MLB Player News

Bieber (elbow) threw seven scoreless innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, allowing six hits and zero walks while striking out four.

The right-hander was dominant in what will almost certainly be his final rehab start as he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery, firing 64 of 90 pitches for strikes. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Bieber's fastball has averaged 92.5 miles per hour during his rehab stint, 1.2 mph higher than his last fully healthy campaign in 2022, when he posted a 2.88 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 198:36 K:BB over 200 innings. Acquired from the Guardians in a trade-deadline deal, Bieber is likely to make his Blue Jays debut -- and first big-league start since April 2, 2024 -- next weekend in Miami. It's not yet clear, however, whether Toronto will shift to a six-man rotation at that point, or bump one of their current starters to the bullpen to accommodate Bieber's return.

Story went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Marlins.

Story singled, swiped second and scored in the first inning before launching a three-run blast in the third.The 32-year-old has been outstanding in August, piling up seven multi-hit efforts along with five extra-base hits, 14 RBI, 14 runs scored and five steals across 14 games. He's now slashing .260/.304/.426 with 19 homers, 79 RBI, 70 runs and 22 steals across 494 plate appearances in what has been one of this season's best comeback campaigns.

Suarez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Mets.

Suarez supplied Seattle's only run with a 412-foot shot off Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning. It was the 34-year-old's second home run since returning to the Mariners, and he's just 8-for-56 with seven RBI and eight runs scored over 15 games since rejoining the club July 31. For the season, he's slashing .235/.305/.540 with 38 homers, 94 RBI, 72 runs scored and three steals across 498 plate appearances between the Diamondbacks and Seattle.

Woo (10-7) took the loss against the Mets on Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six innings.

Woo gave up a run in the third inning but was otherwise sharp, throwing 65 of 101 pitches for strikes while holding the Mets to just one extra-base hit. The 25-year-old notched his 18th quality start and has now worked at least six innings in all 24 of his outings. He'll carry a 3.02 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 153:28 K:BB across 152 innings into a road matchup with the Athletics next weekend.

Schneider went 3-for-4 with a walk, a home run, an additional run scored and four total RBI in Saturday's 14-2 win over the Rangers.

The 26-year-old utility player capped his big day with a three-run shot off position player Rowdy Tellez in the seventh inning. Schneider kept his roster spot when George Springer was activated from the IL, but he's still likely headed for a downturn in playing time despite batting .414 (12-for-29) through nine games in August with two doubles, three homers, seven runs and 12 RBI.

Varsho went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, a two-run home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 14-2 win over the Rangers.

The center fielder took Jon Gray deep in the fifth inning, one of four Toronto long balls on the afternoon. Varsho continues to supply impressive power, homering five times in 12 games since returning from the IL at the beginning of August, and on the season he's slashing .248/.306/.620 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI in only 36 contests.

Straw went 4-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI in Saturday's 14-2 rout of the Rangers.

In his first career multi-homer performance, Straw took Patrick Corbin deep in the second inning for a three-run blast before connecting on a two-run shot in the third off Jon Gray. Straw doubled his home-run total on the season in the process, and he's now up to 10 long balls in 665 career big-league contests. With George Springer back from the IL, Straw will likely be limited to a short-side platoon role and late-inning defensive duties down the stretch. On the season, he's slashing .260/.303/.363 in 103 games with nine steals, 27 RBI and 39 runs.

Lauer (8-2) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings in a 14-2 rout of the Rangers. He struck out four.

The southpaw tossed an inefficient 102 pitches (63 strikes), but Lauer lasted long enough to get the win and benefit from massive run support by the Blue Jays. He remains undefeated since the All-Star break, going 4-0 over his last six starts with a 2.73 ERA, but Lauer's control may be eroding -- he has an 8:7 K:BB in eight innings over his last two outings. With Shane Bieber (elbow) potentially set to make his Toronto debut next weekend, it's not clear whether Lauer will remain in the rotation, or move into a long-relief role despite his success as a starter.

Corbin (6-9) took the loss Saturday, coughing up seven runs on eight hits and two walks over 2.1 innings in a 14-2 rout at the hands of the Blue Jays. He struck out two.

The veteran lefty held Toronto off the board in the first inning, but a six-run second by the home squad quickly took the suspense out of the game. It was Corbin's shortest and worst start of the season, and while it was the first time since June 23 he's been tagged for more than three earned runs, he appears to be fading -- he's failed to last five innings in three straight trips to the mound. Corbin will take a 4.45 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 99:40 K:BB through 119.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week in Kansas City.

Gray went unclaimed after the Rangers placed him on outright waivers Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Rangers were hoping another team would claim Gray and pay him the approximately $3 million he is owed over the rest of the season. Gray is a free agent after the season and is working as a long reliever. The Rangers are about to play 13 games in 13 days, so they may keep Gray around rather than pay him to go home, but they could also place him on waivers again before the Aug. 31 deadline for setting postseason rosters.