MLB Player News

Irvin (6-3) suffered the loss Thursday, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and a walk over 5.2 innings against Atlanta. He struck out eight.

Irvin allowed hits to the first three batters in the game, including back-to-back doubles that immediately put the Orioles in a two-run hole. He was able to piece things together from there, allowing only one more earned run and striking out a season-high eight batters to keep the O's in the game. It's the third-straight game Irvin has allowed eight or more hits, though it's just the second time in his last 11 outings he's given up as many as three earned runs, raising his ERA to 3.03 through 68.1 innings. He's next slated to take the hill early next week when the Orioles travel to New York for a showdown against the first-place Yankees.

The Orioles transferred Means (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Levi Stoudt, who was claimed off waivers. Means is done for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last week.

The Orioles claimed Stoudt off waivers from Seattle on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports.

The Mariners DFA'd Stoudt on Sunday after he turned in a 6.92 ERA and 1.73 WHIP through 52 innings with their Triple-A affiliate. He'll now get another shot in Baltimore's farm system, and he will remain in Triple-A for now. Given his lack of recent success in the minors and a career 9.58 ERA in the majors, Stoudt would likely need to turn things around significantly before he gets a shot in Baltimore.

Castillo's next start has been pushed back a day to Friday against the Rangers, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The Mariners have just one off day over the next two weeks and one member of their rotation, Bryan Woo (forearm), who is banged up, so the team will use this as an opportunity to give their regular starters some rest. Emerson Hancock will draw the start Thursday versus the White Sox while everyone else gets bumped back.

Wacha (foot) completed a three-inning simulated game Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The Royals will wait and see how Wacha feels Friday following the sim game before deciding on his next steps, but the right-hander will most likely head out on a minor-league rehab assignment if he's not feeling any renewed discomfort in his fractured left foot. If Wacha is cleared to make a rehab start Monday or Tuesday, he could be an option to return from the 15-day injured list and slot back into the Kansas City rotation next weekend.

The Mariners recalled Hancock from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

Hancock will start Thursday against the White Sox, giving the other members of Seattle's rotation some extra rest amidst a stretch of one team day off over the next 14 days. The right-hander has already logged seven starts at the big-league level this season -- the most recent on May 7 -- but has pitched to a 5.24 ERA and 1.31 WHIP while forging a 3-3 record. He's been much more effective at Tacoma, where he's sitting on a 2.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over the 29 innings covering his five starts with the Rainiers.

Kremer (triceps) threw a bullpen session Thursday without issues and could begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend, Sam Cohn of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said a decision hasn't been made regarding which affiliate Kremer will join and which day he might pitch, but the right-hander is seemingly coming along well in his recovery from a triceps strain in any case. After being placed on the 15-day injured list May 24, Kremer may need only one rehab outing to get stretched back out before he rejoins the Baltimore rotation.

The Royals optioned Lynch to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

The move comes one day after Lynch allowed six runs over 6.2 innings in bulk relief in a loss to the Yankees. Kansas City's decision to send Lynch back to the minors could indicate that the club expects Michael Wacha (foot) to be ready to return from the 15-day injured list next week, but no announcement on a replacement for Lynch in the rotation has been made just yet.

Povich came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-2 win over Atlanta, allowing five hits over six scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The southpaw was brilliant in his second big-league start, firing 63 of 89 pitches for strikes and leaving the mound in line for his first career win before Matt Olson tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth inning. Despite this performance, Povich may be headed back to the minors if Dean Kremer (triceps) is cleared to rejoin the rotation next week, but if the O's want to keep the youngster around, Albert Suarez could also shift back to the bullpen.

Lynch did not factor in the decision against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 6.2 innings.

Dan Altavilla was tabbed to serve as Kansas City's opener Wednesday, but he got only one out while allowing five batters to reach base. Lynch therefore entered in the first frame and immediately yielded a sacrifice fly before Jose Trevino slugged a three-run homer against him. The left-hander went on to allow two more long balls -- one each to Giancarlo Stanton and Gleyber Torres -- and six total runs were charged to his ledger. Lynch at least managed to eat up innings, as the 6.2 frames were his most so far this season, but he's now allowed 14 runs over his past 10.2 innings and has an ugly 6.35 ERA on the campaign. It's unclear if he'll go back to working as a traditional starter or continue to pitch behind an opener moving forward, but either way there's a good chance he'll fall out of the rotation when Michael Wacha (foot) is ready to return.