MLB Player News

McCullers (shoulder) is likely to pitch a simulated game this weekend in Buffalo, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was placed on the injured list May 23, and the Astros are not giving a timetable for his return to the rotation. Houston's rotation was given a boost recently with Framber Valdez and Jake Odorizzi returning from injuries, but the team will make room for McCullers whenever he's ready.

Berrios (6-2) earned the win Saturday against the Royals after allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while fanning four across six innings.

Berrios wasn't dominant enough to record a quality start and has allowed at least three runs in three of his last five starts, but he's managed to limit the damage and has gone eight straight outings without a loss, posting a 4-0 record with a 3.83 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and a 43:12 K:BB in that span. His next start is scheduled for next week at home against the Astros.

Irvin (4-7) earned the win over Colorado on Saturday, hurling six innings and allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out five.

The southpaw finished with his first quality start since May 15, rebounding nicely after allowing 13 earned runs over 15.2 innings across his previous three starts. Irvin also notched his highest strikeout total since striking out nine Blue Jays on May 4. He induced 15 swinging strikes in the contest and kept Colorado off the scoreboard after allowing a first-inning run. Irvin will carry a 3.89 ERA into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday at home versus Kansas City.

Cobb (4-2) won Saturday's 12-5 game over against Seattle, going seven innings and allowing five runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts.

Cobb gave up all five runs in the fourth inning, headlined by a Jake Fraley grand slam, and fell behind 5-1 but Los Angeles was able to storm back with 11 unanswered runs. Cobb dominated outside of the that inning, retiring every other batter he faced with six strikeouts. He has gone seven innings in his last two starts and has picked up wins in three straight.

Giolito (5-5) took the loss Saturday against Detroit, surrendering four runs on seven hits while striking out nine across seven innings.

The right-hander was bit by the long ball Saturday, with all of his runs coming on a pair of homers from Eric Haase and another one from Miguel Cabrera. He was still able to persevere through seven innings on 103 pitches, racking up nine strikeouts along the way. He'll look to get back in the win column and shoot for his fourth victory in a five-outing stretch when he takes the ball in a rematch against the Tigers next Friday.

Skubal (3-7) earned the win Saturday against the White Sox, allowing one run on four hits and three walks while punching out 11 across five innings.

Skubal entered Saturday's start coming off a dominant outing in which he struck out eight across six scoreless innings against the Yankees. Although he wasn't especially efficient Saturday, his swing-and-miss stuff was very present against a dangerous White Sox lineup. Following the strong outing, Skubal now has a 4.33 ERA to go along with a 68:26 K:BB through 54 innings this season. He lines up to take the hill again Friday in a rematch with the White Sox.

Kikuchi has been diagnosed with a right knee contusion after being struck by a comebacker and leaving his start against the Angels on Saturday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kikuchi was helped off by trainers after a David Fletcher comebacker struck him in the fifth inning. A knee contusion is far from the worst-case scenario for the southpaw; it doesn't seem likely to be an issue that keeps him out for an extended period. He can currently be considered questionable to make his next start, which is scheduled to come next weekend in Cleveland.

Kikuchi was forced to exit his start Saturday after he was struck on the leg by a comebacker off the bat of David Fletcher in the fifth inning, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The severity of the injury isn't known at this point, but given that the southpaw was forced to exit, there is at least the possibility that it could be serious. Kikuchi was tagged for four runs (three earned) on five hits while punching out eight across four-plus innings before exiting.

Taillon allowed three runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 5.1 innings versus Boston on Saturday. He did not factor in the decision.

Taillon ran into trouble in the sixth inning when Rafael Devers hit a game-tying two-RBI single. Jonathan Loaisiga also allowed an inherited runner to score for the third run on Taillon's line. The right-hander has gone six starts without a win (two losses, four no-decisions). He has a 5.09 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 58:16 K:BB across 53 innings this season. He projects to make his next start in Philadelphia next weekend.

Whitlock (1-1) allowed a hit and two strikeouts over 1.2 innings, earning the win Saturday versus the Yankees.

Whitlock allowed one of the runners he inherited from starter Eduardo Rodriguez score in the sixth inning, which tied the game at 3-3. Beyond that, Whitlock was solid, and Boston's four-run eighth inning put him in line for his first win of the year. The right-hander has a 1.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB through 27.2 innings. He's added one save and five holds, which indicates he could continue to see some high-leverage work.