MLB Player News

Ragans (7-6) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks over six innings Monday, striking out five and earning a win over the Diamondbacks.

Ragans wasn't as sharp as usual but the Royals put 10 runs on the board, allowing the southpaw to cruise to a second straight win. All the damage against him came in the third inning, capped off by Ketel Marte's two-run blast. Ragans has delivered quality starts in three straight outings and eight of nine since the start of June. During that stretch, he's posted a 3.07 ERA over 55.2 frames. He is sporting a 3.23 ERA with a 146:40 K:BB through 21 starts. His next appearance is projected to come at home against the Cubs.

Carrasco (3-8) took the loss against the Tigers on Monday, allowing six runs on nine hits and no walks with six strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Carrasco yielded four runs over the first two innings and then two more in the sixth. The right-hander had allowed three earned runs or fewer in five consecutive starts before the All-Star break but struggled in this one over a season-high 96 pitches. He owns a 5.32 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 74:26 K:BB over 91.1 innings and lines up for a difficult road matchup with the Phillies this weekend.

Skubal (11-3) earned the win against the Guardians on Monday, allowing one run on 10 hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven innings.

Skubal yielded a run on a bases-loaded bunt in the second inning before tossing five straight scoreless frames. Despite allowing a season-high 10 hits, he generated 15 swinging strikes and logged his fifth consecutive quality start. The southpaw now leads the AL with a 2.34 ERA to go along with a 0.92 WHIP and 146:22 K:BB across 123 innings. He projects for a home matchup with the Twins this weekend.

Canning (elbow) is expected to draw the start Wednesday on the road against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Canning appears to be alright after reporting that he was dealing with irritation in his right elbow in Friday's loss to the Athletics. The 28-year-old has failed to reach five innings on the mound in any of his last three starts, giving up 12 runs over 12 frames in those outings. He'll look to get back on track against Seattle, who he threw 6.1 innings of one-run ball against June 2.

The Angels optioned Kochanowicz to Double-A Rocket City on Monday.

Kochanowicz's first stint in the big leagues wasn't promising, as he was torched for 12 runs (11 earned) over seven innings in his two starts. The big right-hander will return to Rocket City, with whom he's turned in a 4.55 ERA and 79:23 K:BB over 91 innings in 2024.

Bradford (rib/back) is scheduled to make a two-inning appearance out of the bullpen for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday in his next rehab outing, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Bradford began his rehab assignment Friday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, throwing one scoreless inning while striking out one batter. He'll shift his rehab program to Frisco as he continues to work his way back from a lower-back strain and stress fracture in his rib, injuries he sustained in mid-April. Bradford turned in a 3-0 record, 1.40 ERA and 0.62 WHIP over his three starts with the Rangers before landing on the injured list, but he'll serve as a multi-inning option out of the Texas bullpen once he's activated.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that deGrom (elbow) is "getting close" to facing hitters, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom will throw around 40 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday and is slated for another bullpen session Friday. It sounds as if he should be cleared to face hitters after that, and Bochy added Monday that he anticipates deGrom needing three live batting practice sessions before being cleared for a rehab assignment. Given that timeline, it would seem as though deGrom won't be ready for his season debut until late August, at the earliest.

Mahle (elbow) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Double-A Frisco, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Mahle made the fourth start of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out three and allowing two hits and one walk. The 29-year-old right-hander continues to build up his pitch count while he works his way back from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, and he could be ready to return from the 60-day injured list in early August.

Rodon (10-7) picked up the win Monday against Tampa Bay, yielding one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out 10 over seven innings.

The only damage done to Rodon came on a solo home run by Jose Siri in the fifth inning. The southpaw baffled hitters all afternoon, racking up 37 called plus swinging strikes among his 101 pitches en route to a season-best 10 punchouts. Monday's start was much needed for Rodon, who hobbled into the All-Star break mired in a brutal slump. In six starts leading up to the intermission, the 31-year-old compiled a 0-5 record with a disastrous 9.67 ERA and 1.96 WHIP. Perhaps the break has rejuvenated Rodon, but he remains a high-risk, high-reward fantasy play. He will look to keep things rolling in his next start, which is currently scheduled for this weekend in Boston.

Littell (3-7) took the loss Monday against the Yankees, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

The 28-year-old surrendered three home runs in this one, including back-to-back blasts from Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Littell has allowed at least one home run in 11 of his past 12 starts, limping to a 5.49 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB during that stretch. The right-hander boasts an elite 4.95 K/BB that ranks in the 94th percentile, but he will need to keep the ball in the yard to find consistency. Littell will look to bounce back his next time out, a start currently scheduled for this weekend against Cincinnati.