MLB Player News

Burke (7-6) took the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

Wednesday's outing disrupted an exceptional stretch of play for Burke, who entered the day on a streak of five consecutive starts of at least six innings while yielding two runs or fewer. The right-hander labored Wednesday, needing 91 pitches to record 13 outs, and the four punchouts were his fewest since May 8 versus Seattle. Burke is set to carry what's still an outstanding 3.08 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 144:39 K:BB over 128.2 innings into a home matchup with the Reds.

Gray (14-2) earned the win Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight.

The veteran right-hander had his entire pitch arsenal working Wednesday, registering an impressive 17 whiffs en route to recording his most strikeouts in an outing since the end of June. Gray has excelled, especially since coming off the injured list with a hamstring strain in early May, logging 12 quality starts in his past 16 appearances. He'll bring a tidy 2.78 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 106:32 K:BB over 119.2 innings into his next scheduled start in Toronto.

Brown didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight.

The right-hander had a shutout going through five frames but faded in the sixth, with a two-run homer by Jesus Sanchez tying the game. Brown exited after 93 pitches (54 strikes), having to settle for his fifth quality start of the season. He'll take a 3.53 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 63:32 K:BB through 58.2 innings into his next outing, which is set to come on the road early next week in San Francisco.

Clement went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Astros.

The All-Star second baseman took Bennett Sousa deep in the top of the 10th inning to break a 3-3 tie. It was Clement's first long ball since the All-Star break, snapping an 18-game drought, and on the season he's produced a .285/.310/.415 slash line with nine homers, four steals, 38 RBI and 48 runs in 112 contests.

Varland (4-4) picked up the win Wednesday, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning as the Blue Jays downed the Astros 5-4 in 10 innings.

Called in to keep the game tied at 3-3, Varland fired 12 of 17 pitches for strikes and fanned Jeremy Pena to end the frame before Ernie Clement launched a game-winning, two-run homer in the top of the 10th. It was Varland's first win since June 9, but only because he's been so effective as the closer -- over 20 appearances and 22 innings since then he's converted all 13 of his save chances with a 2.05 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 28:6 K:BB.

Taillon didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Astros, giving up three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

All the damage off Taillon came in the third inning, highlighted by a Jose Altuve solo shot. It wasn't an impressive Toronto debut for the veteran righty, who got lifted after 80 pitches (49 strikes), but he was taken off the hook for the loss when his new teammates got to Hunter Brown for three runs of their own in the sixth. Taillon will continue to round out the rotation until Trey Yesavage (knee) or Spencer Arrighetti (foot) are cleared to return, and he'll take a 5.96 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 72:29 K:BB through 80 innings on the season into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Red Sox.

The Angels promoted Bremner from High-A Tri-City to Double-A Rocket City on Tuesday.

Bremner will make his Double-A debut Saturday while Rocket City expands its rotation to six men as the season winds down. The 22-year-old righty submitted a 4.28 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 64:19 K:BB over 48.1 innings in 14 starts at Tri-City to earn the bump up to Double-A.

Contreras was removed from Wednesday's game against the White Sox due to an illness, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Contreras had gone 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI before the illness forced him out of the game in the fifth inning. Nick Sogard will fill in as Boston's first baseman and could continue to do so if Contreras needs to miss additional time.

Tolbert is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

He had made four starts at shortstop in five games to close out the past week, but Tolbert has moved back into a utility role following Bobby Witt's reinstatement from the injured list Tuesday. With his playing time headed for a steep downturn, Tolbert's fantasy utility will be restricted to AL-only leagues, where he still carries some appeal due to his ability to contribute stolen bases even when his plate appearances are limited.

Rave will start in right field and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Twins.

Rave will stay in the lineup for a sixth straight game after going 6-for-16 with a solo home run, a stolen base, two doubles and two additional runs since being called up from Triple-A Omaha a week ago. So long as he's hitting well, Rave should have a pathway to a near-everyday role in the Kansas City outfield until Vinnie Pasquantino's (wrist) eventual return from the injured list forces Jac Caglianone off first base.