MLB Player News

Angels manager Joe Maddon said Bundy will start Thursday's game against the Athletics, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

After posting a 6.78 ERA and 1.42 WHIP through his first 14 starts of the season, Bundy was moved to the bullpen in late June. The Angels haven't made much use of him since he transitioned to relief duty, with Bundy covering just five frames across four appearances while giving up four runs (three earned) and striking out eight. Bundy may only be making a spot start Thursday in place of Alex Cobb (finger), who is tending to a blister that could result in his placement on the injured list. Since Bundy hasn't tossed more than 50 pitches in an outing since June 20, he likely won't be asked to work deep into Thursday's contest.

Odorizzi (4-5) allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three over 5.1 innings to pick up the win over Seattle on Wednesday.

After a scoreless first inning, the Astros scored in each of the next five frames to give Odorizzi an 8-0 cushion, which turned out to be enough to survive the starter's third trip through the Mariners lineup. Seattle crushed a pair home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, including a two-run blast from old friend Abraham Toro, the former Astro who also homered against his former club Tuesday, the same day he was traded to Seattle. Batters are now 10-for-22 when facing Odorizzi for a third time in a game, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Odorizzi's turn in the rotation comes due next Wednesday on the road against the Dodgers.

Kopech retired the side in order during the eighth inning of Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Royals.

Kopech picked up his eighth hold of the season Wednesday before closer Liam Hendriks surrendered the lead in the ninth. The day prior, Kopech slammed the door on the Royals in the eighth, fanning Whit Merrifield, Carlos Santana and Salvador Perez. Since coming off the injured list in early July, Kopech has a 0.90 ERA, six holds and 14 strikeouts over 10 innings. The White Sox still view the right-hander as a starter long-term but will continue to deploy Kopech as a bullpen piece late in games. Given that eight of Kopech's nine outings since returning have lasted just three outs, it's unlikely he'll be used as a fill-in starter.

Bubic did not factor in the decision against the White Sox on Wednesday. He completed six innings and allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three.

For four innings, Bubic went toe-to-toe with White Sox starter Lucas Giolito in a scoreless contest. However, Chicago finally broke through for two runs against Bubic in the fifth frame. The left-hander exited the contest in line for a loss but received a reprieve when Salvador Perez tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth inning. Bubic has hurled exactly six innings in each of his past three starts, posting a standout 2.00 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over that stretch. His 12:6 K:BB across those 18 innings portends some regression, but it is worth noting that he has been taken deep only once over the trio of appearances. He's tentatively slated to make another start in a rematch against the White Sox -- this time on the road -- early next week.

Giolito hurled six innings against Kansas City on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out seven. He did not factor in the decision.

The right-hander breezed through six scoreless innings before giving up back-to-back doubles that resulted in a run in the seventh. He was in line to pick up his ninth win of the season until Salvador Perez hit a game-tying home run off Liam Hendriks in the ninth frame. Giolito racked up 18 swinging strikes in the outing and appeared to regain his control after walking five batters against Milwaukee in his previous start. He'll carry a 3.67 ERA into a rematch against the Royals -- this time in Chicago -- early next week.

Wacha didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-1 extra-inning loss to the Yankees, allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out nine.

As is the Tampa Bay way, Wacha wasn't allowed to go too deep into the game despite his impressive performance as he got the hook after 79 pitches (54 strikes). The nine whiffs tied his season high, and he didn't serve up a homer for the first time since June 24 after getting taken deep eight times in his last four appearances. On the season, Wacha sports a 4.79 ERA and 66:19 K:BB through 71.1 innings.

Cortes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-1 extra-inning win over the Rays, allowing one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

While he was originally expected to have a cap of about 60 pitches in his return from the COVID-19 list, Cortes instead tossed 79 (52 strikes) and pitched well enough to earn a win. The Cuban lefty could find himself moving back to the bullpen once Luis Severino (elbow) completes his recovery even if the Yankees don't add another starting pitcher before the trade deadline, but Cortes has been outstanding in any role this season, posting a 1.93 ERA and 39:10 K:BB through 32.2 innings.

Lyles allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in seven innings Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. He did not factor in the decision.

Lyles earned his fifth quality start in his last seven outings, limiting the Diamondbacks to a David Peralta home run in the second inning and an Andrew Young sacrifice fly in the seventh before turning 2-2 game over to the bullpen. It was a steady effort by Lyles, who had been knocked around for 10 earned runs and seven homers over his previous two starts. The 30-year-old righty is 5-7 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 114.1 innings on the season.

Matz (8-6) allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk in 3.1 innings Wednesday in a loss to Boston. He had two strikeouts.

Matz didn't have any answers for the Red Sox, with the big blow coming on Jarren Duran's two-run triple in the fourth inning. The 30-year-old southpaw has dropped three of four decisions in July, with all those stumbles unfolding on the road. Matz has shown periodic flashes of effectiveness in his first year as a Blue Jay, but he now owns a bloated 1.38 WHIP in 18 starts and his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy if Toronto adds any starting pitching prior to Friday's trade deadline.

Houck allowed one run on two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts across four innings in Wednesday's no-decision against the Blue Jays.

Houck wasn't able to provide the Red Sox with much length due to his relatively high pitch count, but he limited Toronto's potent lineup to a Bo Bichette RBI single in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old Houck boasts an 18:4 K:BB over 11.2 innings in three July starts and is making a push to remain in Boston's rotation going forward. He boasts a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 22 major-league innings overall this season.