MLB Player News

Dunning was used in relief in Saturday's 13-5 loss to the Guardians, tossing one inning while allowing one earned run on two hits.

Dunning had started in both of his previous two appearances, but he looks set to operate as a reliever moving forward with the Rangers expected to call up Jack Leiter from Triple-A Round Rock during the upcoming week to serve as a temporary fifth member of the rotation until at least one of Tyler Mahle (shoulder), Jacob deGrom (elbow) or Max Scherzer (shoulder) returns from the injured list. In his last start Monday against the Pirates, Dunning averaged just 88.1 miles per hour with his fastball, and he didn't notice much of a bump in velocity Saturday despite moving to the bullpen. He maxed out at 90.3 mph and failed to generate a swinging strike from any of the four batters he faced.

Fedde did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and three walks over six innings against the Twins. He struck out seven.

Fedde tossed his most effective game as a Cardinal, putting together his first quality start in five starts since joining the club. A leadoff homer in the bottom of the first by Willi Castro was the only run Fedde allowed and one of only two hits the Twins could muster off the veteran righty. However, he was also provided little run support and when he was removed, the game was tied at one. Fedde's ERA since joining the Cardinals now stands at 4.23 over 27.2 innings. His next start is scheduled to take place in the Bronx against the Yankees.

Wicks (oblique) struck out four batters over 4.2 scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Iowa. He scattered three hits and one walk.

Between his first two rehab outings at Iowa, Wicks surrendered four home runs and walked four batters while covering just 3.2 innings, but he's been much more dialed in his subsequent two starts for the Triple-A club while increasing the volume of his pitches. He built up to 73 pitches Sunday and looks like he'll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list to make his next start with the big club, providing he experiences no setbacks with his oblique coming out of his next throwing session. The Cubs have yet to confirm their plans for Wicks, but he'll presumably either be part of a six-man rotation or replace Kyle Hendricks as the club's No. 5 starter.

General manager Ben Cherington acknowledged Sunday that there is a range of innings that the Pirates don't want Skenes to surpass this season, which could lead to the right-hander's starts becoming more abbreviated over the final month of the campaign, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Cherington didn't offer up a firm number in terms of a potential innings limit for Skenes, but a workload-management plan already looks to be in place for the phenom rookie. As Stumpf notes, Skenes was lifted after six scoreless innings in his most recent outing Thursday against the Reds, despite having thrown just 87 pitches while exhibiting no signs of wearing down. The 87 pitches were Skenes' fewest in a start since his MLB debut back on May 11, and a workload around that level could become the norm for the 22-year-old down the stretch if the Pirates choose not to shut him down. Across his 17 starts in the majors, his seven starts at Triple-A Indianapolis and his two Grapefruit League appearances, Skenes has thrown 134.1 innings in 2024. He covered 129.1 innings in 2023 between his college season at LSU and his brief time in the minors upon getting selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft.

Cannon (2-8) yielded five runs on eight hits and four walks over four-plus innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against Detroit.

Cannon escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, but things got worse from there. He gave up a run in each of the third and fourth innings before falling apart; he put four straight Tigers on base without recording an out in the fifth inning and was charged with three more runs. Cannon was handed his third straight loss and saw his ERA jump to 4.57 across 90.2 innings. He's 1-6 with a 4.93 ERA over his last eight outings. Cannon is projected for a home matchup against the Mets next weekend.

Bradford (4-2) yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against Cleveland.

Bradford gave up a run in each of the first two innings but settled in to deliver his third straight quality start. After a 4-0 start through seven outings, he's lost two straight starts despite giving up just four earned runs over 13 innings during that span. He's sporting a 3.31 ERA with an impressive 44:8 K:BB through 49 innings. Bradford's next outing is projected to be at home against Oakland.

Boyd (1-0) yielded a run on three hits and a walk over six innings Sunday, striking out four and picking up a win over Texas.

Boyd didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position until the fifth inning, resulting in an RBI double from Jonah Heim. It was Boyd's third MLB appearance since returning from Tommy John surgery, and he earned his first win. He completed six innings for the first time while delivering a quality start. Through three outings, Boyd owns a 2.70 ERA with a 12:5 K:BB. He's currently in line for a home matchup against the Pirates next weekend.

Mize (hamstring) struck out seven and allowed three earned runs on three hits and no walks over 4.2 innings in his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Toledo.

Mize didn't perform quite as dominantly as he did in his prior three rehab outings, but he racked up 13 swinging strikes in the contest, and most importantly, built up to 78 pitches. Overall, Mize turned in a 2.63 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB in 13.2 innings across his four outings with Toledo, and he now looks ready to return from the 60-day injured list this upcoming weekend when first eligible. The Tigers could reinsert Mize into the rotation as soon as Friday's series opener versus the Red Sox in Detroit.

Gomber (4-9) allowed four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over six innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Yankees.

Gomber gave up just one of the Yankees' five homers, a two-run blast to Aaron Judge in the first inning, but the Rockies' offense wasn't good enough to keep him off the hook. This was Gomber's first loss in three starts, and he's allowed a modest seven runs over 19 innings in that span, which has all come away from Colorado. He's actually been slightly better at home in 2024 with a 4.42 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 57 innings at Coors Field compared to a 4.89 ERA and 1.32 WHIP through 81 innings on the road. For the season, the southpaw has a 4.70 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 98:35 K:BB through 138 innings over 25 starts. He's lined up to make his next start at home versus the Orioles.

Stroman (9-6) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five over five innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Stroman was a little off Sunday, throwing 56 of 97 pitches for strikes, but he had ample run support to pick up his second win over his last three outings. He's gone at least five innings in three straight starts after doing so just two times across six appearances between June 28 and Aug. 2. The veteran right-hander is now at a 3.88 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 97:57 K:BB through 132.1 innings over 25 starts this season. His 3.9 BB/9 is by far the worst of his career, and his 6.6 K/9 is his lowest mark in a full campaign, which at least partially explains his inconsistency this year. Stroman is projected to make his next start at home versus the Cardinals.