MLB Player News

Berrios (11-6) allowed five runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks with nine strikeouts over 5.1 innings and took the loss Thursday against the White Sox.

Berrios was hung out to dry by bad defense, as the Twins made two errors in a three-run fourth inning that also contributed heavily to the high pitch count (104) Berrios was facing when he was pulled in the sixth inning. The problem is, one of those two errors -- a throwing error that allowed the final run of the inning to score -- was committed by Berrios himself. He was exceptionally nasty at times, notching 13 swinging strikes, but this start was a microcosm of the inconsistency that has kept him from reaching the next level this season. His ERA is up to 4.04.

Sale (14-6) took the loss after lasting just three innings Thursday in Cleveland, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

Sale ran into trouble in the second inning, allowing four runs on four singles, a walk and an error before finally escaping thanks to a double play. His struggles continued in the third, as Cleveland tacked on three more runs. The lanky left-hander has faded down the stretch in previous seasons and appears to be going through similar struggles despite changing the color of his Sox this past offseason. Sale's now allowed 18 earned runs in 30 innings over his past five starts, raising his season ERA from 2.37 to 2.88. He'll hope to bounce back Tuesday in Toronto.

Cobb (toe) struck out five and allowed four hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Blue Jays on Thursday.

Making his return following a two-and-a-half-week stint on the DL, Cobb was able to keep the Blue Jays off the board, but he wasn't especially efficient with his 94 pitches (53 strikes). He induced just six swinging strikes and his swinging-strike rate for the season remains a career low, but Cobb has been great in terms of run prevention at home. Unfortunately, his next start comes on the road (4.94 road ERA) in Kansas City.

Cobb (toe) was activated from the disabled list and will start Thursday against the Blue Jays.

As expected, Cobb returns to the active roster in time for Thursday's home matchup with Tom Koehler and the Jays. He bypassed a rehab assignment, showing enough in a live BP session last weekend to warrant activation. Cobb has had a few blowups this season, but all of those have come on the road (2.49 ERA at Tropicana Field).

Severino (11-5) cruised to an easy win over the Tigers on Wednesday, allowing only one run on six hits and a walk over 6.2 innings while striking out eight.

The Yankees handed him a 6-0 lead by the top of the third inning, and Severino took it from there. The right-hander has now won six of his eight starts since the All-Star break, posting a 2.16 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 59:15 K:BB in 50 innings over that stretch. He'll next take the mound Monday at home against Cleveland.

Stroman allowed five runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- and a walk over 5.1 innings Wednesday while striking out four, but didn't factor into the decision in a 7-6 win over the Rays.

The Jays staked Stroman to a 5-0 lead through two innings thanks to four homers of their own, and despite his own difficulties keeping the ball in the park, he exited the game in line for his 12th win of the year before the bullpen gave up the tying run in the seventh inning. He'd surrendered only one home run in his previous 66.2 innings over 10 starts, so chalk this performance up to it just being one of those nights. Stroman will next take the mound Monday at home against the Red Sox.

Heaney allowed four runs on eight hits -- including three home runs -- across five innings while striking out four in a no-decision against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Heaney's still trying to shake the rust off; he's now allowed seven homers in his two starts back from Tommy John surgery after allowing just nine home runs across 18 starts in 2015. While Heaney proved he could be a valuable fantasy asset before his elbow injury, he has yet to turn any heads since returning, so it may be wiser to wait for him to put together a strong outing before subbing him in. He's lined up to face the A's on Monday in his next start.

Kluber (12-4) suffered defeat at the hands of the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over 7.2 innings while striking out 12.

He was locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel with Drew Pomeranz until the fifth inning, when Mitch Moreland smacked a solo homer and gave Boston a lead they wouldn't surrender. Kluber has now struck out double-digit batters in 13 of 22 outings this season while delivering quality starts in an incredible 17 of them, but he'll face another tough task Monday on the road against the Yankees.

Bundy allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out eight batters through six innings during Wednesday's win over Oakland. He didn't factor into the decision.

The Baltimore bullpen blew a 6-1 lead after Bundy exited Wednesday's contest, and it cost the 24-year-old righty his 13th win of the season. Something has clicked of late for Bundy, as he has allowed just eight earned runs and struck out 33 batters through 27 innings over his past four starts. There has been the odd poor outing, but with a 4.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 7.7 K/9 for the campaign, Bundy has been a serviceable fantasy asset in the majority of settings. He projects to face the Mariners at home in his next outing.

McCullers (back) will head out on a rehab appearance with Triple-A Fresno on Friday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was able to complete a 45-pitch simulated game Sunday, and has been deemed ready to face live hitting for the first time since going down with a back injury near the end of July. It hasn't been determined how many rehab appearances McCullers will need, but it's likely that the right-hander spends two games ramping up his endurance with Fresno before returning to the big-league team.