MLB Player News

Dunning (1-6) allowed two earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three across six innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Royals.

Dunning turned in his third quality start across his last four outings. He's managed just a 13:12 K:BB in that span but has overcome his lack of control and strikeouts. It remains to be seen if Dunning can continue to walk his tightrope of productivity, but he has managed to lower his ERA 4.09 on the season while maintaining a 77:32 K:BB across 88 frames.

Taillon (9-1) earned the win Wednesday against the A's after giving up three runs on seven hits across five innings. He had six strikeouts and two walks.

The veteran right-hander surrendered three runs on four hits during the opening frame, but he settled down from there and blanked Oakland for the following four innings. Taillon has won his past nine decisions since taking a loss Opening Day, and he lines up for a favorable matchup against his former team in Pittsburgh next week.

Verlander (10-3) allowed two hits and one walk while striking out six across eight scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Mets.

Verlander dueled with Taijuan Walker for the entirety of his outing but ultimately was able to earn his 10th win thanks to a Jason Castro home run in the ninth inning. While still not dominant in terms of strikeouts, Verlander saw an uptick as compared to his recent outings and also induced 15 swinging strikes on 101 total pitches. Verlander has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 15 starts this season, which has resulted in a 2.03 ERA across 97.1 frames.

Flexen (4-8) picked up the win against the Orioles on Wednesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

Flexen now has a personal winning streak going for the first time this season. After an ugly month of May, Flexen pitched to a respectable 4.09 ERA in June. His 1.45 WHIP and 21:12 K:BB in 33 innings in the month of June bode poorly for his chances of enjoying a similar level of run prevention moving forward.

Manager Alex Cora said Wednesday the Red Sox are considering utilizing Whitlock (hip) out of the bullpen upon his return from the 15-day injured list, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 26-year-old landed is scheduled for a bullpen session Saturday before potentially starting a rehab assignment, per Cotillo, and once he's healthy, it appears Boston is leaning toward using him as a reliever. Whitlock made his first four appearances of the season out of the bullpen before moving into the rotation, and he has a 4.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 38:9 K:BB across 39 innings as a starter.

Watkins is listed as the Orioles' scheduled starting pitcher for Friday's game in Minnesota, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Unsurprisingly, Watkins will draw a second straight turn through the rotation after he allowed an unearned run while striking out four over five innings in his start over the White Sox last weekend. The right-hander should hold down a starting role for the Orioles until Kyle Bradish (shoulder) is ready to come off the 15-day injured list.

Bradish (shoulder) is throwing on the field ahead of Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Bradish landed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation Friday but has been able to throw on the field over the last several days. Manager Brandon Hyde still hopes that the right-hander will return from the injured list around when he's first eligible.

German (shoulder) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings for Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three batters.

After throwing 39 pitches in his first rehab outing with Single-A Tampa last week, German upped that count slightly to 43 pitches Tuesday. Twenty-nine of his offerings were strikes, and he has now racked up 6.1 scoreless frames over two rehab starts. It's uncertain how long German will be rehabbing in the minors, and there isn't a clear path to a rotation spot waiting for him in the majors. However, he's pitched well enough so far to be worth consideration in deep fantasy leagues in case a big-league starting slot does open up.

The Guardians promoted Allen from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old southpaw is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut Thursday after he overwhelmed Double-A hitters during his second tour of the league to begin 2022. In his 13 starts with Akron covering 73 innings, Allen generated a 3.33 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 104:22 K:BB. If Allen can continue to make bats miss at a prolific clip as he makes the jump to Triple-A, a late-season promotion to the big leagues can't be discounted, especially if the Guardians remain in playoff contention and are in need of another impact left-handed arm.

Odorizzi (lower leg) is scheduled to make his second rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Corpus Christi, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Odorizzi will drop down to the Double-A level after he made his first rehab start last week at Triple-A Sugar Land. He worked three innings for Sugar Land in his first game action since suffering the left leg injury during his May 16 start with Houston, striking out four while allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks. Depending how deep into Wednesday's start Odorizzi goes and how well he performs, he could be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list next week. It's unclear if the Astros plan on immediately reinserting Odorizzi into the rotation upon his activation, but Jose Urquidy would likely be most at risk of moving to the bullpen or heading to the minors if Odorizzi is brought back as a starter.