MLB Player News

Espino has a 1-5 record, 4.64 ERA and 1.06 WHIP across 33 innings since being promoted to High-A Lake County, but he also has a 63:13 K:BB in that span.

The good news is that thanks to his elite bat-missing ability, Espino's FIP is 3.52 and his xFIP is an even more impressive 2.41; the bad news is that he's been touched for six homers in his seven High-A starts and hasn't finished six innings once this season. That includes his 10 starts at Low-A Lynchburg, where Espino posted a 3.38 ERA and 1.34 WHIP alongside a 64:23 K:BB in 42.2 innings. Espino's calling card is his high-end fastball velocity, as he's touched 100 mph, but scouts are also bullish on his slider, curveball and changeup. That said, his control remains a work in progress. Espino is a high-variance prospect who has the stuff to be an ace starter but may not have the durability. Of course, even if he does eventually end up in the bullpen, he'd be an elite relief arm.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Kluber (shoulder) would be limited to around 65-to-75 pitches in his scheduled start Monday versus the Angels, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

New York will officially reinstate Kluber from the 60-day injured list later Monday, welcoming him back after he missed the past three months with a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. The right-hander looked rusty in his two-game rehab assignment -- he covered five innings in total while giving up seven earned runs and posting a 5:5 K:BB -- so the Yankees will ease him back into the big-league rotation with a lighter workload than usual. Andrew Heaney, who moved to the bullpen last week, could piggyback Kluber in the outing and cover multiple innings in relief.

Double-A Akron reinstated Cantillo (abdomen) from its 7-day injured list Monday.

Cantillo finally looks ready to make his Double-A debut after he was initially placed on Akron's IL in early May with right abdominal soreness. He was cleared to rejoin Akron after he completed a two-start rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, during which he struck out seven over five scoreless frames. The 21-year-old lefty was one of several players that Cleveland acquired in the August 2020 deal that sent Mike Clevinger to San Diego.

Cease (11-6) allowed one run on four hits and two walks while striking out 11 Sunday in a 13-1 blowout win over the Cubs.

Cease was lights out against the Cubs on Sunday, posting his seventh game of at least 10 strikeouts or more this season. His only major mistake was allowing a solo homer to Frank Schwindel in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old is currently tied for fourth in the majors with 188 strikeouts and is in the top five with an 11.9 K/9 along with Corbin Burnes, Gerrit Cole, Max Scherzer and Robbie Ray. Cease's evolution on the mound in 2021 has been spectacular, as he now owns a 3.82 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 188:56 K:BB over 143.2 innings. He's lined up for a meeting against the Royals during the week and sports a 1.21 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB against them in four meetings this season.

Montgomery got a no-decision in Sunday's 3-1 loss to Oakland, allowing an unearned run on six hits with three strikeouts.

Montgomery pitched well Sunday, permitting an unearned run on two hits in the fourth inning while requiring just 82 pitches to get through six innings. He's pitched to a 2.30 ERA in three starts since returning from the COVID IL earlier this month and has been limited to a range of 75-82 pitches in each outing.

Blackburn got a no-decision in Sunday's 3-1 victory over the Yankees, allowing five hits and a walk with one strikeout in five innings.

Blackburn was able to quiet New York's potent bats, working around a two-on, one-out jam in the first and sailing through the remaining four innings. It took Blackburn only 72 pitches to go five innings, and he was most likely pulled so he wouldn't face the lineup a third time through. The 27-year-old has delivered three solid outings since being recalled and is set to face Toronto next weekend.

Singer allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out three across six innings in the loss to the Mariners on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

The only earned run that Singer allowed came on a Jarred Kelenic home run in the sixth inning. He has allowed just four runs in 17.2 innings over his last three starts. The 24-year-old has a 5.39 ERA and 1.66 WHIP with 120 strikeouts in 133.2 innings this season. His next start is scheduled for Saturday against the White Sox.

Gonzales (6-5) allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four across seven runs, earning the win over the Royals on Sunday.

Gonzales allowed a pair of solo home runs, one by Salvador Perez and the other by Michael Taylor. Despite the long balls, Gonzalez allowed no further damage in seven innings for the win. He has surrendered three or less runs in each of his last nine starts. The 29-year-old has a 4.02 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with 83 strikeouts in 107.1 innings this season.

Houck took a no-decision versus Cleveland on Sunday. He allowed three runs on one hit, four walks and three hit batters while striking out three over 5.1 innings.

Usually, a one-hit outing is outstanding for a starter, but Houck put a lot of traffic on the basepaths without Cleveland having to do much. He still kept the home team off the board for five innings before a sloppy sixth. The 25-year-old saw his ERA rise slightly to 3.63 with a 1.21 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB across 44.2 innings. Since he had walked just eight batters through his first 10 appearances this year, it's safe to assume Sunday's start was a clear outlier. He lines up for a home rematch versus Cleveland next weekend.

Greinke (11-5) allowed six earned runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out one across four innings, taking the loss to the Rangers on Sunday.

Greinke tied his season-high six runs allowed in just four innings. He was relieved after allowing a leadoff home run in the fifth inning to DJ Peters. The 37-year-old had allowed six runs in 25 innings over his prior four starts. His ERA and WHIP rose to 3.66 and 1.15 in 159.2 innings this season. In contrast, his K/9 dropped to 6.2 after he struck out just one Ranger on Sunday.