MLB Player News

Houck allowed three hits with no walks and seven strikeouts through five scoreless innings, taking a no-decision in Saturday's 4-3 win over Cleveland.

The Cleveland scouting department has to be doing a double-take right now. After showing no semblance of command against Cleveland just six days ago (four walks issued, three hit batters), Houck was rock solid for the Red Sox through five innings Saturday, throwing 69 percent of his pitches for strikes and conceding just a pair of singles and a double. The 25-year-old's velocity remained with him for the entire outing, as he retired the last nine batters he faced and hit 95 mph with his final pitch of the day. He is slated to pitch again Friday against the White Sox.

Montgomery didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Orioles, giving up one run on six hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out five.

The southpaw was sharp but inefficient, and Montgomery tossed 97 pitches (65 strikes) before getting the hook. He left the game down 1-0 and headed for his sixth loss of the year, but the Yankees erased the deficit in the eighth inning. Montgomery will carry a 3.47 ERA and 131:43 K:BB through 135 innings into his next outing.

Cobb (wrist) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Cobb threw a side session early in the week, and it appears as though he's close to facing hitters. If he feels good following Saturday's activities, he's expected to throw an accelerated sim game in the coming days before the Angels determine his next steps.

Dunning is expected to return from the COVID-19 injured list during the Rangers' current road trip and could be called upon to start next weekend in Oakland, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Dunning hit the injured list as part of the team's late-August coronavirus outbreak. He hasn't embarked on a rehab assignment, but it's possible he returns to the team without one.

Junk will make his MLB debut as the starter for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

Junk came over from the Yankees at the trade deadline in a deal which sent Andrew Heaney to the Bronx. Junk isn't a particularly highly-rated prospect and has struggled to a 5.27 ERA in five starts for Double-A Rocket City, an uninspiring mark considering his age (25). His combination of a 24.0 percent strikeout rate and 5.8 percent walk rate over those outings suggests he likely deserved better results, though those are hardly the numbers of a pitcher who looks ready to dominate at the highest level.

Winn returned to Double-A Frisco's roster Saturday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports

Winn hasn't pitched since mid-August due to the team's COVID-19 outbreak. He was putting up great numbers prior to his absence, striking out 33.1 percent of opposing batters over 16 starts en route to a 2.57 ERA and 0.83 WHIP.

Albers (1-1) allowed nine runs on 10 hits and one walk with two strikeouts through three innings, taking the loss in Saturday's 11-4 defeat to the Rays.

After shutting out the Brewers over 5.1 innings Aug. 27 in his first start in MLB since 2017, Albers took a giant step in the wrong direction Saturday. He was shelled over his three innings of work, allowing home runs to Yandy Diaz, Jordan Luplow, Manuel Margot and Randy Arozarena. It remains to be seen how much juice Albers has remaining in his left arm at 35 years old.

Bieber (shoulder) will throw a simulated game with Double-A Akron on Saturday, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Bieber has been making slow-but-steady progress in his recovery from a strained right shoulder, an injury which has kept him on the shelf since mid-June. He recently completed a pair of bullpen sessions, reaching 36 pitches Friday, so a simulated game is a natural next step. He still has a few more steps to go before returning from the injured list, however, which won't leave him time to make many starts before the end of the year.

Civale (finger) is expected to return Tuesday against the Twins, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

A sprained finger has kept Civale out of action since late June. He's looked good in three rehab appearances, allowing just a single earned run on five hits and three walks across 11.1 innings while striking out 12 batters. He reached 71 pitches in his most recent outing, so he might not be able to push towards 100 pitches in his return, but Civale should still be able to handle a substantial workload.

Manoah didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 11-10 win over the A's, surrendering six runs on five hits and three walks over five-plus innings. He struck out two.

The rookie didn't have his best stuff, getting tagged for two runs in each of the first, fifth and sixth innings before getting the hook after 89 pitches (53 strikes). Manoah has been hit and miss lately, recording four quality starts in his last seven outings but coughing up at least six runs in two of the other three starts in that stretch. His overall numbers remain solid, however; the 23-year-old carries a 3.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 88:28 K:BB through his first 79.1 big-league innings.