MLB Player News

Cobb (wrist) tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session Monday, the Associated Press reports.

The Angels are still weighing the next steps for Cobb, but since he hasn't made a start since July 23 due to right wrist inflammation, he'll likely need to prove his health during a minor-league rehab assignment or a series of simulated outings before rejoining the big-league rotation. For much of August, the Angels looked to have more than enough depth to cover for Cobb, but his absence looms larger with all of Patrick Sandoval (back), Reid Detmers (COVID-19) and Dylan Bundy (shoulder) joining him on the injured list within the past two weeks. Additionally, Shohei Ohtani's next start is in flux while he manages a right hand injury, and the team lost additional depth when Jose Quintana was claimed off waivers by the Giants on Monday.

Anderson signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Anderson didn't have to wait long to find a new club after getting released by the Phillies on Sunday. He joins a team that's in desperate need of starting pitching, with Dane Dunning, Mike Foltynewicz and Spencer Howard all on the COVID-19 injured list. The Rangers may prefer to give opportunities to younger players rather than a 33-year-old who owns a 6.94 ERA over the last two seasons, however, so there's no guarantee he joins the major-league roster any time soon.

The Twins plan to select Ryan's contract from Triple-A St. Paul when rosters expand Wednesday, and he'll likely be in line to start in his MLB debut later that day in Minnesota's series finale with the Cubs, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Minnesota is still listing their starter for Wednesday as "TBA," but with Randy Dobnak (finger) set to return from the 60-day injured list to start Friday against the Rays and Andrew Albers in line to take the hill Saturday, Ryan represents the most logical candidate to fill the opening for the series with the Cubs. After being acquired from the Rays on July 22 in the Nelson Cruz deal, Ryan didn't make his organizational debut until Aug. 20, as he had been a member of the Team USA roster in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Much like he did at Triple-A Durham prior to the Olympics, Ryan has impressed in his first two turns at St. Paul, covering nine innings between the starts while allowing two earned runs and striking out 17. Expect the Twins to give him a look in a starting role over the final month of the season in what amounts to an audition for a spot in the 2022 Opening Day rotation.

Keller said Tuesday that his shoulder is pain free and he is awaiting the results of an MRI from Monday, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The right-hander was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain Friday, but Tuesday's news suggests he could make his return to the Royals' starting rotation soon. It's uncertain whether he'll need any rehab starts before coming back.

Kluber allowed five runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over four innings against the Angels on Monday. He did not factor into the decision.

Monday was Kluber's first start in just over three months after spending time on the injured list with a right shoulder strain. Kluber held the Angels scoreless for the first three innings but broke down in the fourth. He allowed a run to score after three consecutive base hits and then loaded the bases with a walk before surrendering a grand slam to Jack Mayfield. The 35-year-old now owns a 3.61 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and the 61:25 K:BB over 57.1 innings. He'll look to have a bounceback performance against Baltimore over the weekend.

Ray (10-5) picked up the win in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Orioles, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out 10.

The southpaw is on an incredible roll, reeling off seven straight quality starts and fanning double-digit batters in three straight. Ray has a 1.72 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 60:11 K:BB through 47 innings over that stretch, and Monday's performance got him to 202 strikeouts on the year -- the fourth time in his career he's reached 200 Ks.

Flexen didn't factor into the decision during Monday's 4-3 loss to Houston, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

The Astros jumped on Flexen early with two runs in the first, but the 27-year-old prevented any more from scoring despite considerable traffic on the bases. He departed down 2-1 with two out and a runner on second in the sixth but was erased from the final line when Seattle took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Flexen concludes a successful August with a 2-0 record and 2.68 ERA in 37 innings across six starts.

Garcia didn't factor into the decision during Monday's 4-3 win over the Mariners, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts in five innings.

Garcia faced trouble in a few innings Monday but surrendered his two runs on a Jose Marmolejos solo shot in the second inning and a Luis Torrens sixth-inning double. The rookie right-hander concludes August still on a three-game winning streak and posted a 3.34 ERA in six starts this month.

The Twins will push back Albers' next start to Saturday's game against the Rays, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He was set to start Wednesday against the Cubs.

Albers had been a candidate to take the hill in Wednesday's series finale with the Cubs, but Triple-A St. Paul starter Joe Ryan now looks to be lined up to receive a call-up to fill the opening in the rotation. After throwing 5.1 shutout innings last weekend against the Brewers in his first big-league start since 2017, Albers should still remain part of the Minnesota rotation the rest of the way so long as he continues to turn in quality numbers in his subsequent starts.

Ryan is a candidate to be called up to start against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Manager Rocco Baldelli said "we could see him in September" when asked about Ryan being recalled. The Twins will push back Andrew Albers' next start to Saturday, which leaves an opening on Sept. 1 -- also the first day of expanded rosters. Ryan has given up just up two runs with 17 strikeouts in nine innings in his first two starts at Triple-A after he was both traded to the Twins and returned from playing in the Olympics.