MLB Player News

Walker pitched 5.2 innings against Boston on Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four. He did not factor in the decision.

While Walker's second start in a Toronto uniform was slightly less effective than his six-inning scoreless debut, the right-hander kept the Blue Jays in the game by limiting Boston to a pair of runs while tossing 81 pitches. He departed while trailing by a run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, but he was spared a loss when Toronto mounted a comeback to pull out the win. Walker fell one out shy of notching his fourth straight quality start, and he has allowed only five earned runs in 24.2 innings over that span. He'll next face the Yankees on Tuesday at home.

Perez allowed one run on three hits and three walks over 6.2 innings against Toronto on Thursday. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.

Perez entered the seventh inning with a no-hitter intact on 77 pitches, but Teoscar Hernandez ended the bid with a leadoff single. Perez went on to allow two more singles in the frame, departing after Joe Panik notched a run-scoring single to cut Boston's lead to one run. The Boston bullpen was unable to hold the lead, ultimately resulting in a 10-inning win for Toronto. Despite the no-decision, Perez looked good after having his start pushed back after developing a blister on his pitching hand in his previous outing. The southpaw now owns a 4.07 ERA and 1.21 WHIP on the season, both best among Boston's beleaguered starting rotation. He'll next face the Phillies on the road Tuesday.

Lynn (4-2) took the loss Thursday against the Astros, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out seven.

Lynn's outing got off to a rough start with the right-hander allowing four runs on four hits in the first inning. He did settle down a bit after that, keeping the Astros off the board over the next three frames. However, he allowed a run in each of the next two innings to bring his line to a season-high six earned runs. After starting the year 4-0 through seven starts, Lynn has now dropped his last two. The 33-year-old will look to bounce back when he takes the hill Tuesday against the Angels.

Cease (5-2) earned the win Thursday after holding the Royals to three runs on four hits and a pair of walks while striking out one across five innings.

After giving up a solo home run to Hunter Dozier in the first inning, Cease settled in, blanking the Royals until the sixth, when Alex Gordon broke through with an RBI double. The 24-year-old didn't miss many bats, registering only a strikeout of Dozier later in the fifth frame. Cease was making his second straight start against the Royals. Last time out, he gave up one run and six walks over 4.1 innings. The right-hander will carry a 3.29 ERA and 1.34 WHIP into Wednesday's matchup at Pittsburgh.

Heaney (3-2) earned the win against San Diego on Thursday, pitching seven scoreless innings and allowing three hits and two walks while striking out six.

Heaney cruised to his second straight quality start in the impressive performance, holding the Padres without an extra-base hit and allowing only one runner to reach second base. He induced 15 swinging strikes and set a career high by tossing 117 pitches. Following a rough three-game stretch in which he yielded 14 earned runs in 14 innings, the southpaw appears to be back in a groove, allowing only one run and striking out 16 over his last 14.2 frames. He'll try to continue building momentum when he heads to Texas to face the Rangers on Wednesday in his next scheduled start.

Greinke (3-0) picked up the win Thursday against the Rangers, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk across six innings. He fanned nine.

After being spotted a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Greinke was able to punch out nine on his way to a quality start. The veteran right-hander has yet to take a loss or allow more than three runs in any of his eight starts this season. With Gerrit Cole departing to the Yankees last offseason and Justin Verlander out with a forearm injury, Greinke has done a fantastic job of stepping up at the top of the Astros' rotation. He's slated to start one of the games of Tuesday's doubleheader against Oakland.

Greinke (3-0) picked up the win Thursday against the Rangers, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk across six innings. He fanned nine.

After being spotted a 4-0 lead in the first inning, Greinke was able to punch out nine on his way to a quality start. The veteran right-hander has yet to take a loss or allow more than three runs in any of his eight starts this season. With Gerrit Cole departing to the Yankees last offseason and Justin Verlander out with a forearm injury, Greinke has done a fantastic job of stepping up at the top of the Astros' rotation. He's slated to start one of the games of Tuesday's doubleheader against Oakland.

Kickuchi will start Friday's game against the Rangers, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

With all three of their games against the A's being postponed this week, the Mariners took the opportunity to shuffle their rotation ahead of the set against the Rangers. Kikuchi will open the series, with Justus Sheffield, Justin Dunn and Marco Gonzales to follow.

Paxton (forearm) began his throwing program Thursday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

He played catch in what marks the first steps of him building back up. The Yankees hope that Paxton can be back to make a start or two at the end of the month so that they can figure out what he will be able to provide them with in the postseason, but it's unclear how realistic that timetable is.

Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that he expects Bielak and Jose Urquidy (undisclosed) to make starts in Saturday's doubleheader against the Angels in some order, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Baker suggested Wednesday that Cy Sneed and Luis Garcia were candidates to make starts in the twin bill, but Urquidy apparently impressed in his throwing session Thursday, leaving Houston optimistic he'll be ready to make his season debut this weekend. Meanwhile, Bielak will be given another chance to redeem himself after two rough outings in a row, during which he recorded only six outs while giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on eight hits and four walks. Assuming Urquidy feels fine coming out of his start, he should permanently take over as the fifth member of Houston's rotation, likely bumping Bielak to the bullpen next week as a result. If Bielak shows improved form in Saturday's outing, he would at least cement himself as the next man up to start if a rotation spot should reopen at some point.