MLB Player News

Kelly (9-6) took the loss against the Pirates on Saturday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Kelly gave up a two-run homer in the second inning, and that proved to be all the Pirates needed as the Diamondbacks were shut out. The 36-year-old still logged his fourth quality start in five July outings, allowing just eight earned runs over 30.2 innings during that stretch. He'll take a 3.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 121:38 K:BB across 128.2 innings into a road matchup with the Athletics next weekend.

Megill (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled for another Sunday, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.

Megill was placed on the 15-day IL with a sprained elbow June 17 and was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Saturday that the righty hurler is trending in the right direction, though Megill isn't eligible to be activated until mid-August.

Stroman (2-2) took the loss Saturday as the Yankees fell 9-4 to the Phillies, coughing up four runs on five hits and four walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander got tagged for runs in three of his four frames while tossing only 50 of 89 pitches for strikes as he issued a season-worst four free passes. It's the first time Stroman has failed to last at least five innings since he came off the IL in late June, and in those five starts he's posted a 4.01 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB over 24.2 innings. He'll try to get back on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Rays.

Suarez (8-4) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk over 5.2 innings in a 9-4 victory over the Yankees. He struck out eight.

The southpaw fell short of his 12th quality start of the season, but Suarez racked up a whopping 38 called or swinging strikes among his 108 pitches (71 total strikes) as he collected his first win in July. Suarez has given up one run or fewer in six of his last eight outings, a stretch in which he's delivered a 2.50 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB over 50.1 innings. He'll look to stay sharp in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Tigers.

The Tigers activated Skubal from the paternity list and deemed him the starter for Saturday's matchup versus Toronto.

Skubal was placed on the paternity list Wednesday, but he was never expected to miss a start. That will indeed be the case, as the All-Star southpaw is slated to take the mound against the Blue Jays on Saturday. The Tigers made a few other moves impacting their pitching staff, signing reliever Luke Jackson and adding him to the 26-man roster while optioning Keider Montero and designating Geoff Hartlieb for assignment.

The Tigers optioned Montero to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday.

The 25-year-old righty will be pushed out of the big-league rotation following Tarik Skubal's return from the paternity list. Montero will aim to turn things around in the minors after a poor start to the second half, as he's surrendered 10 runs (nine earned) across just 8.1 innings over his last two starts.

Nola (ankle/rib) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Thursday, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

Nola began facing live hitters last Saturday, and the plan is for him to build up to around 60 pitches during his return to game action Thursday. The 32-year-old righty has been on the IL since late May, so he'll almost certainly require an additional start or two beyond Thursday before rejoining Philadelphia's rotation.

Lorenzen (oblique) has been playing catch for over a week but has yet to resume throwing bullpen sessions as of Friday, MLB.com reports.

Lorenzen is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list at any point, but he looks like he still has a few checkpoints to hit in his recovery from an oblique strain before the Royals deem him fit to rejoin the rotation. Kansas City called up Rich Hill from Triple-A Omaha shortly after the All-Star break, and the 45-year-old lefty could occupy the fifth spot in the rotation until Lorenzen is ready for activation.

Montero (4-3) allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits across four innings to take the loss Friday against the Blue Jays. He struck out three.

Montero ran into a hot Toronto team and continued his recent stretch of poor performances. Over his last three outings, he's been tagged for 12 earned runs across 11.1 innings. In his three prior starts, Montero had looked a lot better, allowing just four earned runs over 16 innings. Overall, the 25-year-old has a 4.66 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 53 strikeouts across 73.1 innings this year. With Troy Melton getting called up for his MLB debut Wednesday. the Tigers could have some competition for the No. 5 spot in their rotation moving forward. That could squeeze Montero out, though he's also a candidate to start again in the near future if Melton struggles or if another starter sustains an injury.

Berrios (7-4) picked up the win Friday in a 6-2 victory over the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The veteran righty needed 85 pitches (54 strikes) to record his 13th quality start of the season, and sixth in 10 outings since the beginning of June. Over that stretch, Berrios has produced a 3.79 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 43:16 K:BB through 57 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Baltimore.