MLB Player News

Kirby (7-5) allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Rays.

Kirby had his way with the Rays on Wednesday as he managed to get through six innings for his third win in his last five starts. Kirby has been on a tear, allowing two runs or less in six consecutive starts, posting a 1.70 ERA with three walks and 40 strikeouts in that span. He has the third best ERA in MLB since May and he'll look to keep it going in a tough matchup vs. the Orioles next week.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Verlander (neck) hasn't resumed playing catch and won't accompany the team to New York for this weekend's three-game series versus the Mets, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander isn't eligible to return from the 15-day injured list until Monday, but with the Astros continuing their trip in Toronto and then Minnesota next week, the right-hander's absence for the start of the road swing wouldn't seem to inspire much optimism about his chances of being ready to make a start against the Blue Jays, and perhaps even the Twins. The Astros will likely wait and see if Verlander is able to take any meaningful steps forward in his recovery from the neck issue over the next few days while he's back in Houston before determining his status for the Toronto series.

Scherzer (thumb) is listed as the Rangers' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game in Baltimore, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer returned from the 60-day injured list to make his 2024 debut for the big club this past Sunday and was in vintage form in a win over the Royals, tossing five scoreless innings and allowing just one hit and no walks while striking out four. Though he experienced no setbacks in his return from offseason back surgery nor the nerve problem in his right arm that cropped up in late April, Scherzer was pulled earlier than expected from Sunday's outing due to thumb soreness. Per McFarland, Scherzer was able to complete a 25-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, and while the right-hander acknowledged he was still contending with some soreness in the thumb, it doesn't look as though it'll prevent him from making his second start of the season this weekend.

Stripling (elbow) was able to complete a bullpen session before Tuesday's game against the Angels and is set to throw another Saturday, MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander came away feeling healthy from Tuesday's activity, and he's expected to throw 30-35 pitches in his session Saturday. Assuming that bullpen also goes off without a hitch, Stripling could be deemed ready to face hitters at some point during the subsequent week.

The Tigers recalled Montero from Tripe-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, Montero is slated to serve as a bulk reliever for the Tigers in Wednesday's game against the Phillies, likely entering the game in the second or third inning once opening pitcher Tyler Holton exits the contest. Montero's lone prior big-league appearance came as a starter back on May 29, when he gave up four earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five across 4.1 innings in a loss to the Pirates. Montero owns a 5.03 ERA and 1.70 WHIP over 13 starts with Toledo this season.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Tuesday of Crochet that "we're going to start dwindling his workload down a little bit," the Associated Press reports.

Crochet already sits at 94.1 innings in 2024 in his first pro season as a starting pitcher. He threw zero innings in 2022 and just 25 frames in 2023 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, and his highest innings total in college at Tennessee was 65. Therefore, his workload being curtailed at some point was inevitable. Grifol didn't divulge any specifics in regards to pitch counts or innings totals for Crochet, indicating he'll be flexible start-to-start based on how efficient the pitcher is. The manager also didn't mention anything about Crochet being shut down completely at some point, although it's certainly possible that will happen. It's not an ideal situation for fantasy managers, but those rostering Crochet will want to keep him in their lineups as long as he's making starts.

Bello (7-5) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up seven runs on five hits and three walks over 2.1 innings as the Red Sox were downed 9-4 by the Blue Jays. He struck out two.

All seven runs crossed the plate in a disastrous third inning that saw Bello put the first six batters on base before ceding an RBI groundout to former teammate Justin Turner. The right-hander has been tagged for four runs or more in five of his last eight starts, and he carries a bloated 7.49 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 37:20 K:BB through 39.2 innings over that stretch. Bello will try to get back on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Padres.

Gausman (6-6) picked up the win Tuesday in a 9-4 victory over the Red Sox, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

A Vladimir Guerrero error meant that Gausman squeaked out his seventh quality start of the season, but the rest of the damage off the right-hander came on a Rafael Devers solo shot in the second inning and a two-run blast over the Green Monster by Tyler O'Neill in the sixth. Gausman has been taken deep eight times over his last five outings, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 4.45 ERA despite a 1.11 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB through 32.1 innings. He could have trouble keeping the ball in the park once again in his next start, which lines up to come at home this weekend against the Yankees.

Scherzer said Monday that he was removed after five innings in his season debut in Sunday's 4-0 win over the Royals due to thumb soreness, MLB.com reports.

The Rangers are monitoring the situation and have no plans yet to move his next start, which is scheduled for Friday in Baltimore. Scherzer was scheduled for a light bullpen session Tuesday, and if all went well, he should get the green light to take the hill Friday with few restrictions, if any.

Cole (0-1) took the loss Tuesday as the Yankees fell 9-7 to the Mets, surrendering six runs on seven hits -- including four home runs -- and four walks over four innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

Making his second start of the season after recovering from an elbow issue, Cole simply couldn't locate his pitches as he served up four or more long balls for only the second time in his career -- the other such start came against the Twins in June 2022. The veteran right-hander did throw 72 pitches (44 strikes) Tuesday, up from 62 in his season debut as the Yankees gradually increase his workload. Cole will look to bounce back in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Toronto.