MLB Player News

The Yankees activated Gil (back) from the 15-day injured list Thursday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports.

Gil will rejoin the rotation Friday with a start against the Cubs after missing the last two weeks with lower-back discomfort. He went just 3.2 innings but threw 80 pitches in his lone rehab start, so Gil is mostly stretched out. The Yankees could look to shift Gil to relief later in September and perhaps even use him as their closer, but for now, the right-hander will be part of what appears to be a six-man rotation.

Houck (8-10) took the loss Wednesday, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five innings as the Red Sox fell 8-3 to the Mets. He struck out seven.

The right-hander came out flat, loading the bases before recording his first out and then serving up a grand slam to Jesse Winker. Houck shook it off and didn't allow another run, but Boston couldn't climb out of the early hole. It's the first time in a month that Houck wasn't able to last at least six innings, a five-start stretch in which he'd posted a 3.23 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:11 K:BB through 30.2 innings, but he remains winless in nine outings since the All-Star break. Houck will look for a better result in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Orioles.

Varland (0-6) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering eight runs on five hits and a walk over 2.1 relief innings as the Twins were downed 9-4 by the Rays. He struck out one.

After Ronny Henriquez worked a scoreless inning as Minnesota's opener, Varland got the call and sailed through two perfect frames of his own before the wheels came off in the fourth. Some questionable defense contributed to the disaster, including the right-hander's own throwing error on a pickoff attempt, and a two-run homer by Yandy Diaz finally ended Varland's night. The Twins don't get a day off until Sept. 12, so they may continue rolling with a six-man rotation, but there's no guarantee Varland will be the sixth man after this performance left him with a 7.62 ERA and 1.69 WHIP for the season. If he does get another turn, either as a starter or bulk reliever, he lines up to take the mound at home early next week against the Angels.

Montero did not factor into the decision in an extra-inning loss to the Padres on Wednesday, allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Montero held the Padres scoreless through the first three innings before failing to retire three of the first four batters in the fourth -- the latter of which would take the right-hander deep for a three-run shot. Montero then went on to surrender another two runs in the fifth as San Diego tied the game at 5-5, and he would not make it through the frame, marking his shortest outing since June 26 against Philadelphia (span of 11 starts). The five runs allowed on the night matched a season high for the 24-year-old and he's now given up multiple runs in each of his last three starts. Montero has also issued multiple free passes in five-consecutive outings.

Sears (11-10) took the loss against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing five runs on five hits and one walk over five innings while striking out five.

Sears went 1-2-3 through the first inning before hitting Randy Arozarena with a pitch to open the second. The lefty would eventually go on to surrender two runs in the frame following a double from Mitch Garver, and was tagged for another three runs in the fourth after allowing four-consecutive hits with two outs. Despite his struggles, Sears was still able to get through six innings for the seventh time in his last eight starts, though he's now given up five earned runs in two of his last three outings. Sears also carries a strong 30:8 K:BB since the start of August and will look to get back in the winning column when the A's travel to Houston to take on the Astros next week.

Kirby (11-10) picked up the win over Oakland on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings while striking out nine.

Kirby surrendered one run in the opening frame after giving up back-to-back hits to start the inning. However, he would then go on to strike out eight of the next 11 batters he faced in the contest en route to posting just his second quality start since July 26 against the White Sox. The right-hander also recorded his second-highest strikeout total of the season Wednesday while securing his third win in his last four decisions. On the downside, Kirby has now allowed multiple runs in seven consecutive starts.

Canning (5-12) allowed one run on four hits and four walks while striking out seven over 6.2 innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Canning has issued four walks in three of his last six starts, but he was able to work through the control issues Wednesday. The lone run he surrendered was on an Andy Pages single in the seventh inning. This was Canning's sixth quality start in 28 appearances (27 starts) this season, and he's now at a 5.02 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 113:56 K:BB through 150.2 innings overall. The right-hander's next start is projected to be at Minnesota.

Stroman (10-7) allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three over 3.2 innings to take the loss Wednesday versus the Rangers.

Stroman had gone at least five innings in each of his previous four starts, but the Rangers got to him early Wednesday. This was the sixth start in a row in which Stroman didn't give up a home run, which is progress since he allowed eight long balls across the six starts before that. The veteran right-hander is now at a 4.03 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 105:58 K:BB over 143 innings through 27 starts. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Royals.

Lively (11-9) took the loss against Kansas City on Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three batters over four innings.

Lively got through three scoreless innings before the Royals swarmed him for four runs on four hits -- including a Tommy Pham three-run homer -- in the fourth. The right-handed hurler didn't return for the fifth frame, marking his second straight outing in which he's failed to finish five innings. Over that span he's given up 10 runs across 8.1 frames to push his season ERA up from 3.62 to 4.07.

Lugo (15-8) earned the win over Cleveland on Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and one walk while striking out four batters over seven innings.

Lugo recorded a modest four punchouts, but he had excellent control in tossing 70 of 103 pitches for strikes. The right-hander finished with his third quality start over his past four outings, and he's up to 20 quality starts on the campaign, tied for third most in the majors. Lugo's 15 victories are also third most in the league, while his 3.05 ERA ranks eighth.