MLB Player News

German (shoulder) played catch this weekend and could soon throw a bullpen session, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

It was previously reported German was expected to throw a bullpen session this weekend, but he apparently wasn't quite ready for mound work after experiencing some soreness following a bullpen session Aug. 18. The 29-year-old will need to continue ramping up his throwing program to have a chance of rejoining the Yankees for the stretch run.

Watkins was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Watkins was charged with his seventh loss of the season Sunday when he allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out four in five innings against the Rays. The right-hander had posted a 1.65 ERA in 16.1 innings across his first four major-league appearances of the season, but he recorded a 10.57 ERA in 30.2 innings across his last seven outings. It's not yet clear who will take his place in the rotation.

Cobb (wrist) threw a light bullpen session Wednesday, per MLB.com.

Initial tests revealed no structural damage to Cobb's right (pitching) wrist, but his recovery has been much slower than expected. The veteran hurler's last game action took place July 23, so he'll likely need considerable time to ramp back into shape before a potential return. Cobb has indicated that he is hopeful he can make it back before the end of the campaign.

Irvin (hip) threw a bullpen session Saturday and remains on track to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Tigers, the Associated Press reports.

Irvin appeared to get through the session without any setbacks, keeping the left-hander on pace to not miss a start with the hip discomfort that led to his early exit from his Tuesday outing versus Seattle. The 27-year-old will be looking to bounce back from a rough stretch if he does take the hill against Detroit, as he's pitched to a 5.79 ERA and 2.07 WHIP across 14 innings over his last three starts.

Perez allowed one unearned run on one walk and a hit batsman while striking out one over a third of inning in Saturday's 5-3 extra-inning win over Cleveland.

Perez was called on to pitch the bottom of the 10th inning, after Boston plated three in the top half of the inning courtesy of a J.D. Martinez three-run home run. The left-hander walked a batter then hit Bradley Zimmer before striking out Bobby Bradley. Once his three-batter minimum was reached, manager Alex Cora had Adam Ottavino close out the win. Perez, who was moved from the starting rotation to the bullpen earlier this month, was initially effective as a reliever, yet things have gone south since. He had a 2.70 ERA in first five relief outings, but Perez has since permitted eight runs (four earned) over 3.2 innings (9.82 ERA).

Sale is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday against the Rays in Tampa Bay, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Sale was initially lined up to start Tuesday in the second contest of the four-game series, but the Red Sox will instead build in an extra day of rest for him. He's coming off a 5.1-inning, eight-strikeout effort versus the Twins on Aug. 26. Boston will either add a temporary sixth starter to the mix or treat Tuesday's contest as a bullpen game, but regardless, the adjusted pitching schedule means that Sale will miss out on a two-start week.

Suarez started Saturday's 10-2 victory over San Diego, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings. He didn't factor into the decision.

Suarez didn't pitch well -- throwing 73 pitches in less than four innings -- but Los Angeles jumped out to an early lead that it was able to extend handily. The lefty has now gone less than five innings in each of his last two starts and lines up to face Texas next weekend.

The Tigers reinstated Boyd (triceps) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Blue Jays.

Outfielder Daz Cameron was sent to Triple-A Toledo to clear a spot on the active roster for Boyd, who will be making his first start for Detroit since June 14. The southpaw ramped up to 4.1 innings (56 pitches) in his final rehab start at Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, so he'll likely face some light restrictions Sunday in his return to the Detroit rotation. Before he was shut down in June with left triceps tendinitis, Boyd went 3-6 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB in 70.2 innings.

Urena didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays, allowing three hits over three scoreless innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.

While the right-hander couldn't give the Tigers any length after being activated from the IL, Urena did stymie the Jays over his 49 pitches (32 strikes). Detroit has used piggyback and tandem arrangements in the past, so it's possible they keep pairing up Urena with someone like Tyler Alexander down the stretch rather than stretching him out; however, it's tough to get excited about his fantasy potential in either scenario. Urena will take a 5.96 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 54:37 K:BB through 83 innings into his next outing.

Manoah didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 extra-innings win over the Tigers, allowing two runs on four hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The rookie took a shutout into the seventh inning before running out of steam, and Manoah exited after 103 pitches (69 strikes) with the Jays still ahead 2-1. Unfortunately, Trevor Richards allowed an inherited runner to score when the infield defense couldn't quite turn an inning-ending double play, denying Manoah his sixth win. He still delivered his second straight quality start and seventh in 14 big-league outings, and he sports a 3.15 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 86:25 K:BB through his first 74.1 big-league innings.