MLB Player News

McCullers (elbow) will fly back to Houston on Sunday to be examined by the Astros' medical staff, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was pulled from Saturday night's game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles with right elbow discomfort. The right-hander described the feeling as "abnormal soreness and stiffness" in his forearm. His next start is scheduled for Friday against the Mariners, though it's quite possible his turn through the rotation will be skipped pending the results of Sunday's exam. In that event, Brad Peacock or Collin McHugh will be considered for a spot start.

Snell didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the White Sox, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four innings while striking out three.

In his first start since recovering from shoulder fatigue, Snell was held to 59 pitches (34 strikes) but delivered a solid effort, with the only run against him coming via a Jose Abreu homer. The southpaw will likely get stretched out a little further in his next outing Thursday at home against the Orioles.

Rodon didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Rays, allowing one unearned run on three hits and five walks over six innings while striking out four.

The southpaw threw only 57 of 98 pitches for strikes but was able to avoid serious damage, with Tampa's only run scoring on a second-inning infield single after Carlos Gomez got to third base on a passed ball. Rodon will take a 2.94 ERA into his next start Friday at home against Cleveland.

Eovaldi (5-4) picked up the win Saturday, scattering three hits and a walk over eight scoreless innings while striking out four in a 4-1 victory over the Yankees.

The right-hander has begun his tenure with the Red Sox by firing 15 consecutive scoreless frames over two starts, winning both of them. Eovaldi seems to be thriving in the heat of a pennant race, and he'll carry a 3.38 ERA into his next outing Friday in Baltimore.

Bundy (7-10) allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings to take the loss Saturday against the Rangers.

Bundy's sole blemish was a two-run homer off the bat of Joey Gallo. Home runs continue to plague him -- he's allowed 1.5 HR/9 in 121.1 innings -- but he turned in a solid effort otherwise, generating 14 of his 18 outs via strikeout or groundball. After a three-start stretch during which he allowed 15 earned runs across 12.1 innings, he has allowed only four earned runs across 13 innings in his last two starts.

Berrios (11-8) allowed two earned runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six across seven innings to earn the win Saturday against the Royals.

After retiring the first six batters he faced, Berrios ran into trouble in the third inning by walking three of the first four batters before allowing a two-run double to Alex Gordon. However, he got back on track by allowing only four singles across his final four innings. He continues to work exceptionally well at home this season, posting a 2.96 ERA with 96 strikeouts across 85.1 innings.

The Astros are describing McCullers' injury as right elbow discomfort, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

McCullers could be seen gesturing to his right elbow after facing the second-to-last batter in the fourth inning, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Agneles reports. The right-hander got out of that inning but was removed from the game before he was allowed to throw a pitch in the fifth inning. McCullers is next scheduled to pitch Friday at home against Seattle, which gives the Astros some time before they need a fifth starter again.

McCullers left Saturday night's start just before the start of the fifth inning after throwing a few warmup pitches, gesturing to his elbow.

McCullers had been cruising against the Dodgers, too, shutting them out over the first four innings. Later replays on the Dodgers' telecast showed him flexing his right elbow between pitches during the fourth inning. Brad Peacock replaced him in the game.

Blackburn (elbow) has yet to resume throwing after being shut down in early July, Eric He of MLB.com reports.

Blackburn has already been confirmed to have no structural damage, but that apparently hasn't made his recovery any quicker. The reliever will likely need a relatively lengthy rehab assignment whenever he's healthy enough to embark on one, a timeline that remains very murky at this point.

Nicasio (knee), who went on the disabled list Friday, doesn't have a firm timetable for his return, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "I don't know," manager Scott Servais said of a potential return. "Juan is frustrated. He hasn't felt good and wants to make it right. I certainly think he could come back and impact this year down the stretch, but I don't know."

Servais went as far as speculating that Nicasio may not return during the regular season. The veteran reliever's right knee has been problematic prior to his current DL stint, as it put him on the shelf for 10 days back in June. Nicasio's first Seattle season has been somewhat of a mixed bag, as he's managed to generate an unlikely combination of a 6.00 ERA and 53:5 K:BB over 46 appearances.