MLB Player News

Fried (4-2) took the loss Friday against the Brewers, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts across six innings.

Fried set the Brewers down in order on nine pitches in the first inning but lost control in the second inning, as six of the first seven batters reached for Milwaukee, leading to four runs. Aside from the one bad inning, Fried otherwise looked good and had his plus stuff. It was Fried's second five-run outing of the season. In his other seven starts, the left-hander has surrendered just nine runs across 47.1 innings. On the season, Fried owns a 2.91 ERA and 48:18 K:BB over 58.2 frames, as the strikeouts are at a career-low rate. He'll look to rebound next week, as he's lined up to face the Orioles in Baltimore on Wednesday.

Early (3-2) earned the win against the Rays on Friday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven scoreless innings.

Early escaped a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the third inning and was lights out from there, yielding just two baserunners over his final four frames. He induced only eight whiffs on 96 pitches but filled the zone with 70 strikes in his best outing of the season. The young southpaw has now held opponents to three earned runs or fewer in seven of eight starts, with the lone exception being a five-run hiccup Saturday. He'll carry a 3.16 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB across 42.2 innings into a home matchup against the Phillies next week.

Detmers (1-3) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits and six walks with three strikeouts over 3.2 innings.

Detmers limited the damage but lacked command from the start, throwing just 56 of 99 pitches for strikes while issuing a season-high six walks. It marked the first time he failed to complete four innings all season and snapped a streak of four straight outings working into the sixth frame or beyond. The southpaw owns a 4.33 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 47:15 K:BB across 43.2 innings and lines up for a road matchup against the Guardians next week.

Cease (3-1) earned the win over the Angels on Friday, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings.

Cease was simply dominant, generating 19 whiffs on 97 pitches while limiting the Angels to just one extra-base hit. It marked the second straight seven-inning outing for the 30-year-old, and he's now registered double-digit strikeouts three times this season. He'll carry a 2.58 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 66:18 K:BB across 45.1 innings into a home matchup against the Rays next week.

Varland pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Angels.

Varland was called upon to finish off a team shutout in the ninth inning and did so on just 11 pitches. The 28-year-old has now converted all five of his save chances, solidifying himself as the clear favorite for save chances in Toronto. He's been stellar this season, allowing just one earned run while posting a 1.07 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 19.2 innings.

Brown (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The right-hander continues to progress in his throwing program after landing on the injured list in early April due to a Grade 2 shoulder strain. Brown will likely need at least a few more bullpen sessions before being cleared to face live batters and eventually embarking on a rehab assignment.

Verlander (hip) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Verlander has been throwing bullpen sessions at nearly full intensity since Sunday, and Saturday will mark his first time facing live hitters since landing on the IL in early April. The Tigers haven't provided a timeline for the 43-year-old's return yet, though that may change once they see how he comes out of Saturday's round of BP.

Bieber (elbow) will face live hitters Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It will be the first time he's faced hitters since the World Series last year, as Bieber has been working his way back from right elbow inflammation that's nagged at him since last fall. Bieber will likely face hitters multiple times before being cleared to embark upon a rehab assignment. He still has lots of boxes to check, but Bieber could be ready to rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation in June if he continues progressing.

Scherzer was given a cortisone shot in his injured right forearm and will be shut down from throwing for five days, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

On the 15-day injured list since late April with forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation, Scherzer has recovered from his ankle issue but has had the forearm problem linger. The hope is that the injection clears things up and he can ramp his throwing back up. More will be known regarding a timetable once Scherzer is able to throw off a mound again free and easy.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that an MRI on Berrios' right elbow showed inflammation and "small changes to that initial injury with the elbow," Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Berrios had previously been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his elbow. He will visit Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday for an additional exam before the next steps are determined. Berrios had been closing in on a return before his recent setback, but his status now is very much up in the air.