MLB Player News

Severino (9-5) was charged with 10 runs (eight earned) on eight hits and two walks over 4.1 innings in a loss to the Red Sox on Saturday. He struck out four.

Andrew Benintendi did most of the damage, smacking a pair of three-run homers off Severino, who saw his ERA jump more than 40 points as a result of this blowup. The 23-year-old had been pitching brilliantly leading up to this outing, allowing one run or fewer in each of his last five starts. He will look to get back on track against the Mets next week.

Bergman was called up by the Mariners on Saturday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

He replaces Andrew Moore on the active roster. Bergman will presumably be available out of the bullpen Saturday, but he could be an option to start in place of James Paxton (pectoral) next week. Bergman tossed seven innings of two-run ball with six strikeouts and no walks in his most recent start for Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.

Montgomery (head) is still scheduled to start Sunday against the Red Sox, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

A foul ball struck Montgomery in the head during batting practice, but evidently he checked out OK, as he's in uniform for Saturday's game and is still set to start the series finale. Those intending to deploy Montgomery may still want to confirm his status in the afternoon, as there's always a chance that delayed symptoms could cause a change of plans.

Montgomery was struck by a ball on the right side of his head while signing autographs during batting practice Saturday, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports.

He went into the clubhouse for evaluation shortly after the incident. The lefty was slated to start Sunday's series finale against the Red Sox, but that assignment is up in the air pending the results of his exam. Caleb Smith, Sunday's probable starter for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, would be an option to step in if Montgomery can't go.

Whitley was promoted to Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Whitley has been progressing quickly through the Astros' farm system this season, posting a 2.91 ERA with Low-A Quad Cities before being promoted to High-A Buies Creek, where he currently holds a 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 50:9 K:BB over seven games (six starts). The 19-year-old will look to continue his rapid ascension at the next tier, though likely remains a couple years away from the majors.

Hamels (7-1) tossed seven scoreless innings to win his third straight decision in Friday's 6-4 victory over the Astros, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out five.

The veteran lefty has now delivered three straight quality starts and given up zero earned runs in four of his last seven trips to the mound, posting a 2.59 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 36:10 K:BB in 48.2 innings over that stretch. Hamels will look to keep things rolling Wednesday at home against the Tigers.

Morton (9-5) allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out six over 5.2 innings in Friday's 6-4 loss to Texas.

Morton didn't have his best stuff and compounded that by committing an error that led to two unearned runs and inflated his pitch count to 37 in a four-run third inning. Not every start's going to be a quality one, so you'll just have to accept this one and move on. Morton has been steady for the Astros this season, out-pitching his preseason projections, particularly in the area of strikeouts. His next start will come Wednesday, when the Astros kick off a homestand against the Diamondbacks.

McCullers (back) has been playing catch this week, but has yet to progress to pitching off a mound, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It's encouraging news that McCullers is throwing, but we'll know he's getting close when the right-hander takes to the mound in a bullpen session. The presumption is that McCullers will need a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.

Blackburn allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings in a no-decision Friday against Baltimore.

Blackburn is alternating quality starts and weak starts at this point, as he has allowed four, zero, five, zero and now four runs over his past five starts. Friday's start saw him allow a career high in hits as well as his first home run in four starts in what was clearly not his sharpest outing. Blackburn still owns a solid 3.02 ERA and is establishing himself as part of Oakland's young core.

Gonzales lasted just 4.1 innings but allowed only one run on four hits and a walk in a no-decision Friday against Los Angeles.

Gonzales may have held the Angels to one run, but it looked like the floodgates were ready to burst at any moment. The lefty just couldn't miss bats, as he drew just four swinging strikes in 64 pitches, and he allowed eight fly balls, including a Jefry Marte solo home run. James Paxton's injury means the Mariners need all hands on deck, but Gonzales may not be long for the rotation if he can't find a way to make hitters miss.