's off day to reorder their rotation. Logan Gilbert, who started in Tuesday's 6-2 win over San Diego, will instead get the two-start week while he takes the hill Sunday on his normal four days' rest.

Whitlock (hip) allowed two runs on six hits and struck out three over two innings for Triple-A Worcester on Friday. The right-hander made his first rehab appearance after hitting the injured list June 10.

Whitlock threw 26 strikes among 34 pitches over the fifth and six innings and wasn't hit particularly hard, per Katie Morrison of MassLive.com; however, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre batters were able to bunch hits together. "They jumped him, really," WooSox manager Chad Tracy said. "That happens in rehab appearances, they know guys are trying to get back on their feet, so they kind of jumped him. Couple soft hits, there were a couple squared up." Most of the damage came in the fifth when both runs scored on four hits; the sixth was cleaner but the RailRaiders managed another two hits. Whitlock is rehabbing for a return to Boston as a multi-inning reliever.

Cortes didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 12-5 win over the Red Sox, giving up four runs on eight hits and two walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out four.

The southpaw got staked to a 4-0 lead before he even stepped on the mound, but Cortes had his own struggles and couldn't stick around long enough to capitalize on the run support. His early season magic appears to have worn off, as the 27-year-old has failed to last longer than five innings in four of his last last six starts, stumbling to a 5.34 ERA over that stretch thanks to a 2.8 HR/9 despite an otherwise solid 1.36 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB through 28.2 innings.

Blackburn (6-4) gave up six earned runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out six over four-plus innings to take the loss in an 8-3 defeat to the Astros on Friday.

Blackburn got off to a very good start by facing the minimum number of batters through three innings and striking out five of them. However, he started to unravel when Alex Bregman went deep in the fourth. Blackburn wasn't able to right the ship and was pulled without having recorded an out in the fifth after another home run to Martin Maldonado. The 28-year-old right-hander began the season on a high note with a 2.15 ERA through the end of May, but he appears to be coming back down to earth after being shelled by the Astros and posting an ERA of 5.13 in June. Look for him to start next week at Texas.

Urquidy (8-3) gave up three earned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two over eight innings to earn the win in an 8-3 victory over the Athletics on Friday.

Urquidy got plenty of run support and was effective over eight innings to pick up his eighth win of the season. The 27-year-old right-hander took advantage of the weak Athletics lineup by pitching to contact all night long. He induced seven groundouts and seven flyouts while allowing one home run. Urquidy has now strung together five quality starts in a row and has lowered his ERA to 4.08 from a season-high 5.04 on June 9. He is expected to make his next start at home in a rematch against the Athletics on Friday.

Stripling allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.

Stripling wasn't able to pitch past the fifth inning for the third straight start, but he provided solid work with 61 of his 94 pitches going for strikes. The veteran right-hander has given up 11 runs (10 earned) in 24.1 innings across his last five appearances. For the season, he owns a 3.34 ERA, 1.16 WHIP And 55:14 K:BB across 67.1 innings in 20 outings (12 starts). Stripling is lined up for a favorable home start versus the Royals next week. His place in the rotation should be secure with Yusei Kikuchi (neck) on the injured list at least through the All-Star break.

Kirby allowed two runs on 10 hits and a walk with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings Friday, taking a no-decision versus the Blue Jays.

The 10 hits Kirby allowed marked a season high for the rookie right-hander, but only two of them went for extra bases. He did fairly well with damage control, as the two runs on his line were on RBI singles from Lourdes Gurriel and Teoscar Hernandez. It's a little concerning Kirby's failed to complete five innings in two of his last three starts. He has a 3.78 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB through 64.1 innings. He'll look to show more command in a projected road start against the Rangers next week.