MLB Player News

McCullers threw six innings Sunday, striking out nine while yielding four runs (two earned) on two walks and six hits in Houston's 7-4 win over Kansas City, but he did not factor into the decision.

The nine-strikeout performance is McCullers' best since he recorded 10 punchouts in a win over Seattle on April 17. His two earned runs Sunday came off a two-run blast from Hunter Dozier. After getting shelled for seven earned runs by Cleveland, he's recorded four consecutive quality starts, going 2-0 in the process. On the season, McCullers is 8-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 88.1 innings. He's in line to face the Royals once again this coming weekend.

The Indians recalled Bieber from Triple-A Columbus ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Twins, Nick Camino of Newsradio WTAM 1100 reports.

Bieber was added to the Cleveland rotation on short notice after Adam Plutko, the pitcher who was previously scheduled to start Sunday, was needed in long relief Saturday following Carlos Carrasco's departure in the second inning with a bruised right elbow. The Tribe placed Carrasco on the disabled list Sunday, so it appears Bieber could make at least one additional start if he performs capably in his return to the big leagues assuming Cleveland elects to maintain a five-man rotation. Bieber previously made his MLB debut against these same Twins in Minnesota on May 31, covering 5.2 innings and conceding four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out six.

The Indians placed Carrasco (forearm) on the 10-day disabled list Sunday, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

Though X-rays cleared Carrasco of any structural damage to his right elbow after he was smoked by a line drive in his start Saturday against the Twins, the 31-year-old will be on the shelf for at least the next week and a half while he recovers from a significant bruise. Since the Indians' fifth starter, Adam Plutko, was pressed into extended action out of the bullpen Saturday following Carrasco's departure in the second inning, Shane Bieber was summoned from Triple-A Columbus to start Sunday's series finale. Bieber seems likely to stick in the rotation for the duration of Carrasco's absence.

Perez (elbow) tossed 75 pitches of live batting practice Friday and had no issues the day after, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Perez said he'll throw at least one more session of BP and then go out on a rehabilitation assignment. The Rangers' starting staff is currently in flux due to injuries and poor performance, so once Perez is ready, he'll slot right back into the rotation.

Keuchel (4-8) picked up the win Saturday against the Royals, allowing two unearned runs on six hits and one walk across six innings. He struck out five while winning his first game since May 13.

It was a nice bounceback effort from Keuchel, who was tagged for five earned runs across just 4.1 innings in his previous start. Keuchel likely would have been able to work deeper into the game, but an error from Carlos Correa in the fifth inning resulted in a pair of unearned runs and the southpaw tossing an extra 15 pitches. It's been a bit of an up-and-down year for the southpaw, who now owns a 4.15 ERA and 71:23 K:BB through 15 starts (91 innings), but he'll look to build on Saturday's strong outing in his next scheduled start, which will come at home in a rematch against the Royals.

Cobb (2-9) was hit with the loss Saturday against the Marlins, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks across seven innings. He struck out six.

J.T. Realmuto took Cobb deep twice and drove in four of the five runs charged against the right-hander Saturday. Cobb has now allowed 14 runs over his last two starts (10.2 innings) after showing signs of turning things around (three quality starts in his previous four outings). The 30-year-old will carry an unsightly 7.14 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 6.1 K/9 into his next outing, which will come on the road against the Nationals.

Giolito (4-7) did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits over 5.1 innings against the Tigers. He walked two and struck out six.

Giolito gave up a pair of home runs to Nick Castellos which accounted for all five runs allowed. The 23-year-old now has a 7.19 ERA and 1.64 WHIP with an abysmal 40:45 K:BB over 71.1 innings, and is next expected to start against Oakland on Thursday.

Nicasio (knee) threw successful live batting practice Saturday and could be activated from the disabled list as early as Tuesday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports. "I feel really good," Nicasio said. "I didn't feel anything [in my knee]. I'm ready. I'm happy now that it doesn't hurt."

Nicasio also did some fielding drills. As long as his knee doesn't act up in the coming days, it sounds like the veteran reliever will be cleared to return from the disabled list when the Mariners begin a road trip Tuesday. Nicasio, despite struggling to a 5.34 ERA prior to landing on the shelf, should slide back into a high-leverage relief role upon reinstatement.

Severino (10-2) earned the win against the Rays on Saturday with eight scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Severino pitched a gem Saturday, throwing 71 of his 102 pitches for strikes and completely stifling Tampa Bay's bats. The 24-year-old's stellar season continues as he now has a 2.09 ERA and 0.93 WHIP with a 118:25 K:BB over 99 innings. He next lines up to start against the Mariners on Thursday.

Bieber will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus to start Sunday's game against the Twins, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic Cleveland reports.

Bieber was bypassed when the Indians required a fifth starter last week in favor of Adam Plutko, but will now have a spot start Sunday in Minnesota. Plutko was scheduled to start, but came out of the bullpen Saturday after Carlos Carrasco was forced to leave the game in the second inning after being struck in the forearm by a line drive.