MLB Player News

Heaney was sent from the Angels to the Yankees in exchange for Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Heaney owns a 5.27 ERA in 18 starts this season, though that hides a much more impressive set of peripherals. His 28.2 percent strikeout rate and 7.7 percent walk rate are both strong numbers and should in theory be enough to offset a low 33.5 percent groundball rate going forward, as his 4.05 FIP and 3.81 xFIP suggest. Being a flyball pitcher could cause problems for the lefty in Yankee Stadium, however.

Gowdy, Spencer Howard and Josh Gessner were traded from the Phillies to the Rangers on Friday in exchange for Kyle Gibson, Ian Kennedy and Hans Crouse, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gowdy was fairly highly rated as an over-slot 42nd overall pick back in 2016, but he's been limited by Tommy John surgery and last year's canceled minor-league schedule to just 147 total innings as a professional. The 23-year-old owns an unremarkable 4.43 ERA in 61 frames for High-A Jersey Shore this season, though he's been hurt by a .356 BABIP, as his combination of a 24.0 percent strikeout rate and 5.7 percent walk rate is a good one.

Berrios was traded from the Twins to the Blue Jays in exchange for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson on Friday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Blue Jays get the best remaining available starter to help them down the stretch in the very competitive AL East. He'll also be under contract through the end of next season. Berrios has been a step below the league's best pitchers throughout his career, but he's still a very useful arm, posting a 3.76 ERA over the last five years and a 3.48 mark this season. He's not an elite strikeout weapon, but his 25.7 percent strikeout rate this season represents a career high. The trade should help the righty somewhat in terms of wins, as he'll be supported by a loaded Blue Jays lineup, though he'll go from pitching in one of the league's weakest divisions to one of its strongest.

Rodon (8-5) allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out four over four innings, taking the loss against Kansas City on Wednesday.

Rodon suffered his second consecutive loss and experienced a drop in velocity in the early innings for a second straight start. His fastball sat at 92-93 mph the first couple of innings before picking up to 97-98 in the final two. "Started slow, similar to Milwaukee," Rodon told Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. "I don't really like to make excuses. But, it's just part of the game. Just got to make some adjustments, feel better this next start and get it going, get going faster." Other warning signs are a season-low four strikeouts and the 104.2 innings Rodon has thrown is his most since 2018. The left-hander threw a combined 42.1 innings in 2019-20. With a day off coming next Monday, Rodon will get an extra day of rest leading up to his next start, which is expected to be Wednesday at home against the Royals.

Bundy (1-8) lost Thursday's 4-0 game at the hand of the Athletics, allowing three runs on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

Bundy calmed down after permitting the game's first three batters to reach base, all of whom would eventually score, to retire 12 of 13 Athletics between the first and fifth innings. It was reported that Bundy would only throw 50-60 pitches, but he stayed in for 72 given his successful rebound following the first inning, though he threw just 56 percent of his pitches for strikes. Bundy's stay in the rotation may hinge on Alex Cobb's blister, though the adequate showing may earn Bundy more innings on an Angels team desperate for pitching.

Cole (10-6) allowed eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 across 5.1 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Rays.

Cole faltered in the opening inning, with the big blow being a three-run home run by Austin Meadows. After that, Cole retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced. However, he exited with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Brett Phillips hit a grand slam two batters later, which only worsened Cole's line. Cole had been on a strong run of starts prior to this effort, as he had allowed only four earned runs across his last 20 innings -- a three-start span -- while striking out an impressive 31 hitters. The outing inflated his ERA to 3.11 on the season.

Montas (9-8) won Thursday's 4-0 victory against the Angels, going seven innings and allowing three hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts.

Montas submitted his best start of the season Thursday, preventing any runner from passing second base and striking out 10 batters for the third time in four starts. This was the righty's first start surrendering no runs since April 16, while his 109 pitches are a season high and the seven frames matches the campaign's best. Montas has now thrown four straight quality starts and lines up to face San Diego next week.

Rodriguez (7-6) allowed six runs on seven hits and four walks with eight strikeouts over 3.1 innings in Thursday's loss to Toronto.

Rodriguez flashed good stuff at times but struggled with his command en route to a season-high four walks. The Blue Jays ambushed him for three runs in the first inning, two of them coming on a Teoscar Hernandez double, and eventually chased the southpaw from the game after he issued a bases-loaded walk to Marcus Semien in the fourth that made it 5-0. It was the second straight abbreviated start for Rodriguez, who departed his previous outing after one inning due to migraine issues. He'll take a 5.60 ERA and 1.41 WHIP (99.2 innings) into his next outing.

Ryu (10-5) pitched six scoreless innings in Thursday's win over Boston, holding the Red Sox to just two hits while striking out five.

Ryu stranded a pair of runners in the first inning -- one of which had reached on an error -- and was simply masterful the rest of the way. After an inconsistent stretch that spanned most of June and into early July, Ryu appears to have righted the ship with a 1.62 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 20:4 K:BB over his last four starts. Just as importantly, he hasn't allowed a single home run during that stretch after being touched up for eight long balls in his previous six starts. Ryu's is tentatively lined up to make his next start at home next week against Cleveland.

Mize (6-5) allowed one unearned run on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts over seven innings in Thursday's win over the Orioles.

The rookie righty turned in his longest outing in nearly two months, holding the Orioles off the board until the seventh inning when a throwing error by Akil Baddoo allowed Baltimore's lone run to score. It was Mize's first quality start in five July appearances and the first during that stretch in which he was able to complete five-plus innings. The strikeout numbers are underwhelming -- just 87 in 111 innings -- but Mize owns a rock-solid 3.41 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in his 20 starts this season. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Red Sox at home in his next start.