MLB Player News

Imai did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Nationals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three across 3.2 innings.

Imai put the Astros on the back foot early by giving up a leadoff home run to James Wood. Imai yielded another run in the second and ran up his pitch count to 84 (52 strikes) before being pulled in the fourth inning. He's recorded only 15 outs over his last two starts, which comes after he tossed back-to-back quality starts with 10-plus strikeouts in both of those outings, and he sits at a 6.06 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 52 innings this season. Whether Imai gets one last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break largely depends on whether Ronel Blanco (elbow) will be activated off the 60-day IL for the Astros' weekend road series against the Rangers.

Woo did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Marlins, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out five across five innings.

The nine hits Woo allowed to Miami matched a season-worst mark that he set twice prior to Monday's outing. He was on the hook for the loss before his Mariners teammates came through with a three-run eighth inning. Woo has yielded at least three earned runs in five of his last eight outings, and he now sits at a 4.23 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 102:20 K:BB across 104.1 innings this season. Woo's next outing figures to be after the All-Star break.

Warren (7-4) took the loss against the Rays on Tuesday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts over four innings.

Warren allowed a season-high three homers, including two in a four-run fourth inning. It continued a rough stretch for the 27-year-old, who hasn't recorded a quality start since May 31, when he also picked up his most recent victory. He'll take a 4.15 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 94:31 K:BB across 93.1 innings this season into a tough road matchup with the Nationals this weekend.

Meyer did not factor into Tuesday's decision against the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four across five innings.

Meyer opened his start nicely by striking out three of the first four batters he faced. He faced the minimum number of batters through four innings before giving up two runs in the fifth, but his stat line could have looked far worse after he loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth. Luckily for Meyer, his night ended at two earned runs after Michael Petersen came in and got the Marlins out of the bases-loaded jam. Meyer has given up two earned runs or fewer in seven consecutive starts, going 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 34:13 K:BB in 41.1 innings over that span. He's slated to start this weekend at home against the Guardians in his final turn in the rotation before the All-Star break.

Skubal (5-4) earned the win against the Athletics on Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over five innings.

Skubal allowed a homer for the fifth straight game since returning from the injured list but was otherwise strong, throwing 62 of 96 pitches for strikes with a whopping 22 whiffs. The southpaw has yielded just two earned runs across back-to-back victories and has recorded exactly nine punchouts in three straight outings. He owns a 3.06 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 84:10 K:BB across 70.2 innings this season and lines up to face the Phillies at home this weekend in his final matchup before the All-Star break.

Waldrep (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Tuesday, allowing seven runs on six hits and five walks with two strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

All seven runs came via two Ryan O'Hearn home runs, but Waldrep threw just 45 of 84 pitches for strikes and generated only five whiffs. The 24-year-old has been shaky so far in his return to Atlanta's rotation, allowing 10 earned runs over two starts after throwing two scoreless frames in relief in his first appearance of the season June 28. He'll try to find his footing entering the All-Star break in a road matchup with the Cardinals this weekend.

Skenes (7-8) earned the win against Atlanta on Tuesday, allowing two runs on eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts over six innings.

Skenes was given a huge lead and ran with it, throwing 66 of 95 pitches for strikes with 12 whiffs while delivering his ninth quality start of the campaign. It was a much-needed outing for the 24-year-old after he surrendered 11 earned runs over his previous two contests. He owns a 3.58 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 123:23 K:BB across 103 innings this season and lines up to make one final start before the All-Star break at home against the Brewers this weekend.

Ginn was removed from Tuesday's game against the Tigers due to an illness, Jason Burke of Roundtable.io reports.

Ginn's illness led to a noticeable drop in velocity, and manager Mark Kotsay said after the game that the right-hander's energy level was declining rapidly throughout the game. Ginn managed to get through four innings before ending his start prematurely, giving up two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four batters. He's tentatively scheduled to start the final game of the first half on the road Sunday against the White Sox, though it will be worth monitoring his health as the weekend approaches.

Junk (shin) struck out three and allowed one earned run on five hits and no walks across three innings Saturday in a rehab start for Triple-A Jacksonville.

The right-hander made his second rehab appearance at Triple-A after he was sent to the 15-day injured list May 31 due to right shin bone inflammation. He built up to 61 pitches (37 strikes) in Saturday's outing and averaged 93.8 mph with his four-seam fastball, about a half-tick behind his season-long average prior to landing on the shelf. Per Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com, Junk completed a pitch-design session in front of the Marlins' coaching and training staff Tuesday, and if he checks out fine following that workout, he could fill the opening in the Miami rotation in Thursday's series finale versus the Mariners.

The Cardinals designated Zimmermann for assignment before Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Brewers.

Zimmermann coughed up three earned runs in five innings while working in bulk relief during the first half of Tuesday's twin bill, and he'll lose his place on the 40-man roster now that his services are no longer needed. Jared Shuster will come up from Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move to add bullpen depth.