MLB Player News

Houser (6-3) took the loss against the Angels on Monday, allowing five runs on 11 hits and one walk while striking out three batters over 5.2 innings.

Houser made his first start with Tampa Bay after he was acquired in a trade with the White Sox at the trade deadline. The right-hander had put up an excellent 2.10 ERA during his 11 starts with Chicago, though he surrendered seven runs (six earned) over 11 innings across his final two outings with the club. Houser then posted arguably his worst start of the campaign in his first appearance with Tampa Bay -- both the 11 hits and five runs he allowed were season-worst marks. Houser's fantastic beginning to the campaign was always a bit hard to believe in given his previous career numbers, and it's fair to wonder if the run of success is coming to an end. Still, he'll have a chance to bounce back his next time out, which is scheduled to be a road matchup against Seattle this weekend.

Kikuchi (5-7) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Monday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Kikuchi gave up a run in the first inning but kept the Rays from scoring over the remainder of his six frames. The southpaw surrendered just one extra-base hit (a double) and racked up 11 whiffs en route to seven punchouts. While Kikuchi's 5-7 record isn't impressive, he's quietly put together a solid first season in Los Angeles. The team's lone All-Star owns a 3.22 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 139:56 K:BB over 134 frames spanning 24 starts. His numbers could be even better if not for a .317 BABIP against him, which ranks seventh-highest among qualified starters.

Clement went 5-for-6 with a double, a triple, three runs and an RBI in a 15-1 victory against the Rockies on Monday.

Clement's first career five-hit game included a double and triple as he fell just a homer short of the cycle. The veteran infielder has now posted four multi-hit performances over his past six games and is batting a scorching .500 (12-for-24) during that span. Clement hasn't produced enough in the way of speed or power (five homers, three thefts over 112 games) to be a must-roster fantasy option, but he's been a solid table setter for Toronto with a .289 batting average and 57 runs scored on the season.

Keirsey was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Keirsey has struggled since his promotion June 15, batting just .111 with one home run, two RBI, three stolen bases and four runs scored over 22 games. Noah Davis was also dispatched to Triple-A, while Luke Keaschall and Thomas Hatch were added to the big-league roster in corresponding moves.

Varsho went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in a 15-1 romp over the Rockies on Monday.

Varsho had the biggest hit in a seven-run third inning for the Blue Jays, crushing a 451-foot, three-run homer. He added a run-scoring single in the seventh before being given the final two frames off as Toronto built an insurmountable lead. Varsho had gone 0-for-6 with four strikeouts in his first two games back from the injured list, but a trip to Colorado may be just what he needed to get his bat back on track.

Davis was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Davis was demoted along with DaShawn Keirsey to make room for Luke Keaschall and Thomas Hatch. Davis struggled in his lone appearance since being promoted Wednesday, surrendering two runs on one hit while striking out three over two innings.

Bichette went 3-for-6 with two home runs and six RBI in a 15-1 rout of the Rockies on Monday.

Bichette quietly gave the Blue Jays an early lead with a run-scoring single in the first inning. His remaining two knocks were much louder -- he belted a 413-foot, two run homer in the third inning and added a 434-foot, three-run blast in the seventh. Bichette has been red-hot during the second half of the campaign, batting .385 with 21 RBI through 18 contests. However, Monday's outburst stood out in that it included two home runs; prior to the performance, he had gone deep just once over his previous 23 contests.

DeLuca went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Monday against the Angels.

DeLuca started his fifth straight game in the absence of Chandler Simpson (hand) and has gone 4-for-18 with six strikeouts in that span. Despite struggling overall, he has managed two stolen bases across those five contests, bringing his total on the season to six. Assuming Simpson makes his expected return Tuesday, DeLuca is likely to shift back to a small-side platoon role.

Kim went 1-for-3 with a walk Monday against the Angels.

Kim returned from the injured list Friday and has started all four games since. He's collected one hit in three of those contests, though none have gone for extra bases, and he's also provided no counting stats in that span.

Lauer (7-2) earned the win over Colorado on Monday, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk while striking out four batters over six innings.

Toronto's offense put up nine runs through three innings, taking the stress off Lauer as he cruised through six one-run frames. The left-hander threw 64 of 97 pitches for strikes and notched 13 whiffs while finishing with his fourth quality start over his past six outings. Lauer hasn't given up more than two runs in any start and has posted a 2.57 ERA with a superb 34:4 K:BB across 35 frames over that six-game span. He's next lined up for a road start against the Dodgers this weekend.