MLB Player News

Kopech (hand) allowed four hits and four walks, but no runs, in 4.1 innings in his season debut for short-season Lowell on Friday, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reports. "It was obviously big getting out there in front of a crowd under the lights," Kopech said. "I was a little worked up in the first couple of innings. Kind of had to settle down. Didn't have the stuff I wanted to have, but it's the first outing back."

It was an encouraging first night out for Kopech, who suffered a fractured hand during spring training, though signs of rust were evident. Just 42 of his 78 pitches were strikes and he allowed the first batter to reach in his first four innings. The 2014 first-round draft pick was a bit pumped, hitting the high-90s with his fastball in the first inning, but dropped down to the low-to-mid 90s thereafter. The organization decided to have him throw in the atmosphere of a stadium under the lights, rather than in the low-pressure environment of extended spring training. It remains to be seen how long he stays in Lowell, but it shouldn't be too long.

Rodriguez met with manager John Farrell and pitching coach Carl Willis to discuss his recent string of poor outings, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports. "There was a lot covered in the meeting," Farrell said.

Aside from the pitch-tipping that continues to plague the young left-hander, an inability to keep pitches over the plate but out of the middle has wreaked havoc in his last three outings. Rodriguez has walked nine and given up six homers in his last 14.2 innings. He had incorporated a tweak in his delivery this spring -- taking a step back toward third base with his lead leg before getting into his windup -- trying to compensate for the whatever limitations he felt while recovering from a knee injury. The session with coaches discussed having him begin his delivery directly toward home plate, eliminating the step back toward third base. "There are some things because of the change in the delivery that's not put him in a position to consistently execute pitches," Farrell said. "That's what we're addressing."

Quintana didn't factor the decision against the Indians on Friday, surrendering seven hits, two earned runs and a walk over 7.2 innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw turned in yet another strong effort, and once again was undermined by a lack of run support. Quintana didn't surrender any homers after uncharacteristically yielding three round-trippers in his previous start, notching his fourth quality start over his last five trips to the mound in the process. He did surrender a go-ahead double to Jason Kipnis in the eighth, but was bailed out of a potential seventh straight loss when Avisail Garcia hit a game-tying double in the top of the ninth. He'll look to finally get back into the win column next Wednesday versus the Red Sox.

Milone was recalled by the Twins on Friday, Phil Miller of the Star Tribune reports.

Milone is presumed to take over Pat Dean's spot in the rotation after Dean was optioned to Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move Friday. After five earlier appearances this season for the Twins, including four starts, Milone currently sits with a 5.79 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.

McCullers allowed two runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out six over 6.2 innings, but received no decision Friday against the Reds.

Despite allowing 11 baserunners, a pair of double plays helped McCullers hold the Reds to only two runs in his six innings of work. He's now allowed 32 baserunners in his last 18 innings of work over three starts, raising his WHIP to 1.69. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Angels.

Hamels (7-1) silenced the Cardinals on Friday, keeping them off the scoreboard for 7.2 innings while allowing just three hits and three walks. He struck out six in the 1-0 win.

For the fourth straight outing, Hamels notched a quality start while pitching seven-plus innings, a feat he hadn't accomplished since early June of last year. He lowered his ERA to 2.88 while notching more strikeout than he did in any of his previous four starts. Hamels has won more than 15 games just once in his impressive 10-year career entering 2016. This year, however, the 32-year-old is on pace to bypass 15 and challenge his personal record of 17 wins in a season.

Hill (groin) threw a 10-pitch bullpen session Friday, Connor Letournau of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The A's are opting to play it cautious with Hill while he recovers from a groin injury. He last pitched May 29 before being placed on the 15-day DL. He sported a 2.13 ERA during the month of May. His next step will be to make a rehab start. The timetable for that is currently unknown.

The Red Sox believe Rodriguez is still tipping his pitches, the Boston Herald's Mike Silverman reports.

While this might sound troubling, it at least suggests that with a minor tweak to his delivery and release, Rodriguez's performance could take a big step forward. He has been hit hard so far since coming off the disabled list, but just based on pure stuff, there's No. 3 starter upside here if he can make the necessary adjustments. The Red Sox are sticking with him in the rotation, but if he can't fix the pitch-tipping problem soon, he could be sent back down to Triple-A to try to fix the problem in games that don't count against the big league club.

Miley was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday with a left shoulder impingement.

It is unclear how serious the injury is, but Miley was likely in danger of losing his spot in the rotation at some point in the near future anyway, as he has a career-worst 5.28 ERA and his 4.85 FIP is his worst mark since 2011. Miley was scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Red Sox and Adrian Sampson, who is with the team Friday although not officially added to the 25-man roster yet, is expected to step into the rotation for the time being.

Cobb (elbow) is on track to return to the Rays in late July or early August, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cobb's rehab is seemingly progressing as planned, and more will likely be known after he throws his live bullpen session Saturday. With his return slated to be at the latter end of July or the beginning of August, Cobb could throw in his first MLB game since September of 2014.