MLB Player News

The Red Sox activated Eovaldi (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of Saturday's game against the Orioles.

Eovaldi, whose last appearance for Boston came back on April 17, will rejoin the Red Sox in a different role, transitioning from starting to relief duty. Reports earlier this month suggested Eovaldi would be deployed as Boston's closer upon his reinstatement from the IL, but manager Alex Cora's recent comments suggest that Brandon Workman will in fact represent the Red Sox's top option for saves for the time being. Eovaldi should still be in store for a high-leverage role as he returns to the active roster on the heels of a successful rehab stint with Triple-A Pawtucket. During his lone appearance in the minors, Eovaldi struck out three of the four hitters he faced and sported a fastball that peaked around 98 miles per hour.

Whitley (shoulder) gave up two runs (one earned) on one hit and six walks while striking out five in 2.2 innings during Friday's rehab appearance in the Gulf Coast League.

This is shaping up to be another semi-lost season for Whitley, who has missed significant time with shoulder fatigue and has pitched poorly when he's been healthy. His stock is clearly down, but he is still just 21 years old and his ceiling has not changed. The extremely hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League has not helped matters. He is a strong candidate to be assigned to the Arizona Fall League to make up for lost time if healthy.

The Astros recalled Urquidy from Triple-A Round Rock ahead of his scheduled start Saturday against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Houston made Urquidy's callup official following Friday's 4-3 win over the Rangers, designating utility man Tyler White for assignment in a corresponding move. Urquidy has supplied an impressive 109:16 K:BB across 81.2 innings between Triple-A and Double-A Corpus Christi this season but flopped in his prior two outings at the big-league level, giving up seven runs on 14 hits and a walk over six frames.

Odorizzi didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 5-3 loss to the A's, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over five innings while striking out three.

The right-hander exited the game after 88 pitches (56 strikes) with the score tied 3-3, the fifth straight start in which he's failed to complete six innings. Odorizzi is unsurprisingly 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA over that stretch, but he could have trouble turning things around in his next outing Wednesday, when he faces the Yankees at Target Field.

Bassitt (7-4) picked up the win in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Twins, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out two.

The right-hander wasn't exactly sharp, hitting two batters with pitches and throwing 63 of 94 pitches for strikes, but Bassitt still recorded his third win in his last four starts. He'll take a 3.96 ERA and 83:36 K:BB through 88.2 innings into his next outing Wednesday in Houston.

Verlander (12-4) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings while striking out 12 in a 4-3 victory over the Rangers.

The right-hander continues to march toward another high finish in the Cy Young race. Verlander now has 16 quality starts on the year -- tied with teammate Gerrit Cole, as well as Max Scherzer and Hyun-Jin Ryu, for the MLB lead -- and four starts with double-digit strikeouts. He'll carry a 2.99 ERA and 172:29 K:BB through 138.2 innings into his next outing Wednesday, at home against the A's.

Bieber (9-3) notched the win after yielding five runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings Friday night against the Royals.

Bieber surrendered a run in the first inning on a balk, and he'd give up another in the third followed by a bases-clearing triple in the sixth prior to exiting. Fortunately, the Indians offense put up 10 runs on the night, which is why he was able to snag the victory. The 24-year-old didn't appear to have his best stuff Friday night, but he owns a solid 3.69 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with a 156:28 K:BB over 124.1 innings so far this season.

Means (8-5) allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout to earn a victory against the Red Sox on Friday.

Owners aren't getting many strikeouts from Means, but to have eight wins as a starting pitcher on this Orioles team is quite an accomplishment. He has stellar other numbers as well with a 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and .224 batting average against, along with 74 strikeouts in 94.2 innings this season. Means will start next at the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Stroman (6-10) picked up the win Friday in a 12-1 victory over the Tigers, allowing six hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out five.

If the right-hander was auditioning for other teams' scouts, he could hardly have done more to improve his value to a contender. Stroman threw 63 of 101 pitches for strikes en route to his sixth quality start in his last eight trips to the mound, and he'll take a 3.06 ERA and 93:34 K:BB through 117.2 innings into his next outing -- which, barring a trade, will come when the Jays host Cleveland on Wednesday.

Eovaldi (elbow) won't necessarily be handed the closer role immediately upon being activated from the 60-day injured list Saturday, contrary to previous reports, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Reports from early July suggested that Eovaldi would be the Red Sox's closer once healthy, but those reports may have been premature. Manager Alex Cora has no plans to name a closer but acknowledged that Brandon Workman effectively has the role for now. Eovaldi could still win the job at some point, but don't expect him to be handed the majority of save chances right away.