MLB Player News

Bassitt (10-3) allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out eight across seven innings, taking the loss to Cleveland on Sunday.

Bassitt surrendered a first inning homer to Bradley Zimmer and another one in the seventh to Daniel Johnson to lose the game. Despite the loss, it was his fourth quality start in his last five appearances. The 32-year-old has a 3.31 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, leading the Athletics with 10 wins. His 125 innings pitched are second-most in all of baseball, trailing Zack Wheeler's 125.2. His next start is scheduled for Saturday in Seattle.

German is listed as the Yankees' probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Max Goodman of SI.com reports.

German will be pitching on three days' rest after he made a relief appearance in Friday's 4-0 loss to the Red Sox, but because he only tossed one inning (17 pitches), it was comparable to a between-starts bullpen session. As such, German shouldn't face any major restrictions with his pitch count Tuesday as he steps back into the rotation.

The Astros list Greinke (shoulder) as their probable starter for Monday's game against Cleveland, Ryan Herrera of MLB.com reports.

Houston excluded Greinke from the pitching schedule in its first series of the second half this weekend against the White Sox after he contended with right shoulder soreness during his final start before the All-Star break July 10 against the Yankees. After getting some extended rest and completing a bullpen session this weekend without issue, Greinke isn't expected to face any restrictions Monday as he returns to the mound. Greinke finished the first half with an 8-3 record, 3.59 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 6.6 K/9 over 19 starts.

Valdez (5-2) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings to take the loss to the White Sox on Sunday.

Valdez had the unenviable task of dueling with Carlos Rodon, who one-hit the Astros over seven sterling innings. For Valdez, it was an encouraging outing after the left-hander walked 13 batters over the final 16 innings of the first half. That run made him examine his mechanics during the All-Star break, and he concluded that he was rushing his delivery in an effort to be perfect on each pitch, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. Valdez threw 64 of his 97 pitches for strikes and induced a lot of weak contact, but Rodon was not going to be beat Sunday. Valdez lines up to pitch next Saturday at home against the Rangers.

Sandoval (2-4) took the loss Sunday against Seattle, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk with nine strikeouts.

The 24-year-old went seven innings and threw 114 pitches, both career highs, but was undone by a pair of home runs, including a three-run shot by Ty France in the fifth inning that broke the game open. Sandoval has flashed dominant stuff in 2021 and has fanned 51 hitters over his last seven starts dating back to the start of June. He owns a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with a 68:25 K:BB across 63 innings overall this season.

Gilbert (4-2) tossed 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks to pick up the win Sunday against the Angels. He struck out a career-high nine.

Gilbert struck out six of the first seven batters he faced and held the Angels off the board until Jose Iglesias got to him with a two-run single in the sixth inning. The 24-year-old rookie has settled in nicely through his first 11 big-league starts, posting a 3.50 ERA and sparkling 0.98 WHIP to go with a 62:12 K:BB over 54 innings. Gilbert has fanned 23 against just four walks across 18 innings of work in his first three July starts.

Rodon (8-3) held the Astros to one hit and struck out 10 over seven innings Sunday to record his second straight win.

Rodon mastered the Astros' lineup, giving up only a third-inning single to Abraham Toro. Two relievers combined for two perfect innings to preserve the win, Chicago's second straight after losing the first five meetings with Houston, a team they may very well need to face come October. It was the 12th time over 16 starts that Rodon has allowed one earned run or fewer. The left-hander brings a tidy 2.14 ERA into his next start, which is likely to come Saturday on the road against Milwaukee.

Kluber (shoulder) has advanced to throwing from 120 feet and could toss a bullpen session by the end of next week, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Kluber last pitched May 25, when he was removed from his start due to what was later diagnosed as a subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. He was eventually transferred to the 60-day IL and isn't eligible to return until late July. Though he's unlikely to be ready when first eligible, Kluber's possible progression to mound work within a week signals a major step in his recovery. Prior to getting hurt, the veteran right-hander was enjoying a solid campaign, posting a 3.04 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 9.3 K/9 across 10 starts.

Matz (8-4) won Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader 10-0 shutout of the Rangers, allowing three hits with two strikeouts in five innings.

Matz was staked to 10-run lead after two innings and didn't allow any Ranger past second base as Toronto hurlers permitted just four baserunners total. It was the 30-year-old lefty's first scoreless performance since May 14. He's yet to go six innings since May 25 as Matz has pitched to a 4.43 ERA and is averaging just over five innings per start.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Severino (elbow) fared well Sunday during a 30-pitch outing against live hitters, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Facing hitters for the first time since being pulled off his minor-league rehab assignment in mid-June due to a Grade 2 groin strain, Severino appeared to be in good physical shape, according to Max Goodman of SI.com. Boone said that Severino will face hitters again in five or six days before the Yankees determine whether the right-hander is ready to head back out on a rehab assignment. The Yankees want Severino to build up to five or six innings in his rehab starts before bringing him back from the 60-day injured list, so he's realistically at least a month away from making his 2021 big-league debut.