MLB Player News

Arrighetti (thumb) allowed six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out five across 4.2 innings in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land. He also hit a batter and threw a wild pitch.

Arrighetti made his third rehab outing and his first at Triple-A, and though his results weren't great, he built up to 79 pitches (50 strikes). Assuming the right-hander comes out of his next bullpen session no worse for the wear, the Astros could activate him from the 60-day injured list to make a start during their series in Miami early next week. Arrighetti has been on the shelf since April 8 due to a right thumb fracture.

Javier (elbow) struck out three and allowed three earned runs on two hits and four walks in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Making his fourth rehab start and second at Triple-A, Javier built up to 64 pitches, though his control was spotty (33 strikes, four walks, one wild pitch). During his rehab assignment, the right-hander has posted a 6.10 ERA, 1.84 WHIP and a 9:11 K:BB in 10.1 innings. The Astros have only four healthy starting pitching options on the 26-man active roster after shipping Ryan Gusto to the Marlins at the trade deadline, but Javier may need to show improved form before he'll be activated from the 60-day injured list. Expect him to make at least one more rehab start.

Miller (elbow) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, per MLB.com.

Friday is set to mark Miller's first game action in nearly two months, and the Mariners are targeting a pitch count in the neighborhood of 55 for the right-hander. Right elbow inflammation has kept Miller on the injured list since June 7, and he figures to make two or three rehab starts before re-entering Seattle's rotation. Once Miller is ready return, it's likely that Logan Evans will be optioned back to the minor leagues.

Kirby (6-5) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out six over six shutout innings to earn the win Thursday over the Rangers.

Kirby walked multiple batters for the third time in his last four outings, but he also came away with his second straight quality start. This was his second scoreless outing of the campaign. Kirby allowed 10 runs over 29.1 innings across his five starts in July, and he added a 33:9 K:BB in that span that suggests he's rounding back into form. The right-hander is at a 4.13 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 74:18 K:BB through 72 innings across 13 starts on the year. He is lined up for a home matchup versus the White Sox next week.

Sasaki (shoulder) is scheduled to face hitters at the Dodgers' complex in Arizona this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The rookie right-hander began throwing bullpens in mid-July and has progressed enough to move onto the next step in his recovery from a right shoulder impingement. This will be Sasaki's first time facing live hitters since he landed on the injured list in mid-May. It's expected that Sasaki will need to make at least three minor-league rehab outings before he's ready to be activated from the IL, so the earliest he's likely to return to the Dodgers is late August.

Rocker (4-5) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Mariners on Thursday.

Rocker fell short of the five-inning mark for the third time in his last four outings, with solo home runs by Cole Young and Cal Raleigh accounting for most of the damage Thursday. Over that four-start span, Rocker has allowed 12 runs across 19.1 innings, giving up five homers with a 15:9 K:BB. He's now at a poor 5.74 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB across 64.1 innings through 14 starts this season. With the Rangers acquiring Merrill Kelly from the Diamondbacks on Thursday, this may have been Rocker's last start in the majors for a while, as Jack Leiter and Patrick Corbin look like better bets to fill out the back of the Texas rotation.

The Athletics are expected to select Morales' contract Friday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.

Morales has pitched at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels this season. He began the year as a starter but has more recently shifted to a multi-inning relief role, posting a 22:11 K:BB across 20.1 innings. Morales' fit with the big-league club is unclear, and no starter has been announced for Friday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Brown is no longer listed as the Cubs' probable starter for Saturday's game against the Orioles,Ryan Herrera of AllCHGO.com reports.

Brown was originally scheduled to make a second straight turn through the rotation this weekend, but the Cubs are now listing Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd and Colin Rea as their three starters for the series versus Baltimore. The shakeup in the pitching schedule comes after the Cubs acquired another starter Wednesday in Michael Soroka, whose arrival presumably bumps Brown out of the rotation. It's unclear if Brown will stick on the 26-man active roster as a reliever, or if he will be optioned to Triple-A Iowa to continue to stay stretched out as a starter.

Abbott didn't factor into the decision in Thursday's 10-inning loss to Atlanta, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out one.

Abbott struggled with his command Thursday, a rarity for the left-hander this year, as he matched a season-high with five free passes. Still, Abbott has held opponents to two earned runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts. His ERA sits at a sparkling 2.15 with a 1.11 WHIP and 96:33 K:BB across 19 starts (108.2 innings) this season. Abbott's currently lined up to face the Cubs on the road in his next outing.

Carrasco didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Reds, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.

Carrasco got off to a shaky start, allowing three runs in his first three innings, though he'd ultimately settle in and blank Cincinnati over his final three frames to log his first quality start of the season. Carrasco was traded to Atlanta after struggling to a 5.91 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 32 innings with the Yankees. The veteran right-hander figures to get a long look in the rotation as Atlanta currently has five starters on the 60-day IL. Carrasco currently lines up for a home matchup with the Brewers in his next outing.