MLB Player News

Spence (7-7) took the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings while striking out six.

Both runs charged to Spence came across in the top of the third when the right-hander walked Cavan Biggio to open the frame before then surrendering back-to-back hits with two outs. The 26-year-old pitched well outside of that frame, however, generating 13 swings and misses in the contest while reaching the six-strikeout mark for only the fourth time this season. Spence has now allowed two or fewer runs in three consecutive starts, surrendering just one home run over that stretch. On the downside, he's also walked multiple batters in four straight outings.

Flaherty improved to 8-5 on the season Saturday in the Dodgers' 10-0 win over the Athletics while striking out seven over six shutout innings. He scattered five hits and one walk.

Flaherty generated 16 whiffs in his Dodgers debut and generally stayed out of trouble after allowing back-to-back singles to begin the first inning, as he conceded just three more base hits and a walk the rest of the way. Dating back to his time in Detroit, Flaherty has yet to throw fewer than five innings in any start this season. Though he had already picked up seven wins in his 18 outings with Detroit, Flaherty's win potential should only increase moving forward in his future starts while he's backed by a superior Dodgers lineup.

Bradford came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Red Sox, giving up three runs on four hits and a walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out five.

A pair of solo homers by Rob Refsnyder accounted for most of the damage off Bradford, but otherwise the southpaw acquitted himself fairly well in the spot start, tossing 41 of 59 pitches for strikes before leaving the mound. With Jon Gray (groin) joining Max Scherzer (shoulder) on the IL over the last week, the Rangers are scrambling for rotation help, and even Tyler Mahle's imminent return from Tommy John surgery will still leave one spot vacant. If Bradford remains in the rotation, he'll face a tough test in his next start -- it lines up to come on the road next weekend in Yankee Stadium.

DeGrom (elbow) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Dave Sessions of MLB.com reports.

DeGrom, who threw all of his pitches, simulated three innings in the bullpen and is ready to face hitters for his next outing. "Having a batter step in, the intensity will change a little bit, and that's where you really find out where you're at," deGrom said. The right-hander said he "felt good" but believes he still needs work on location.

Atlanta activated Fried (forearm) from the 15-day injured list for his start against the Marlins on Sunday.

The left-hander landed on the shelf July 21 due to forearm neuritis just before he was scheduled to make his first start of the second half, but it ended up being a brief absence. Fried is rejoining the rotation without a rehab assignment, so he could have some minor workload limitations in his first start since July 11 in Arizona.

Houck (8-8) took the loss Saturday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and two walks over five-plus innings as the Red Sox fell 7-4 to the Rangers. He struck out seven.

The right-hander appeared to be firmly in control to begin the game, blanking Texas through three innings, but the wheels came off for Houck in the fourth as Jonah Heim and Leody Taveras launched back-to-back homers off him. It's only the second time this season Houck has served up multiple homers in a start, but Saturday's outing marked the fifth straight in which he issued multiple free passes, and he sports a rough 4.78 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 18:16 K:BB through 26.1 innings over that stretch. He'll try to turn things around in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Astros.

Keller came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Diamondbacks, allowing one hit and two walks over four scoreless innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander appeared headed for a potentially special performance, but a 68-minute rain delay ended his day after 60 pitches (44 strikes). Keller has given up two runs or less in five straight outings, posting a 2.17 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:9 K:BB through 29 innings over that stretch, but the last four have all resulted in no-decisions. He'll try to get back in the win column in his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend against the Dodgers.

Montgomery did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates, allowing one run on one hit and two walks over three innings. He struck out three.

The veteran southpaw was looking sharp until rain created a 68-minute delay in the middle of the fourth inning, ending Montgomery's day prematurely. While the delay was out of his control, he hasn't been able to give Arizona much length even under ideal conditions -- Montgomery's completed six innings only once in his last nine trips to the mound, posting a brutal 8.20 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 27:17 K:BB through 37.1 innings over that stretch. He'll try to build on Saturday's performance in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Phillies.

Lorenzen came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 6-5 extra-innings loss to the Tigers, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

Making his first start for the Royals since being acquired from the Rangers, Lorenzen tossed an efficient 84 pitches (54 strikes) and blanked Detroit for five innings before stumbling in the sixth and getting the hook one out short of what would have been his ninth quality start of the year. The veteran right-hander will take a 3.69 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 80:50 K:BB through 107.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Cardinals.

Kelly (shoulder) is scheduled to throw four innings and 65 pitches in Tuesday's rehab start for High-A Hillsboro, MLB.com reports.

The news that Kelly was set to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday was already out there, but now the Diamondbacks offered details about a projected length. It's possible, if Kelly meets those projected goals, that this is the right-hander's lone rehab outing.