MLB Player News

Triple-A Toledo reinstated Flores (shoulder) from its 60-day injured list Thursday.

Flores hasn't appeared out of the bullpen in either of Toledo's two games since his activation, but he appears to be healthy again after a shoulder injury had kept him on the shelf all season. The right-hander appeared to be trending toward a return in late August after he made four rehab appearances in the Florida State League last month, but he may have incurred a minor setback that prompted Toledo to delay his activation a few more weeks.

Bibee (10-11) picked up the win Friday, allowing two hits over nine scoreless innings in a 4-0 victory over the White Sox. He struck out 10 without walking a batter.

Both hits were one-out singles in the third inning, and the right-hander quickly escaped the jam by coaxing a double-play grounder out of Mike Tauchman. Bibee racked up 35 called or swinging strikes among his 103 pitches (74 total strikes) as he produced his first career shutout, and the first by any Cleveland pitcher since Zach Plesac in 2019. The 10 Ks also tied Bibee's season high, and he's lasted at least six innings in four straight trips to the mound, posting a 3.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 20:6 K:BB in 28 innings over that stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Minnesota.

Giolito (10-4) took the loss Friday versus the Yankees after giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out six batters across 5.2 innings.

Giolito put the Red Sox in an early hole by giving up a home run to Aaron Judge in the first inning, and an RBI single from Cody Bellinger in the third was all New York needed to remain in front for the rest of the game. Giolito was pulled one out before he could deliver his third quality start in his last four appearances. Still, he will take a season-best 3.31 ERA into his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come against the Athletics on Wednesday.

Mahle (shoulder) struck out six and allowed one hit and no walks over four shutout innings in his rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

The Rangers had contemplated bringing Mahle back from the 60-day injured list for this weekend's series with the Mets, but he instead remained on assignment with Round Rock to continue getting stretched out as he works his way back from the right shoulder strain that has kept him on the shelf since June 15. The veteran right-hander looked about as sharp as the Rangers could have hoped during his third rehab start Friday, showing improved stuff and command from his prior two outings while firing 31 of his 52 pitches for strikes and generating seven whiffs. He'll likely return from the IL for the Rangers' home series versus the Marlins next weekend, but because he's not yet ready to handle a typical starter's workload, Mahle could temporarily work as a bulk reliever, or perhaps get deployed in a piggyback arrangement with current No. 5 starter Jacob Latz.

Gil (4-1) earned the win Friday against Boston after pitching six scoreless, no-hit innings and allowing four walks while collecting four strikeouts.

After missing the entire first half with a strained lat, Gil saved his best performance of the year for a late-season rivalry matchup against the Red Sox. A high pitch count forced him to come out of the game despite his no-hit bid, but not before he extended his streak of allowing two runs or less across at least five innings to seven starts. The 27-year-old owns a 1.89 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 38 frames in that span and will aim to keep things rolling in Minnesota next week.

Bassitt didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 6-1 win over the Orioles, giving up one earned run on two hits and a walk while striking out six batters across five innings.

An RBI single from Jackson Holliday in the third inning represented the only blemish on Bassitt's line Friday. However, the 36-year-old will have to settle for a no-decision, as most of the run support supplied by Toronto's offense didn't come until he was taken out of the game. He'll take a 3.90 ERA and 1.30 WHIP -- the lowest that either number has been since July 23 -- into his next start against the Rays next week.

Lorenzen (5-11) took the loss Friday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and two walks over three innings against Philadelphia. He struck out three.

Lorenzen surrendered just one run across the first two innings but gave up three in the third and was pulled after surrendering three straight doubles to open the fourth inning. The veteran right-hander has lost his past three starts and has a 6.18 ERA in six outings since returning from an oblique injury in mid-August.

Baz (9-12) took the loss Friday, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks over 2.1 innings against the Cubs. He struck out five.

The right-hander threw only 37 of 67 pitches for strikes as he delivered his shortest outing of the campaign. Baz had a decent start to the season with a 4.33 ERA and eight wins through his first 17 outings, but he has a 1-9 record and a 6.49 ERA across his past 12 starts. A tough matchup with the Blue Jays is likely on tap for his next turn through the rotation.

Castillo allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five over six-plus innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Angels.

Castillo has logged consecutive quality starts after a brutal stretch from Aug. 2 to Sept. 1 during which he went winless over six starts with a 7.31 ERA across 28.1 innings. The rebound has helped the Mariners get back on track as they continue to battle for the AL West lead. Castillo is now at a 3.76 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 149:46 K:BB through 167.1 innings over 30 starts this season. The veteran right-hander is projected to make his next start at Kansas City.

Kikuchi allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision Friday versus the Mariners.

Kikuchi did his part, throwing 63 of 98 pitches for strikes in a quality start. He had allowed 18 runs over 11.2 innings across his previous three appearances, so this was a strong bounce-back effort, though the veteran southpaw has been quite shaky throughout the second half. Overall, he has a 4.08 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 166:70 K:BB through 167.2 innings over 31 starts. Kikuchi's next outing is tentatively projected to be at Milwaukee, which is a matchup fantasy managers may want to avoid.