MLB Player News
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Stephen Kolek SP | KC
Royals' Stephen Kolek: Tosses 7.1 scoreless innings Sunday
Kolek (4-1) earned the win Sunday against the Astros, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out four over 7.1 scoreless innings.
Kolek was impressive Sunday, throwing 63 of his 97 pitches for strikes while generating 12 whiffs. The right-hander retired 11 of 12 batters during the middle innings and worked out of a seventh-inning jam by inducing a double play with runners on first and second. He ran into trouble again in the eighth, exiting with two aboard, but reliever Steven Cruz stranded both runners to preserve the shutout. Kolek has now held opponents to two or fewer runs in five of his last six starts, lowering his season ERA to 2.68 to go along with a 1.03 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB across 50.1 innings. He's slated to face the Cardinals in his next start.
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Connelly Early SP | BOS
Red Sox's Connelly Early: Ineffective in fifth loss
Early (5-5) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on 11 hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Rangers. He struck out three.
After allowing a leadoff long ball to Wyatt Langford, Early struggled to settle in, surrendering a three-run homer to Kyle Higashioka in the second inning and a two-run double to Brandon Nimmo in the fourth frame. He's allowed five home runs over the last three starts and 14 overall across 75.2 innings. It marked a season-worst outing for the southpaw in both hits and runs allowed, as his previous highs were six hits and five runs. Owning a 3.81 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 72:29 K:BB across 75.2 innings (14 starts), Early will look to get back on track next time out, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against the Mariners.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Lasts seven frames in sixth win
Eovaldi (6-7) earned the win Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings against Boston. He struck out six.
Aside from surrendering a pair of homers to Willson Contreras, Eovaldi was effective and gave Texas great length en route to picking up his sixth win. The veteran has consistently worked deep into games this season, completing at least seven innings in seven of his 14 starts. The right-hander owns a 4.23 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 83:21 K:BB across 87.1 innings and will look to stay in the win column his next time out, tentatively scheduled for Saturday against San Diego.
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Emerson Hancock SP | SEA
Mariners' Emerson Hancock: Rare letdown in third loss
Hancock (5-3) took the loss Sunday against the Nationals, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks in four innings. He struck out four.
Four of the hits allowed went for extra bases in what was Hancock's season-worst outing virtually across the board. The 27-year-old right-hander gave up a season-high six runs and nine hits, also fanning a season-low two in his shortest start of the year. Hancock will try to flush Sunday's outing in his next scheduled appearance at home against Boston, and he still holds a strong 3.28 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 75:17 K:BB over 79.2 frames.
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Trevor Rogers SP | BAL
Orioles' Trevor Rogers: Finding rhythm in June
Rogers (3-7) took the loss Sunday against the Padres, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out four.
Although he's still struggling for strikeouts, Rogers is certainly finding a rhythm on the mound of late. The 28-year-old southpaw has recorded fewer than five punchouts in eight consecutive starts, but he does have a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB over 17.1 innings covering three outings in June thus far. Rogers will try to further improve on his 5.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 48:22 K:BB over 66 frames going forward, but he'll have his work cut out for him with a road outing against the Dodgers on tap for his next appearance.
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Jeffrey Springs SP | ATH
Athletics' Jeffrey Springs: Tagged for three homers in loss
Springs (3-7) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and struck out five without walking a batter over four innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Rockies.
Springs had the misfortune of being the A's pitcher to start twice during their six-game homestand in Las Vegas. It went poorly both times for the southpaw, who allowed 13 runs (11 earned) over nine innings in those starts. He wasn't trending well to begin with -- he's now allowed at least four runs in five straight appearances. Springs is at a 5.13 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 68:23 K:BB through 79 innings over 15 starts this season. He is tentatively projected for a home start in Sacramento against the Angels his next time out, though Springs seems to be a risky option even in favorable matchups at this time.
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Kris Bubic SP | KC
Royals' Kris Bubic: MRI yields good news
Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Sunday that Bubic underwent another MRI that showed nothing structurally wrong with his left elbow or shoulder, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports.
After being forced to the 15-day injured list May 18 due to a sore left elbow, Bubic made enough progress to gain clearance to head out on a rehab assignment. During his start Tuesday with Triple-A Omaha, Bubic experienced a shoulder issue, which was likely a contributing factor in him getting lit up for five earned runs on eight hits and one walk while recording just four outs. Fortunately, follow-up tests didn't reveal anything overly concerning, so the Royals were comfortable allowing Bubic to resume playing catch Sunday. Assuming he incurs no further setbacks during his throwing progression, Bubic could head back out on his rehab assignment at some point in the next week or two.
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Justin Verlander SP | DET
Tigers' Justin Verlander: Sim game on tap
Verlander (hip) is slated to throw a simulated game in Houston on Monday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
While Verlander's rehab assignment looks to be over after he built up to 5.2 innings and 86 pitches in his second start with Triple-A Toledo last Wednesday, the Tigers aren't yet ready to make room for him in the big-league rotation. The veteran righty will thus remain on the 60-day injured list for the time being, but he'll continue to stick on a five-day pitching schedule by throwing a sim game Monday. The Tigers will decide Verlander's next step following the sim game, and it's possible that he'll return from the IL and move back into the rotation during next weekend's series versus the White Sox.
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Jose Soriano SP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Battles tight chest, sore leg
Soriano said after Saturday's 8-0 win over the Rays that he experienced chest tightness and sore legs during his start, Jack Janes of TheSportingTribune reports.
After turning in a 5.28 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over his previous eight starts, Soriano was much sharper Saturday, striking out five while scattering three hits and two walks over five scoreless frames. He tossed just 76 pitches, however, with the Angels electing to cut his start short on account of the pair of injuries, which stemmed from him getting hit on the right side of the chest by a 98-mph line drive off the bat of Jonathan Aranda in the first inning. Though he was initially able to stay in the game, Soriano noted that his chest became tight between innings, and his legs became more sore as he attempted to put less stress on his chest while pitching. Manager Kurt Suzuki suggested that Soriano's removal was precautionary, so at this stage, the right-hander is expected to be ready to go for his next turn through the rotation Thursday versus the Athletics in Sacramento.
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Taj Bradley SP | MIN
Twins' Taj Bradley: Pitches into seventh inning
Bradley allowed four runs on five hits and a walk while striking out seven over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Sunday.
Bradley rebounded fairly well after three straight starts in which he failed to complete five frames. He still gave up four runs, with a pair of homers accounting for three of those runs on his line Sunday. Bradley has taken a step back after starting the season in great form, but this effort could help him turn things around a bit. He's at a 4.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 80:30 K:BB over 71.2 innings across 13 starts this season. His next start is tentatively scheduled to be on the road in Arizona.