MLB Player News

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.

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.

Thornton suffered a left leg injury Thursday against the Rangers and departed on a cart, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Thornton entered the game in the eighth inning and successfully recorded five outs. He then suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury while trying to cover first base. Thornton will almost certainly need a stint on the injured list, but just how long he'll be sidelined remains to be seen.

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.

Jackson was recalled by the Orioles on Thursday.

Jackson had a brief stint with the Orioles in late July, but he did not make an appearance. Given the departures along the Orioles' infield at the trade deadline, Jackson should have the chance to make his big-league debut as a utility player.

Hiraldo was recalled by the Orioles on Thursday.

Hiraldo has spent most of the season in the minors but has made three appearances in the majors. The Orioles are dealing with injuries and also traded away depth in their bullpen, so Hiraldo could get an extended look in the majors down the stretch.

The Red Sox are still collecting information about the nature of Mayer's wrist injury, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Mayer was placed on the injured list Friday due to a wrist sprain after undergoing an MRI. The results of that imaging are apparently unclear, leaving Mayer with a murky timeline to return despite being first eligible for activation August 4.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Thursday that Melton will shift to a relief role, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Melton was called up from Triple-A Toledo on July 23 and has made two starts for Detroit. After coughing up six earned runs in five innings in a loss to the Pirates in his MLB debut, Melton bounced back nicely his last time out against the Diamondbacks on Monday, when he struck out five over seven shutout innings. Though he had been lined up to take the hill for his third start this Sunday against the Phillies, he'll instead head to the bullpen while trade-deadline pickup Charlie Morton steps into the fifth spot in the rotation. The Tigers likely still view Melton as a starter in the long term, but he may be stuck in the bullpen for the remainder of 2025 unless Detroit loses another rotation member to an injury.

Adams is expected to have his contract selected by the Orioles on Friday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

The Orioles traded away Cedric Mullins, Ramon Laureano and Ryan O'Hearn prior to the deadline Thursday, leaving them shorthanded in the outfield. Adams has only had short stints in the majors in the past, but this could be his best chance to prove himself with Baltimore having multiple starting spots to fill.

De Los Santos was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

De Los Santos was activated from the injured list Saturday and has made two scoreless appearances since. The Yankees made a flurry of additions to their bullpen at the trade deadline, costing De Los Santos his spot on the big-league roster.