MLB Player News

Severino was placed on the COVID-19 injured list shortly before Thursday's scheduled start against the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

This news comes less than four hours before first pitch, and it's unclear how long Severino will be sidelined. Clarke Schmidt will get the start in what should amount to a bullpen game for the Yankees.

Wolf (undisclosed) has given up two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out six over seven innings in his two starts for Single-A Lynchburg since being activated from the 7-day injured list June 7.

Wolf was sidelined for the first two months of the season while recovering from an unspecified injury. The 21-year-old right-hander was part of the prospect haul that Cleveland received from the Mets in the January 2021 deal that sent Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to Queens.

Civale (thigh) completed his second rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, striking out seven over 4.2 innings while giving up an unearned run on two hits, a walk and two hit batsmen.

Civale wasn't incredibly efficient -- he tossed only 46 of his 76 pitches for strikes -- but he did a good job of overwhelming hitters Wednesday, as 12 of the 13 outs he recorded came via punchouts or groundouts. The sizable workload along with the Guardians' decision to demote Konnor Pilkington to Triple-A on Thursday implies that Cleveland plans to have Civale return from the 15-day injured list to make his next start in the big leagues.

Whitley (elbow) struck out two over two innings and was charged with three earned runs on three hits and two walks in a rehab start Thursday with the Astros' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate.

Whitley's numbers are indicative of some rust, but that was to be expected after he hadn't made an appearance in affiliated ball since Sept. 2, 2019. Arm troubles prevented him from joining the Astros during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, and he missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last March. Now 15 months removed from the procedure, Whitley should gradually work deeper into his rehab starts and ideally will show improved command before likely settling into the Triple-A Sugar Land rotation. The Astros will be careful to monitor Whitley's workload this season coming off surgery, so if he gets a call to the big leagues in 2022, he may be tasked with a relief role.

Cortes (6-2) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 5.1 innings against the Rays. He struck out four.

Cortes allowed a baserunner in each of the first three innings but eventually settled down and retired eight straight Rays before giving up a leadoff double to Yandy Diaz in the top of the sixth. After getting the ensuing batter -- Harold Ramirez -- to pop out in foul territory, Cortes allowed his first run of the game on an RBI double to Manuel Margot. The left-hander appeared flustered as he proceeded to walk Randy Arozarena on four pitches before being replaced by Wandy Peralta, who retired back-to-back hitters to escape the inning. Across 12 starts and 69.2 innings, Cortes sports a 1.94 ERA with a 75:17 K:BB and has five victories in his last six trips to the mound. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Monday's rematch in Tampa Bay.

Velasquez didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 13-0 romp over the Tigers, giving up only one hit over 2.2 scoreless innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The right-hander was dominant the first time through the Detroit order, but that was about as far as Velasquez was allowed to go in his return from a groin injury that had sidelined him since May 24. Including the game against Boston in which he got hurt, he's tossed 5.2 scoreless, one-hit frames with an 8:1 K:BB over his last two appearances. However, Velasquez's 4.93 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 36:14 K:BB through 38.1 innings on the season are a better reflection of his reliability.

McClanahan (7-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Yankees. He struck out seven.

McClanahan allowed only three hits, but two of those were homers -- a solo blast to Aaron Judge in the bottom of the first and a three-run shot to Kyle Higashioka in the fifth. However, the left-hander was still able to get through six-plus innings while striking out at least seven for a seventh consecutive start. During that stretch, McClanahan sports a 0.98 ERA with a 58:6 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for a rematch with the Yankees on Monday.

Gonzales (3-7) took the loss Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over 6.2 innings against Minnesota. He struck out two.

Gonzales was sharp from the start and got through six innings unscathed, facing just two more batters than the minimum. However, the left-hander got in trouble in the seventh after allowing back-to-back hitters to reach with one out. Gonzalez got the next batter -- Jose Miranda -- to ground into a forceout before being replaced by Paul Sewald, who gave up an RBI single to Ryan Jeffers before getting Max Kepler to end the inning on a groundout. Across 13 starts and 68.2 innings, Gonzales sports a 3.41 ERA with a 40:26 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday's matchup in Oakland, when he'll look for his first win since May 23.

Gray did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing zero runs on three hits and zero walks over five innings against the Mariners. He struck out three.

Gray was reinstated from the 15-day injured list due to a pectoral injury ahead of Wednesday's contest and tossed five scoreless innings in his first start since May 29. The right-hander never allowed more than one baserunner in an inning and was able to work around a Taylor Trammell leadoff double in the third. After throwing 65 pitches to get through five inning, Gray was replaced by Griffin Jax in the top of the sixth with the game still scoreless. Across eight starts and 38.2 innings, Gray sports a 2.09 ERA with a 42:10 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday's matchup with Cleveland.

Paxton (elbow) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session at Fenway Park on Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Paxton is ramping up his activity, graduating from long toss to bullpen sessions over the last week. The left-hander is still multiple weeks away from rejoining the team.