MLB Player News

Kochanowicz is scheduled to start Sunday against Atlanta at Angel Stadium.

The rookie right-hander will make a second straight turn through the rotation and stick around as the club's No. 5 starter over Davis Daniel, who was optioned to Triple-A Salt on Tuesday. Kochanowicz struck out two batters and allowed just two runs over 7.2 innings en route to claiming his first big-league victory his last time out Sunday against the Nationals, but the 23-year-old was lit up for 12 runs (11 earned) in seven innings across his first two starts with the Angels back in July before he was sent back to the minors.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Scherzer received a nerve injection for his right shoulder and is feeling "really good," Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer was sent in for a precautionary MRI earlier this week after he had struggled to bounce back from right shoulder fatigue, an issue he contended with during his most recent start July 30 before landing on the injured list three days later. The recent diagnostic tests apparently didn't reveal anything too concerning, and Scherzer's condition finally seems to be trending back up again now after getting the injection. The veteran right-hander is still without a clear timeline for his return from the IL, and a target date likely won't come into focus until he's cleared to start throwing again.

Bradford is slated to start Thursday's game against the Twins at Globe Life Field.

Bradford will be making a third consecutive appearance as a starter, an unexpected development after the Rangers moved him to the bullpen during his minor-league rehab assignment before he was activated from the 60-day injured list July 29. However, with injuries to Jon Gray (groin), Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Nathan Eovaldi (oblique) having since tested the Rangers' starting depth, Bradford looks like he could have a pathway to a rotation spot. Bradford has turned in a solid 12:1 K:BB while allowing four earned runs over 8.2 innings across his last two starts, and a strong outing Thursday should be enough to keep him ahead of Jose Urena and Dane Dunning in the rotation pecking order. Even though Eovaldi is expected to avoid an IL stint, the Rangers should have room in the rotation for two of Bradford, Urena and Dunning until at least two of Gray, Scherzer or Jacob deGrom (elbow) return from the IL.

The Yankees optioned Warren to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Warren turned in a solid spot start in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the White Sox, taking a no-decision while allowing two runs over five frames. He'll rejoin the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rotation and would likely be the first hurler called upon when/if the Yankees need another starter.

Woo came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander put together another brilliant performance, generating 29 called or swinging strikes among his 85 pitches, but Woo wound up settling for his third straight quality start and seventh of the season when his bullpen couldn't get the job done. Through three outings in August, he's delivered a 1.31 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB through 20.2 innings, and he seems fully recovered from the hamstring issues that began bothering him in late June. Woo will face a tough test in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

Kremer (5-9) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the Nationals, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander wasn't dominant, managing only six swinging strikes among his 92 pitches, but Kremer was able to ride a two-run homer from Gunnar Henderson in the first inning to his first win since July 3. Wednesday's quality start was only his second in his last 10 trips to the mound, with the other quality start coming with three unearned runs. Over that 10-start stretch, Kremer has stumbled to a 5.22 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB in 50 innings. He'll try to build on Wednesday's momentum in his next outing, which lines up to come on the read early next week against the Mets.

The Twins optioned Varland to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Varland put together a quality start in a no-decision Wednesday against the Royals, yielding three earned runs over six innings. He nonetheless finds himself back in the minors, which means Zebby Matthews should remain in the Minnesota rotation indefinitely as the club's No. 5 starter.

Houck came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to the Rangers, giving up two runs on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander left the mound after 108 pitches (64 strikes) with a 4-2 lead, but the Boston bullpen cost Houck his ninth win of the season. Instead, he had to settle for his 17th quality start, tying him with Luis Castillo, Seth Lugo, Cole Ragans and Zack Wheeler for fourth in the majors. While he's still giving the Red Sox some length in the rotation, Houck's overall performance had faded as the summer has worn on, and since the beginning of July he's posted a 3.92 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and poor 22:21 K:BB through 39 innings. He lines up to make his next start on the road early next week in Houston.

Dunning came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 9-7 extra-inning win over the Red Sox, giving up four runs on five hits and a walk over five-plus innings. He struck out three.

Making his first start since June 16, Dunning was able to give the Rangers a solid 76 pitches (48 strikes), but he ran out of gas in the sixth inning and got the hook after serving up a Wilyer Abreu solo shot and a Masataka Yoshida single to begin the frame. With Jose Urena struggling and Texas dealing with multiple injuries to starting pitchers, Dunning's performance might have been good enough to keep him in the rotation for at least one more turn, but his 4.92 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 81:38 K:BB through 82.1 innings innings don't inspire a lot of confidence from a fantasy perspective.

Anderson (9-11) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks over 5.2 innings while striking out eight.

The Blue Jays got to Anderson early and often Wednesday, tagging the veteran for runs in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings while the Angels' offense struggled to get anything going. The lefty gave up a season-high seven runs on the night while surrendering multiple home runs for the first time in his last five starts. Anderson's four walks in the contest were the most he's issued since June 25 against the Athletics (span of seven starts), and he's now allowed multiple free passes in two of his last three outings. On a positive note, Anderson has gone at least five innings in seven consecutive starts.