MLB Player News

Cease (3-1) earned the win over the Angels on Friday, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out 10 over seven scoreless innings.

Cease was simply dominant, generating 19 whiffs on 97 pitches while limiting the Angels to just one extra-base hit. It marked the second straight seven-inning outing for the 30-year-old, and he's now registered double-digit strikeouts three times this season. He'll carry a 2.58 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 66:18 K:BB across 45.1 innings into a home matchup against the Rays next week.

Griffin (4-1) earned the win against the Marlins on Friday, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk with nine strikeouts over seven innings.

Griffin allowed two runs in the first inning before dazzling with six scoreless frames, generating 17 whiffs on 103 total pitches while notching a career-high nine strikeouts. The southpaw has been rolling, allowing just four combined earned runs over four consecutive quality starts. He'll carry an impressive 2.12 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 42:15 K:BB across 46.2 innings into a road test in Cincinnati.

Snelling (0-1) took the loss against the Nationals on Friday, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks with two strikeouts over five innings.

Snelling allowed three runs with two outs in the first inning but battled to keep Washington off the board from there. He generated 12 whiffs on 86 pitches but generally struggled with command, issuing four walks and yielding multiple baserunners in every frame except a clean fourth. It was still a respectable debut for the 22-year-old, who entered Friday with a 1.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 44:15 K:BB across 29 innings at Triple-A Jacksonville. He lines up for a road matchup against the Twins next week.

Varland pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-0 win over the Angels.

Varland was called upon to finish off a team shutout in the ninth inning and did so on just 11 pitches. The 28-year-old has now converted all five of his save chances, solidifying himself as the clear favorite for save chances in Toronto. He's been stellar this season, allowing just one earned run while posting a 1.07 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB across 19.2 innings.

The Dodgers placed Glasnow on the 15-day injured list Friday with lower-back spasms.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that MRI results on Glasnow's back didn't reveal anything significant, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, but the Dodgers will send him to the injured list to be safe. Paul Gervase was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move to give Los Angeles some extra bullpen depth, and Roki Sasaki figures to stick in the Dodgers' six-man rotation for the foreseeable future even with Blake Snell (shoulder) returning this weekend.

Brown (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The right-hander continues to progress in his throwing program after landing on the injured list in early April due to a Grade 2 shoulder strain. Brown will likely need at least a few more bullpen sessions before being cleared to face live batters and eventually embarking on a rehab assignment.

Verlander (hip) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Verlander has been throwing bullpen sessions at nearly full intensity since Sunday, and Saturday will mark his first time facing live hitters since landing on the IL in early April. The Tigers haven't provided a timeline for the 43-year-old's return yet, though that may change once they see how he comes out of Saturday's round of BP.

Bieber (elbow) will face live hitters Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

It will be the first time he's faced hitters since the World Series last year, as Bieber has been working his way back from right elbow inflammation that's nagged at him since last fall. Bieber will likely face hitters multiple times before being cleared to embark upon a rehab assignment. He still has lots of boxes to check, but Bieber could be ready to rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation in June if he continues progressing.

Scherzer was given a cortisone shot in his injured right forearm and will be shut down from throwing for five days, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

On the 15-day injured list since late April with forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation, Scherzer has recovered from his ankle issue but has had the forearm problem linger. The hope is that the injection clears things up and he can ramp his throwing back up. More will be known regarding a timetable once Scherzer is able to throw off a mound again free and easy.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that an MRI on Berrios' right elbow showed inflammation and "small changes to that initial injury with the elbow," Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Berrios had previously been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his elbow. He will visit Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday for an additional exam before the next steps are determined. Berrios had been closing in on a return before his recent setback, but his status now is very much up in the air.