MLB Player News

Perez (5-8) took the loss Saturday against San Diego, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out two.

It was a bit of a hard-luck loss for Perez, who delivered his fourth consecutive quality start. The hard-throwing right-hander opened the campaign with a 4.60 ERA through his first 11 outings but has been outstanding since coming off the injured list in late June, holding a 1.75 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 34:10 K:BB over his last six appearances (36 innings). Perez will bring a 3.56 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 106:38 K:BB across 98.2 frames overall into his next scheduled start against the last-place Mets, who will be without superstar Juan Soto (calf).

Sears (3-3) notched the win Saturday against Miami, allowing no runs on one hit and one walk in 3.1 innings. He struck out three.

Pitching behind Randy Vasquez as a bulk reliever, Sears thrived while scattering one single across 3.1 scoreless frames. Saturday disrupted a string of five consecutive starts for the 30-year-old left-hander, whose role with the Padres appears uncertain going forward. Sears, who sports a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 23:9 K:BB over 28 innings for San Diego since being recalled from Triple-A El Paso, could maintain some streaming appeal in fantasy leagues if he takes his next scheduled turn in the rotation against the Giants.

The Giants are expected to recall Whisenhunt from Triple-A Sacramento to start Sunday's home game against the Angels, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

With Trevor McDonald (elbow) recently landing on the injured list, the Giants will turn to Whisenhunt to fill the fifth spot in their rotation. The 25-year-old southpaw has given up four runs in 10.2 innings across his first two MLB starts this season, and he'll draw a favorable matchup on paper Sunday against an Angels lineup that's logged just a .656 OPS since the beginning of July.

The Phillies optioned McFarlane to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

McFarlane made just one appearance with the Phillies after being promoted Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning against the Dodgers. He'll now head back to the minors to help make room on Philadelphia's pitching staff for Brian Keller, who is set to work as a bulk reliever Saturday.

Sears is no longer listed as the starting pitcher for Saturday's game against Miami.

Randy Vasquez will step in as San Diego's starter, but because he hasn't pitched more than three innings since June 27, Sears may still end up working in bulk relief Saturday. The 30-year-old lefty turned in one of his best outings of the season during his last appearance, allowing two runs (one earned) in five innings against Atlanta on Monday.

Vasquez will start Saturday's game against the Marlins.

Vasquez will be making his first start since returning from the injured list last weekend, but because he hasn't pitched more than three innings in a game since the beginning of July, he's likely to act as more of an opener for JP Sears, who was originally in line to start Saturday's contest. Vasquez has been struggling mightily on the mound as of late, giving up 16 earned runs in just 13.1 frames across his last five appearances.

Smith-Shawver (elbow) is expected to make one more rehab start before being activated from the injured list, Ian Quillen of MLB.com reports.

Over four innings and 86 pitches (54 strikes) for Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday, the 23-year-old right-hander allowed just one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out five. Smith-Shawver has a 12:5 K:BB in 10.2 rehab innings for Gwinnett with a 1.69 ERA, but it's not yet clear if Atlanta will immediately add him to the big-league rotation once his IL stint is done -- the team is actively shopping for starting pitching at the trade deadline, and Smith-Shawver has a minor-league option remaining. If Atlanta doesn't bring in outside reinforcements, however, he could be an option to replace the struggling Reynaldo Lopez (nine runs allowed in 9.1 innings over his last two outings).

Jones didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on two hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander continues to look good in July, with the only blemish on his line Friday coming on a solo shot by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the sixth inning. Jones produced his second quality start of 2026 on 83 pitches (55 strikes), and he's given up just three runs total over four starts and 21 innings this month with a 1.29 ERA, 0.52 WHIP and 28:4 K:BB. Jones will look to stay locked in during his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Diamondbacks.

Boyd didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Pirates, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks over seven innings. He struck out four.

The veteran lefty ran into trouble in the fifth inning, walking two batters and then giving up two singles before he could record an out, but Boyd limited the damage to a single run before giving the Cubs two more clean frames. He left the mound after 97 pitches (64 strikes) having produced his fourth quality start of the season, and Boyd's six-decision win streak remains intact -- he hasn't been saddled with a loss since March 26. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is set to come on the road next week in St. Louis.

Sugano (10-4) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings in a 5-2 victory over the Brewers. He struck out five.

Both runs off Sugano scored on solo shots by Christian Yelich in the first inning and Brice Turang in the sixth, but he otherwise quieted the home squad over 93 pitches (55 strikes). The 36-year-old right-hander has won six straight decisions since the beginning of June despite a 5.73 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 25:8 K:BB in 37.2 innings over that stretch, and given his affordable one-year contract, he's a prime candidate to get moved by the trade deadline. If Sugano sticks with the Rockies, he would line up to make his next start at home next weekend against the Royals.