MLB Player News

Valdez (11-6) took the loss against the Orioles on Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out six over 6.2 innings.

The left-hander worked around traffic early but was tagged in the fourth when Coby Mayo launched a solo homer to open the scoring, giving Baltimore a lead Houston would never cut into. Valdez has now yielded at least seven hits in five of his last seven outings as he struggles to limit hard contact. The outing also raised his ERA above 3.00 for the first time since June 24, though he continues to provide Houston with length, completing at least six innings in 19 of his 24 starts this year. Overall, the 31-year-old southpaw owns a 3.01 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 151:50 K:BB through 152.1 innings and will look to get back on track in his next scheduled start against the Tigers.

Woods Richardson (illness) made a rehab start Friday for Triple-A St. Paul, striking out four while allowing one hit and one walk over two scoreless innings.

Woods Richardson was cleared for his first game action since July 28, after he required a procedure earlier this month to remove a parasite from his digestive tract. He tossed 34 pitches in Friday's outing and may need another rehab start or two to get fully stretched out before the Twins bring him back from the 15-day injured list and insert him into the rotation.

Young (1-6) picked up the win Friday against the Astros, allowing one hit while striking out six over eight scoreless innings.

The rookie right-hander was tossing a perfect game through 7.2 innings before Ramon Urias broke it up with an infield single in the eighth that could easily have been ruled an error by the official scorer, but Young quickly regrouped to finish the inning and secure his first career MLB win. The outing was especially encouraging coming on the heels of one of his worst performances of the year, when he lasted only three innings and surrendered six runs. Friday's gem not only marked a personal milestone but also lowered Young's ERA by more than a full point, as he now owns a 5.68 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 40:26 K:BB across 52.1 innings this season.

Soto underwent surgery to remove a partially detached bone spur in his elbow, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He will miss the rest of the season but is expected to be ready for spring training.

Soto was off to a promising start at High-A Cedar Rapids, posting a 1.38 ERA and 15:5 K:BB in 13 innings, before suffering the injury in April. It sounds like the No. 34 overall pick of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft has a chance to be back to full strength at the start of next season.

Morton (8-10) notched the win Friday against Minnesota, allowing two hits and three walks in six scoreless innings. He struck out five.

After conceding six runs in his last start versus the Angels, Morton bounced back in a big way Friday. It was his first scoreless appearance since June 13 with the Orioles, and the veteran right-hander has now logged a quality start in five of his last seven outings. Morton has rebounded from a disastrous beginning to the year by posting a respectable 3.95 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 77:27 K:BB over 70.2 innings since the beginning of June, though a tough assignment awaits him against the Astros next week.

Francis (shoulder) has resumed a throwing progression, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reported Friday.

Francis was shut down from throwing for at least 10 days after experiencing shoulder discomfort July 18. He's since resumed a throwing program, but it's unclear how far along he is. Francis remains multiple weeks away from returning.

The Mariners placed Evans on the 15-day injured list Friday due to right elbow inflammation.

The right-hander issued a season-high four walks as he gave up three runs (two earned) across four innings Thursday in Baltimore, and he'll now be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks after being diagnosed with elbow inflammation. Evans' may have been set to lose his place in Seattle's rotation regardless of the injury since Bryce Miller (elbow) is nearing his return from the injured list.

Ohl is listed as the Twins' starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Tigers at Target Field.

Ohl made his most recent appearance out of the bullpen, tossing 2.2 scoreless frames in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Royals. The rookie right-hander has previously made two starts for Minnesota and made another five starts in the minors earlier this season, but he has yet to cover more than four innings in any outing. As such, Ohl will likely be deployed as more of an opener than a traditional starter Friday, with Jose Urena available to work in bulk relief behind him.

Bradish (elbow) made a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, allowing two hits and two walks in five scoreless innings. He struck out nine.

The rehab start was Bradish's third with Norfolk and his fifth overall in the minor leagues amid his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and he was able to build up to 74 pitches on top of dominating the opposition Thursday. As it stands, the Orioles plan to have the right-hander make one final rehab appearance before clearing him to rejoin their rotation and make his season debut, per Jake Rill of MLB.com. Once Bradish is ready to come off the injured list, it would make sense for Baltimore to option the struggling Brandon Young back to the minors.

Ober allowed three runs on four hits and struck out four without walking a batter over 5.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Tigers on Thursday.

Ober allowed a two-run home run to Riley Greene in the fourth inning and an RBI single to Colt Keith in the sixth. While Ober was stingy with baserunners, the Tigers were able to take advantage of his few mistakes. He's given up eight runs over 16.1 innings across three starts since returning from a left hip impingement. Overall, he's posted a 5.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 86:24 K:BB through 108.1 innings across 20 starts this season. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Athletics.