MLB Player News

Whitley left Thursday's start with left oblique discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros' top prospect lasted just 17 pitches before leaving his start with the issue. The organization has yet to determine whether Whitley will need a stint on the disabled list, and general manager Jeff Lunhow said that the club will have more information Friday. Whitley owns a 4.43 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP over 20.1 innings at Double-A Corpus Christi this season.

Whitley left Thursday's outing after 17 pitches due to an undisclosed injury, Len Hayward of The Corpus Christi Caller-Times reports.

According to Hayward, Whitley appeared to point to his lower back during an early mound visit before being removed from the game. Hayward adds that Whitley had a lat strain earlier in the season, but it's unclear whether Thursday's issue is related in any way. Regardless, Whitley's status will be one to monitor closely in the coming days as he's the top prospect in a loaded Astros organization.

Perez (elbow) is expected to throw 85-90 pitches when he makes his third rehabilitation start Thursday at Triple-A Round Rock, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

This could be Perez's final rehab start before rejoining the Rangers. The pitch count puts him on schedule to re-enter the starting rotation sometime next week, possibly Tuesday at Boston.

Whitley will represent the Astros at the Futures Game on July 15, Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Whitley, who will start Thursday for Double-A Corpus Christi, had a delayed start to the season after serving a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug prevention and treatment program. Since his return to the Hooks, Whitley's had three consecutive scoreless starts before getting tagged for 10 earned runs in his last two outings. He has yet to pitch more than 4.1 innings any of his five starts.

Cole allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings in Wednesday's win over the Rangers. He did not factor into the decision.

Cole induced 19 swinging strikes, but it was otherwise not his sharpest outing. In addition to the season-high eight hits (including a home run and two doubles), the 27-year-old also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch en route to falling in a 4-0 hole in the third inning before the Houston offense picked him up. Cole is still enjoying a very successful first season with the Astros, but he's starting to fall back a bit from the ridiculous pace he was working at through the first two months. He's now allowed at least four runs three times in five starts and has walked 15 over 29 innings in that span. He'll take a 2.70 ERA and 158:38 K:BB through 116.2 innings into Monday's start against the Athletics.

Oaks (0-2) allowed three runs on two hits and four walks with two strikeouts through just four innings in a loss Wednesday against Cleveland.

Oaks just couldn't find the strike zone, and it cost him as two of the three runs to score against him originally reached via a walk. Additionally, both hits Oaks gave up went for extra bases. Ian Kennedy (oblique) is likely to make his return just in time for his next turn through the rotation Tuesday against the Twins, so Oaks' stay in the rotation -- and the majors -- could be brief.

Berrios fell to 8-7 on the season after tossing seven innings against the Brewers on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out three batters.

All three of the Brewers' runs came on solo homers, with Travis Shaw grabbing one in the second inning and Brad Miller and Nate Orf getting theirs in the seventh. Berrios got the quality start, but it wasn't enough for the Twins to win the game, as they scored just two runs. He'll next take the hill Monday against the Royals.

Stroman (1-6) took the loss Wednesday, allowing six runs on six hits and four walks while striking out two over 4.2 innings against the Mets.

Stroman got through the first four innings without much trouble, but then yielded a homer, a double, three singles and a walk while recording just two outs in the fifth and was charged with five runs in the frame. It was a disappointing return to early-season form for the 27-year-old, as he had allowed just one earned run while posting 9:1 K:BB over 12 innings since returning from the disabled list in late June prior to Wednesday's start. He'll take a 6.50 ERA and 1.57 WHIP into next Wednesday's road tilt against the Braves.

Rodriguez (10-3) picked up the win in Wednesday's 3-0 victory over the Nationals, allowing three hits and a walk over six scoreless innings while striking out six.

The left-hander looked like he might go unrewarded for his dominance with the score knotted at 0-0 through six innings, but the Red Sox finally broke through for a couple of runs in the top of the seventh to get Rodriguez the win. He'll take a 3.84 ERA into his next outing Tuesday at home against the Rangers.

McKenzie tossed six shutout innings and struck out four Tuesday in Double-A Akron's 3-0 win over Altoona. He gave up one hit and one walk in the 91-pitch outing.

Ke'Bryan Hayes' leadoff triple in the seventh inning ended McKenzie's no-hit bid, with the righty retiring the next batter before calling it a night. After turning in the best of his six starts this season, McKenzie now carries a 3.34 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .195 average. It's been an impressive first tour of the Eastern League for the 20-year-old, whose start to the season was delayed by a forearm injury suffered in spring training.