MLB Player News

Cortes (illness) has resumed throwing at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa and could be reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list as soon as this weekend, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Whether New York reinstates Cortes from the IL during its four-game series with the Red Sox that begins Thursday may ultimately hinge on what kind of innings totals the club gets from its starting pitchers in the first two or three contests in Boston. If a healthy Cortes isn't needed as a multi-inning arm out of the bullpen this weekend, he could rejoin the Yankees in a starting role next week. With Michael King (finger) facing an uncertain timeline to return and with the club dropping Asher Wojciechowski from the 40-man roster after an ugly spot start Wednesday, Cortes could be a candidate to fill the final opening in the Yankees' rotation.

Severino (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session this weekend and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment by the middle of next week, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Severino emerged from Sunday's 30-pitch live batting practice session without incident and completed a bullpen session Thursday as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. The right-hander was expected to return from the injured list earlier in the season, but a Grade 2 groin strain suffered in mid-June resulted in a brief shutdown that pushed back the timeline for his 2021 debut. At this point, Severino is in the process of ramping up again, and he'll likely need at least three rehab outings in the minors to build up his pitch count for starting duty. He could be ready to pitch for the Yankees at some point in mid-to-late August.

Detmers will be promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Detmers is one of the Angels' top prospects, and he's been effective at Double-A Rocket City to begin the year. He has a stellar 16.17 K/9 and has posted a 3.50 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 54 innings across 12 starts. It's not yet clear whether the 22-year-old could be in consideration for a major-league roster spot at some point in 2021, but he'll get a chance to prove himself against a higher level of competition going forward.

Urquidy (shoulder) threw a 35-pitch session on flat ground Wednesday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

This was Urquidy's second flat-ground session this week, coming two days after tossing 25 pitches Monday. Houston manager Dusty Baker said the right-hander will have another flat-ground session before getting onto a mound and eventually progressing to a rehab assignment.

Keller (7-9) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings in a 6-3 victory over the Brewers. He struck out six.

The right-hander collected his first win since June 4 while delivering his third straight quality start and sixth of the season. Keller had a rough first half but seems to have turned a corner in July, posting a 2.61 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 22:8 K:BB through 20.2 innings during those last three outings.

Cease (7-6) allowed three earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five across five innings, taking the loss to the Twins on Wednesday.

Cease surrendered a solo home run to Max Kepler in the third inning. In addition, he gave up four straight hits with two outs in the fifth frame that added two more runs on the board for the Twins. The 25-year-old has struggled keeping the ball in the park, allowing at least one homer in seven of his last eight starts. During that stretch, he has a 5.49 ERA in 41 frames. Cease carries a 4.21 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP and a 11.6 K/9 in 102.2 innings for the season.

Lyles (5-7) took the loss against Detroit on Wednesday, completing seven innings and allowing four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five.

It wasn't a terrible outing for the right-hander, as he tied a season high by going seven innings. However, he was stung by three long balls among the six hits he gave up, accounting for all of the runs the Tigers managed to tally against him. Lyles has given up a whopping seven round trippers over his past two starts, and only teammate Mike Foltynewicz (28 homers) has yielded more long balls overall this season. Lyles is tentatively slated to make his next start at home versus Arizona on Tuesday.

Ray (8-5) was tagged with the loss Wednesday against Boston. He completed five innings, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four.

Both Ray and opposing starter Garrett Richards gave up three home runs in the contest, but Richards was able to go a little deeper into the game and picked up the win. Ray entered the contest having totaled 13.2 scoreless innings over his past two starts but couldn't contain Boston's bats, tying a season-worst mark by allowing four earned runs. The southpaw also notched his lowest strikeout total since April 18 after registering double-digit punchouts in four of his previous eight starts. He'll try to get back into the win column in his next appearance, which is tentatively scheduled to come in a rematch against Boston -- this time on the road -- early next week.

McCullers allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight across five innings in the loss to Cleveland on Wednesday. He did not factor into the decision.

McCullers allowed just one run through five innings, but he was pulled in the sixth inning after loading the bases without recording an out. All three of the runners he was responsible for scored and Cleveland took the lead. Although four runs allowed in five innings isn't a terrible start, it was the most runs he's allowed since April 14. The 27-year-old's ERA rose above 3.00, but it still sits at a career-best 3.04. In addition, he has a strong 10.5 K/9.

Manning (2-3) allowed two runs (one earned) across six innings to pick up the win Wednesday against the Rangers. He gave up four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Manning got the call from Triple-A Toledo coming out of the All-Star break, and the 23-year-old turned in his best start at the MLB level. It was the first time in six appearances during his rookie campaign that he lasted at least six innings, while the one earned run was a new career best as well. Manning should continue to pick up starts for the Tigers as they evaluate him for the future. He's scheduled to take the hill again Monday against the Twins.