MLB Player News

Cease did not factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven across six innings.

It was another strong outing from Cease, whose lone blemish came in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Jordan Walker, though the former avoided the loss after the Blue Jays tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth. Cease has logged at least seven strikeouts in 14 consecutive starts and finished Friday's outing with 18 whiffs and 57 strikes on 96 pitches. The American League Cy Young candidate is up to 174 strikeouts this season, which is second most in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (185). Cease will take a 2.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 119.1 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next week on the road against the Astros.

Bratt did not factor into the decision in Friday's 4-1 win over the Guardians, allowing one run on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts over five innings.

Bratt allowed a run in the first inning but rebounded with four scoreless frames, throwing 50 of 82 pitches for strikes with just five whiffs while allowing five hard-hit balls. It was the 23-year-old's best major-league start in five outings, though he owns an unappealing 12:15 K:BB during that stretch. He'll take a 5.23 ERA and 1.84 WHIP across 20.2 innings with the Diamondbacks into a home matchup with the Padres next week.

Bibee (4-11) took the loss against the Diamondbacks on Friday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 7.1 innings.

Bibee entered the eighth inning with a one-run lead but was charged with the loss after allowing two runners to reach base, both of whom came around to score after he departed. Despite the end result, the 27-year-old will end July on a run of four straight quality starts, and he's now yielded three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his past 11 outings dating back to May 31. He'll carry a 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 100:38 K:BB across 132.1 innings this season into a home matchup with the Mets next week.

Imanaga (7-9) was saddled with the loss Friday as the Cubs fell 2-0 to the Yankees, allowing two runs on four hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

Both runs off Imanaga came on solo shots by Amed Rosario in the fourth inning and Spencer Jones in the fifth, and the Chicago offense never got off the mat against Will Warren and the New York bullpen. It was Imanaga's third straight quality start and 10th of the season, and he's gone six straight outings without being tagged for more than two runs -- a stretch in which he's delivered a 1.77 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB over 35.2 innings. The veteran southpaw faces another tough test in his next start, which is set to come at home next week against the Dodgers.

Warren (8-5) picked up the win Friday, scattering four hits over 6.2 scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Cubs. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The right-hander put together arguably his most impressive start of the season on 88 pitches (55 strikes) before letting the Yankees' bullpen finish off the shutout. The quality start was Warren's sixth of the season, tying his career high from 2025, but his first since May 31 -- the last time he lasted at least six frames in an outing. Warren will carry a 4.14 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 109:36 K:BB through 108.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Cardinals.

Kolek will get a second opinion on his right forearm Tuesday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

Kolek emerged out of his rehab start with Triple-A Omaha on July 18 with a right forearm strain, which prompted the Royals to transfer the right-hander to the 60-day injured list July 22. He's eligible to be activated from the IL in early September, but the Royals will have a better sense of Kolek's recovery timeline once he undergoes more tests.

Snell (elbow) said Friday that he'll make one more rehab start at Triple-A Oklahoma City before returning from the injured list, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Snell was brilliant during his last minor-league start, striking out nine batters while pitching four scoreless innings at Single-A Ontario. He built up to 60 pitches during his appearance, and it seems like the Dodgers want to increase his workload a bit more before having him rejoin the active roster.

The Athletics designated Zhuang for assignment Friday.

The move corresponds with the Athletics selecting Jonathan Ornelas' contract from Triple-A Las Vegas and optioning Colby Thomas to Triple-A. Zhuang has spent the entire 2026 season in Las Vegas but has allowed at least six earned runs over his last five outings, which has him at a 7.84 ERA and 1.79 WHIP across 59.2 innings in Triple-A.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Imai will be moving to the bullpen for the team's weekend series against the Rangers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Imai struggled in his last start against the Angels on Monday, when tossed only 12 of 33 pitches for strikes and allowed two runs on one hit and four walks while striking out one batter over two-thirds of an inning. He was in line to start in Sunday's series finale, and while a replacement has yet to been announced, Chandler Rome of The Athletic suggested Thursday that Peter Lambert could be on the mound on short rest.

Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said Friday that Bassitt (back) will make 1-to-2 more rehab starts before rejoining the active roster, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bassitt gave up one run over 3.1 innings in his first rehab outing with Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. He got his pitch count up to 46 in that start and will continue to stretch out with at least one more rehab outing. Bassitt has been out since early June following surgery to remove bone spurs from his back, and he posted a 5.27 ERA in 56.1 innings before getting hurt. The 37-year-old isn't a given to go back into the Orioles' rotation once he's deemed physically ready, though that could depend on what the club does at the trade deadline.