MLB Player News

Clevinger (4-2) picked up the win Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out seven in a 7-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

The right-hander is back in top form, delivering three quality starts in four July trips to the mound with a 1.88 ERA and 34:5 K:BB through 24 innings. Clevinger will look to keep rolling in his next outing Saturday, on the road against the Royals.

General manager Jeff Luhnow said Whitley (shoulder) will pitch for High-A Fayetteville before the end of the month, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Whitley has been sidelined since the end of May with right shoulder fatigue. After making a pair of rehab starts in the Gulf Coast League, the young righty is set to join Fayetteville for his next start. It remains to be seen how many more rehab starts Whitley will require before being cleared to rejoin the Triple-A rotation.

Urquidy is scheduled to start Friday against the Cardinals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Rogelio Armenteros was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Monday, leaving Urquidy to stick in the rotation for at least one more turn through. The 24-year-old Urquidy certainly earned himself another start with the big-league club after dominating the Rangers his last time out, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out nine over seven innings.

Paxton (5-5) allowed seven runs (four earned) on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts over just 3.1 innings while taking a loss against the Rockies on Sunday.

The 30-year-old remains winless in July, as he hasn't captured a victory since June 21. Paxton averaged almost two strikeouts per inning Sunday, but that's about the only thing that went his way. He had trouble with control, gave up a homer and struggled to overcome defensive lapses. Even with a few of the runs considered unearned, Paxton saw his ERA rise to 4.20 after this outing. He also has a 1.47 WHIP, .272 batting average against and 108 strikeouts in 85.2 innings this season. Paxton will next work Friday at the Red Sox.

Kikuchi (4-7) allowed seven runs on nine hits and one walk across five innings while taking the loss Sunday against the Angels. He struck out three.

After a solo home run from Albert Pujols in the second inning, Kikuchi allowed four runs on five hits in the fourth, though three of those were of the infield variety. He allowed two more runs before completing the fifth and was done for the day. After showing signs of regaining his prior form, Kikuchi has taken another step back over his last two outings, allowing 10 earned runs in nine innings during that span. He'll take a disappointing 5.37 ERA into his next start at home Friday against the Tigers.

Lynn (12-6) gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 12 through seven innings to take the loss against the Astros on Sunday.

Lynn mowed down the Astros, gathering 16 swinging strikes and a career-high 12 punchouts. The 32-year-old has posted a solid 0.9 HR/9 but gave up two big home runs that went a long way to handing him his sixth loss. Lynn continues to post solid numbers with a 3.93 ERA and a 10.1 K/9 through 21 starts this season. Lynn will make his next start Friday against the Athletics at Oakland Coliseum.

Cease (1-2) took the loss after surrendering four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings Sunday against the Rays.

Cease's biggest mistake of the day came in the second inning, as he allowed a grand slam to Travis d'Arnaud, and he'd later exit the contest facing a four-run deficit. The 23-year-old right-hander has now been saddled with back-to-back losses after picking up his first win of the season July 3 against Detroit. He'll aim to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up for Friday against the Twins.

Snell (6-7) picked up the win after allowing three hits and two walks while striking out 10 over six scoreless innings Sunday against the White Sox.

Snell turned in a stellar performance in the series finale, and he'd leave the contest after six strong innings of work with a 4-0 lead. He pounded the strike zone, firing 70 of 109 pitches for strikes while throwing first-pitch strikes to 16 of the 22 batters he faced. the lefty will carry a 4.28 ERA with 136 strikeouts over 101 innings into his next start.

Kluber (forearm) will throw his next bullpen session Wednesday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

He is traveling with the team to Toronto and will throw what is reportedly his third bullpen session. It is unclear when Kluber will be able to return to the big-league rotation, but a late August return cannot be ruled out.

The Twins have shown continued interest in trading for Stroman, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

He tossed seven shutout innings Friday in front of evaluators from eight teams (Braves, Cubs, Dodgers, Padres, Rays, Reds, Red Sox, Yankees), and while the Twins did not have a scout in attendance, Morosi notes that they are among the frontrunners to trade for Stroman. The Yankees were the only team with two scouts at the game, while the other seven teams sent one evaluator.