MLB Player News

Athletics manager Bob Melvin said that Hill is not close to getting on the mound, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Hill (blister) played catch Wednesday and Thursday, but will not return to the mound until the blister has fully subsided. Hill is one of the top starting pitchers available as we get near the trade deadline, and this will no doubt impact the Athletics ability to move him. Jesse Hahn will start in Hill's place on Sunday.

Rodon (wrist) will toss another side session Thursday after completing one Tuesday, Connor McKnight of WLS AM-890 reports.

Rodon said that his wrist felt better after throwing Tuesday and will get a rehab assignment in Triple-A sometime soon after he feels ready enough for game action. The southpaw could return to the team by the end of next week barring any future setbacks.

Blackburn, whom the Mariners acquired Wednesday from the Cubs, could be in the Seattle rotation as early as next season, the Tacoma News Tribune reports.

General Manager Jerry Dipoto said Blackburn projects as a No. 4 starter. "Three average-to-better pitches, and he throws strikes," Dipoto said. "He's having an all-star season in the Southern League, and we feel he projects as a potential 2017 ETA in the second half in the big leagues." Blackburn, the 56th overall pick in the 2012 draft, had a 3.17 ERA this season in 16 starts at Double-A Tennessee. He was assigned to Double-A Jackson.

Cobb (elbow), whose rehab assignment has been paused due to mechanical issues and arm fatigue, threw 28 pitches in a bullpen session at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The rehabbing righty was said to have come out of the session feeling good, certainly a cautiously optimistic sign following the most recent setback he experienced. Cobb's next step remains undetermined, but the Rays figure to ramp his workload and activity level back up slowly.

Perez (7-7) was ripped for seven runs on 10 hits and three walks over six innings Wednesday in a loss to the Angels.

He struck out just two en route to his third consecutive trouncing -- over the span of his last 15.2 innings, Perez has given up 24 runs (19 earned) while striking out just four batters and walking seven. The 25-year-old lefty's lack of strikeouts and excess of walks have finally caught up to him, as he was somehow holding an ERA in the mid-threes for a while, but is now up to 4.37, his highest mark of the year. His peripherals suggest things could very well get worse.

Stroman (8-4) picked up the win Wednesday in Arizona. He gave up a lone run on eight hits while striking out six over eight innings.

Wednesday marked the first time all season in which Stroman didn't issue a walk while pitching four-plus innings. Coming off one of his worst starts of the year, the right-hander looked noticeably improved throughout his 99-pitch effort. He didn't allow an extra-base hit and recorded most of his outs on the ground en route to his third quality start in four tries. Stroman's ability to keep the ball down in the zone helped shave his ERA from 5.15 to 4.90.

Carrasco (7-3) was nearly perfect, as he allowed no runs on one hit, struck out six and walked two over six innings in a victory over the Royals on Wednesday.

It was the third time this season he threw at least six shutout innings in a start. In the first five innings, he allowed just one base runner, which was a double to Cheslor Cuthbert. The strong outing dropped his ERA down to 2.31; he also has a 1.03 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 85.2 innings. His next start will be Wednesday against the Nationals.

Verlander pitched a gem, allowing one run on two hits, striking out nine and walking two over eight innings, but took a no-decision against the Twins on Wednesday afternoon.

The right-hander seems to have regained his strikeout mojo. Verlander had 13 swing-and-miss, and he has 19 punchouts in his last 15.0 frames. He now has 139 strikeouts in 132.1 innings. Verlander is also 9-6 with a 3.74 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. His next start will be Monday against the Red Sox.

Blackburn and Dan Vogelbach were traded from the Cubs to the Mariners on Wednesday in exchange for Mike Montgomery and Jordan Pries, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

While Blackburn hasn't displayed big swing-and-miss stuff in the minors (just 72 strikeouts in 102.1 innings this season), he's managed to post a sub-3.50 in every level of his minor league climb thus far. He's spent all of 2016 with Double-A Tennessee, and could be bound for the same level with the Mariners.

Ramirez was outrighted to Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Ramirez was removed from the 40-man roster as a result. He struggled with the Twins after being claimed from the Brewers in June with a 6.14 ERA and 10 walks against 11 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.