MLB Player News

Manaea (7-4) picked up the win Tuesday, scattering two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Twins. He struck out 11.

The veteran southpaw tied his season high in innings while setting a new season high in Ks, as Manaea generated an eye-popping 23 swinging strikes among his 96 pitches. He's been outstanding over the last six weeks, giving up three earned runs or less in eight of his last nine starts while posting a 2.58 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB through 52.1 innings over that stretch, and Manaea's impressive run likely contributed to the Mets' decision not to make a more significant rotation addition than Paul Blackburn at the trade deadline. Manaea is scheduled to make his next start on the road early next week in St. Louis.

Scherzer (2-4) took the loss Tuesday to St. Louis and said he felt fatigued for the second time in three starts, MLB.com reports. He allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five over four innings and 68 pitches.

Scherzer said he felt better Tuesday than he did in the start against the Orioles on July 20, when he lasted just two innings and 53 pitches. While this news may worry fantasy managers, the 40-year-old right-hander didn't sound too concerned following the game. "The good news is I didn't have any zings," Scherzer said. "That's No. 1. I didn't hurt myself and I didn't strain anything." He tentatively lines up to pitch Sunday at home against the Red Sox.

Festa (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Twins were downed 2-0 by the Mets, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

The rookie right-hander put together his best performance so far in the majors, tossing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes, but Minnesota managed only two hits in support of him. Festa has allowed just three runs in 9.1 innings since returning to the 26-man roster last week, but he continues to have trouble keeping the ball in the yard -- a solo shot by Mark Vientos in the fifth inning Tuesday was the sixth homer Festa has served up in 19.1 big-league frames. With the Twins having failed to add any rotation help at the trade deadline, his spot seems fairly secure for the moment, and Festa lines up to make his next start on the road early next week against the Cubs.

DeGrom (elbow) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

DeGrom threw three sets of 15 pitches and came away from the session feeling good. The right-hander reiterated once again the goal is to pitch this year and hopefully get the Rangers into the postseason. Texas general manager Chris Young admitted that return timelines are fluid, but the organization's goal is to have deGrom pitching for the Rangers at some point in August.

Musgrove (elbow) completed a two-inning simulated game Tuesday at the Padres' spring training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.

Facing a lineup of Mariners minor-league hitters, Musgrove tossed approximately 40 pitches in the outing. The Padres will wait and see how Musgrove's elbow responds to the sim game before determining his next step, but the right-hander may get the green light to begin a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as Sunday. Musgrove is on the injured list for the second time this season after being diagnosed with a bone spur and bone bruise in his right elbow in early June. He'll likely need at least two rehab starts to get fully stretched out, and he could be ready return from the 60-day injured list around mid-August in a best-case scenario.

High-A Cedar Rapids reinstated Culpepper (forearm) from its 7-day injured list Saturday.

Culpepper returned to action Sunday against Quad Cities, striking out three over two perfect innings. The right-hander was sidelined for approximately two months due to a forearm strain. Over his 32.1 innings at Cedar Rapids this season, Culpepper has generated a 3.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB.

Sears (8-8) secured the win over the Giants on Tuesday, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out nine over seven scoreless innings.

Sears racked up a career-high nine strikeouts and went seven innings for just the second time this season. He's been much better over the last month after struggling over his first 16 starts of the year, during which he had a 5.04 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and only 56 strikeouts in 84 innings. The 28-year-old lefty also already has three more wins than he did all of last season despite having a nearly identical ERA (4.53). He'll look to continue his success in a great matchup against the White Sox to begin next week.

Ray (1-1) took the loss Tuesday against the Athletics, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

Ray was unable to replicate his excellent season debut in what looked like an easier matchup on paper. All four runs he gave up came from homers; Daz Cameron and Lawrence Butler hit solo shots before Brent Rooker ended Ray's night with a two-run blast in the fifth. Ray has had some problems in years past with allowing walks and home runs, though it's difficult to gauge where he is exactly with his command and control through just two starts. One encouraging stat is that his fastball velocity is averaging 94.7 mph, which is higher than his career average. The 32-year-old now owns a 4.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB in 9.1 innings and will look to bounce back against the Nationals to begin next week.

Nelson (8-6) got the win over the Nationals on Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out nine over seven scoreless innings.

Nelson was staked an 11-0 lead by the end of the third inning but never let up one bit. Both his nine strikeouts and seven innings pitched tied season highs and it was his second outing of the season of at least five scoreless frames. He gave up one run or fewer of four of his six starts in July, leading to a 2.41 ERA and .211 BAA. He also went at least five innings in every start, which is something he's wasn't able to do earlier in the season. The 26-year-old now owns a 4.53 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 79:26 K:BB in 105.1 innings and will look to keep rolling against the Pirates to begin next week.

Corbin (2-11) took the loss Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits while striking out three over three innings.

As Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com notes, Corbin's 11 runs allowed in a single outing are the most in franchise history. Corbin only gave up one home run, which came in the opening frame on a two-run blast by Eugenio Suarez. The Diamondbacks would go on to mount on seven more runs in the second and another four in the third before Corbin's night was all said and done. Arizona had 13 hits in its first 19 at-bats against Corbin. The veteran southpaw had come into Tuesday having posted back-to-back quality outings. Now, Corbin will take a 5.88 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 89:39 K:BB in 121 innings into a projected meeting with the Giants to begin next week.