MLB Player News
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Foster Griffin SP | CLE
Nationals' Foster Griffin: Dominates Phillies for eighth win
Griffin (8-2) earned the win Monday against the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine over 7.1 innings.
Griffin recorded the deepest outing of his major-league career Monday, as the left-hander held the Phillies scoreless through six frames before Brandon Marsh finally got to him with a solo homer in the seventh. The nine strikeouts matched a season high for Griffin. He has limited opponents to one run or fewer in five of his last six starts while posting a stellar 1.78 ERA and 35:5 K:BB during that span. Griffin will carry that momentum into his next scheduled outing on the road against Baltimore.
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Kumar Rocker SP | TEX
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Thrives in bulk relief
Rocker took a no-decision Monday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks in five innings of relief. He struck out nine.
The Rangers have now deployed Rocker behind an opener twice this season, and the results so far have been promising to say the least. The 26-year-old right-hander twirled 7.2 shutout innings the last time he worked as a reliever during his May 19 outing, and he fanned a season-high nine Monday. It would make sense for Texas to use Rocker in long relief out of the bullpen once again this weekend in Toronto, where he'll try to further improve on a 4.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 65:30 K:BB across 74 innings.
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Gerrit Cole SP | NYY
Yankees' Gerrit Cole: Stumbles in second loss
Cole (2-2) took the loss Monday against the Tigers, allowing five runs on nine hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
It was perhaps a season-worst outing for Cole, who surrendered a season-high nine hits and five runs Monday. The 35-year-old right-hander had fired 12.2 scoreless innings to begin the season, but he's struggled to the tune of a 5.95 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 19.2 frames during the month of June. Cole will be trying to right the ship his next time out in Boston, where he'll carry a 3.62 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB over 32.1 innings.
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Framber Valdez SP | DET
Tigers' Framber Valdez: Quiets Yankees in fourth win
Valdez (4-5) notched the win Monday against the Yankees, allowing one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight.
Valdez found himself in top form Monday, tying a season high in punchouts over six strong innings. The 31-year-old southpaw has now thrown at least five innings in eight consecutive starts, and he's also spun at least six frames while yielding two runs or fewer in nine of his 16 outings for the year. Valdez will bring a respectable 3.91 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 75:34 K:BB across 89.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance at home against the Astros.
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Joe Ryan SP | MIN
Twins' Joe Ryan: Won't start Tuesday due to illness
The Twins scratched Ryan from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Dodgers due to an illness, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.
In Ryan's stead, Minnesota will turn to Kendry Rojas to serve as their opening pitcher Tuesday in what will likely be a bullpen game. The Twins haven't provided word on the severity of Ryan's illness, so it's unclear if he'll be available to pitch in their series later in the week against Colorado or if he'll have his turn in the rotation skipped entirely. The 30-year-old righty has gotten off to a strong start to the 2026 campaign, posting a 5-3 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 99:18 K:BB across 87.1 innings.
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Dylan Cease SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Fans eight in no-decison
Cease did not factor into the decision Monday against the Astros, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings.
Cease surrendered an early RBI-single by Isaac Paredes in the first inning before settling into a groove, retiring 13 consecutive batters at one point while piling up seven strikeouts during the stretch. The right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth, issuing back-to-back walks and then allowing an RBI single to Jose Altuve that ultimately ended his night. Cease's swing-and-miss stuff remained electric, as he recorded his eighth consecutive outing with at least seven strikeouts. Since the beginning of May, the 30-year-old has posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 61:14 K:BB across 41.2 innings. He is slated to face off against Texas at home next.
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Hunter Brown SP | HOU
Astros' Hunter Brown: Lasts three innings vs. Blue Jays
Brown did not factor into the decision Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings.
The right-hander threw 54 of his 85 pitches for strikes but struggled to consistently find the zone, issuing two walks and plunking two batters. His lone run allowed came via Kazuma Okamoto, who led off the second inning with a solo homer. Despite lasting only three innings, Brown did not appear to be working under any workload limitations, as his pitch count suggests Houston is willing to let him work through trouble. Through two starts since returning, he has allowed just two runs across 8.2 innings while posting an 11:5 K:BB. Brown is scheduled to make his next start on the road against Detroit.
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Michael Wacha SP | KC
Royals' Michael Wacha: Seven strong innings in fifth win
Wacha (5-5) notched the win Monday against Tampa Bay, allowing one run on six hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out five.
Wacha continues to give the Royals plenty of length, tossing at least six frames in three consecutive starts and eight of his last 10. The 34-year-old right-hander has also pitched at least five innings in all of his 15 outings this year, racking up 11 quality starts already. Wacha will try to further improve on a steady 3.48 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 77:29 K:BB over a league-high 101 innings in his next scheduled outing on the road against the division-rival White Sox.
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Drew Rasmussen SP | TB
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Tough-luck loss Monday
Rasmussen (6-4) took the loss Monday against Kansas City, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five.
Rasmussen continues to deal during the month of June, posting a 1.00 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 34:3 K:BB across his last 27 innings (four starts). Additionally, the 30-year-old right-hander has now logged nine quality starts among 15 appearances on the campaign and worked at least six frames in four consecutive outings. Rasmussen will take a stellar 2.62 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 89:15 K:BB across 86 innings into his next scheduled start at home against Arizona.
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Kodai Senga SP | NYM
Mets' Kodai Senga: Mets-Cubs postponed Monday
Senga will no longer start Monday against the Cubs after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in New York, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Wednesday. The Mets will keep their rotation in order following the postponement, with Senga moving back a day in the schedule to start Tuesday's series opener, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.