MLB Player News

Bassitt was struck in the head by a line drive and carted off the field during Tuesday's start against the White Sox, Shayna Rubin of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Bassitt was hit on the right side of the head by a line drive off the bat of Brian Goodwin during the second inning, and he remained down on the field for multiple minutes while bleeding profusely before being helped onto the cart. The right-hander is being transported to the hospital but is conscious and aware.

Montgomery didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings in a 5-3 win. He struck out six.

The southpaw hit the showers after 78 pitches (51 strikes) in his return from the COVID-19 list, serving up a go-ahead homer to Christian Vazquez to lead off the fifth inning and then walking Enrique Hernandez with two outs, but had he stuck around for one more out Montgomery would have gotten the win as the Yankees rallied for three runs in the bottom of the frame. That's been the story for the 28-year-old over the last couple months -- he's allowed three runs or less in nine straight starts, posting a 3.14 ERA and 52:18 K:BB through his last 48.2 innings, but quick hooks and inconsistent run support have left him with only a 1-4 record to show for it.

Houck didn't factor into the decision in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, allowing two runs on five hits over four innings as the Red Sox fell, 5-3. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander didn't pitch poorly and tossed 39 of 58 pitches for strikes before getting a fairly quick hook, but after Houck escaped trouble in the fourth inning of a 2-2 game, Boston manager Alex Cora took no chances and went to his bullpen. Unfortunately the move backfired, as Garrett Whitlock and Josh Taylor combined to cough up three runs in the fifth. Houck may not be done bouncing between the big-league roster and Triple-A, as the Red Sox have scheduled off days coming up Thursday and Monday, but when he does make his next start he'll take a 3.12 ERA and sharp 46:7 K:BB through 34.2 innings to the mound with him.

The Tigers are targeting their Aug. 27-29 home series versus the Blue Jays for Boyd's (triceps) return from the 60-day injured list, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Out since mid-June with left triceps tendinitis, Boyd reached the final phase of his recovery program when he began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Friday. He tossed two scoreless frames for the affiliate, then rejoined the Tigers later in the weekend for another bullpen session. The Tigers plan on having Boyd make two more rehab starts before bringing him back from the IL, with the southpaw's next outing with Toledo likely to come as soon as Wednesday. If Boyd is able to build up to five innings during his rehab assignment and steer clear of any setbacks, he should make about five or six more starts for Detroit before the season ends.

The Tigers are targeting early September for Urena's (groin) return from the 10-day injured list, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Urena has been on the shelf since July 17 with right groin tightness and hasn't initiated a rehab assignment, though the Tigers apparently expect him to do so within the next few days. If that's the case, Urena would still likely need two or three outings in the minors to get stretched out for starting duty. The 29-year-old posted a 6.19 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 5.8 K/9 in 17 starts prior to landing on the IL and won't hold much appeal outside of AL-only formats once he eventually returns.

Houck was recalled as expected ahead of his scheduled start in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Yankees, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck keeps getting sent down between his starts, but that's merely a matter of the Red Sox taking advantage of roster construction rules to effectively have a 27-man roster. Houck is clearly an MLB-caliber pitcher, as evidenced by his 2.93 ERA, 34.9 percent strikeout rate and 5.6 percent walk rate across eight outings this season. The main knock on him is that he's averaged less than four innings per appearance, which has prevented him from earning a win, but he's been remarkable on a per-inning basis. Given that he's merely up as the extra man for the doubleheader, it's possible he gets demoted yet again following his start, but he hasn't pitched in the minors in over a month and is unlikely to do so any time soon.

Severino (elbow/groin) is still waiting on a second opinion on his right shoulder but will not throw for the remainder of the week, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

Severino suffered a setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery last week and was scratched from a scheduled rehab start after his shoulder didn't feel right. He underwent an MRI, which the Yankees sent out for a second opinion Monday. That opinion is expected to come in the next day or two, at which point Severino's next steps should become clearer.

The Yankees recalled Gil from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre ahead of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, designing him as their 27th man.

Jordan Montgomery (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list and will start the front end of the doubleheader, while Gil picks up his third big-league start in the nightcap. The 23-year-old right-hander has been brilliant through his first two MLB starts, striking out 14 over 11 scoreless innings while permitting six hits and three walks. Though Gil has made a compelling case for a permanent stay in the rotation, the Yankees may not have room for him on the big-league roster beyond Tuesday now that Montgomery and Gerrit Cole have made it back from the COVID-19 IL. The Yankees are expected to get further reinforcements by late August or early September, when both Domingo German (shoulder) and Corey Kluber (shoulder) should return from the IL.

The Yankees reinstated Montgomery (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list ahead of his scheduled start in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the Red Sox.

Just as manager Aaron Boone said would be the case, Montgomery will slot back into the rotation this week after spending the past 13 days on the IL following his positive COVID-19 test. With catcher Gary Sanchez (illness) also activated ahead of the twin bill, the worst of the Yankees' minor outbreak of positive cases appears to be over, as Anthony Rizzo and Clay Holmes (illness) are the only players still residing on the COVID-19 IL. Montgomery's workload Tuesday could be restricted more than normal coming off the two-week layoff, but he should still line up for two starts this week. His second turn is expected to come Sunday versus the Twins in New York.

Montas (9-9) took the loss Monday, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks over five innings as the A's fell 5-2 to the White Sox. He struck out six.

He wasn't at his best and needed 99 pitches (60 strikes) to record 15 outs, but Montas also didn't get much run support. The outing snapped a string of six straight quality starts for the right-hander, and since the beginning of July, Montas boasts a 2.79 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 60:15 K:BB through 48.1 innings.