MLB Player News

Cobb (hip/shoulder/finger) covered 4.2 innings in his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Columbus, striking out five while allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks.

Cobb spotted 44 of his 69 pitches and sported a fastball that maxed out at 94.9 miles per hour. The right-hander has now made seven rehab starts overall, but Saturday's was his first as a member of the Guardians organization after he was acquired from the Giants on Tuesday. At this point, Cobb looks to be fully stretched back out after having spent all season on the injured list up to this point while recovering from offseason hip surgery. Cobb also had his rehab program slowed down by a sore shoulder and more recently, a blister, but neither issue looks to be a concern moving forward. Assuming the Guardians were satisfied with how Cobb fared Saturday, he could come off the 60-day IL and make his 2024 MLB debut as soon as Friday, when the Guardians will begin a four-game series with the Twins with a doubleheader.

Woods Richardson allowed three runs on six hits and three walks over four innings in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out six in the win over the White Sox.

Woods Richardson tossed two scoreless frames before the White Sox scored a pair of runs in the third inning and another in the fourth. He's been chased in the fifth inning or earlier in three of his last four starts, generating a 5.60 ERA during that stretch. Woods Richardson produced a 2.84 ERA over his first 10 starts, but that number has jumped to 5.04 over his last nine outings, resulting in a 3.87 ERA through 95.1 innings. His next outing is lined up to be a home tilt with the Guardians.

Flexen (2-11) allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits and three walks over 1.2 innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Twins.

Flexen gave up a pair of runs in the first inning before the Twins broke out with a six-run second. He failed to complete at least three innings for the first time since June 14. In 16 starts since his last win May 8, Flexen has gone 0-8 with a 6.09 ERA. His season ERA is up to 5.53 with an 83:46 K:BB through 114 innings. His next outing is projected to be at home against the Cubs.

Wheeler (11-5) got the win Sunday against the Mariners, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out nine over eight scoreless innings.

Wheeler was engaged in a pitcher's duel with Logan Gilbert for the first six innings before the Phillies eventually opened up the game with five runs in the eighth. Sunday was Wheeler's sixth scoreless outing of the year, as he only allowed a first inning double by Cal Raleigh and a base hit from Victor Robles in the third. He went on to finish the day by retiring the final 15 hitters he faced. Wheeler managed to not issue multiple walks for the first time since June 22 and his nine strikeouts were his most since he had nine against the Giants on May 28. The 34-year-old further strengthened his NL Cy Young case and now owns a 2.77 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 148:41 K:BB in 136.2 innings. He lines up to face the Diamondbacks on the road in his next start.

Gilbert (6-8) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits while striking out seven over six innings.

Gilbert surrendered a leadoff home run to Kyle Schwarber and went on to cruise from there. He struck out the next three batters in the opening frame and would retire nine of the next 10 hitters he faced through the third inning. Despite another impressive effort from Gilbert, he lost the pitcher's duel to Zack Wheeler, who blanked the Mariners through eight innings, leaving Gilbert with his third consecutive loss. Still, Gilbert posted his 18th quality start of the year, which puts him in a tie with Corbin Burnes for the most in baseball. Gilbert owns a 3.05 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 143:26 K:BB in 147.2 innings and will look to change his fortunes in a meeting with the Mets over the weekend.

The Rockies outrighted Blach to Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday after he cleared waivers.

Blach had the option of electing free agency, but he'll instead stick around in the Colorado organization, with whom he's spent the past two-plus seasons. Before being cast off the Rockies' 40-man roster July 27, Blach made 18 appearances (10 starts) for the big club, posting a 6.36 ERA and 1.70 WHIP across 63.2 innings.

Mikolas (8-9) took the loss Sunday against the Cubs, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings.

Mikolas kept the Cubs off the board through three innings but would go on to allow two runs in the fourth and was charged with an additional two in the fifth after failing to get an out in the frame. Mikolas has now allowed at least seven hits in five of his last seven starts and Sunday tied his shortest outing of the season. The 35-year-old owns a 5.12 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 86:22 K:BB in 128.1 innings. He lines up for another start against the Royals on the road this weekend.

Triple-A Salt Lake placed Silseth (elbow) on its 7-day injured list Wednesday.

After being reinstated from the Angels' 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A on June 25 following a prolonged absence due to right elbow inflammation, Silseth turned in a 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 7:7 K:BB over 16 innings across four outings with Salt Lake before succumbing to another setback with the elbow. The Angels had labeled Silseth's injury as discomfort coming out of his most recent start for Salt Lake on July 28, but a formal diagnosis for his injury hasn't been provided. In any case, Silseth doesn't look like he'll be back pitching for Salt Lake anytime soon, which will hurt his chances of building a case for a return to the big leagues.

Steele (3-5) got the win over the Cardinals on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six in 6.2 innings.

Steele and the Cubs went down 2-0 in the third after Masyn Winn opened up the scoring with a two-run blast to left. That was the only damage Steele would permit, and he was dominant otherwise, retiring 12 straight batters between the third and seventh innings. Steele has now given up a home run in back-to-back outings, but Sunday was his first start surpassing six innings since July 11. The 28-year-old lefty owns a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 104:29 K:BB in 108 innings and lines up for a matchup against the reeling White Sox his next time on the mound.

Waldron (7-9) got the win over the Rockies on Sunday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings.

The lone run that came against Waldron was a solo home run by Brenton Doyle in the fourth. His two hits allowed tied a season best and his seven strikeouts were the most he's had since he punched out eight June 24. Waldron led with his knuckleball, throwing it just under 44 percent of the time and getting five whiffs on the pitch. He was pulled at just 80 pitches, but providing length has certainly been a strength of Waldron's for much of the season. He now owns a 3.79 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 116:36 K:BB in 128.1 innings and lines up to face the Marlins on the road over the weekend.