MLB Player News

Winckowski will start Saturday's game against the Astros, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Cooper Criswell (illness) landed on the COVID-19 injured list Friday and Nick Pivetta is having his turn in the rotation skipped, so Winckowski will step into the rotation for his first start since July 6. In nine appearances since moving to the bullpen, the 26-year-old right-hander hasn't worked more than 2.2 innings in any appearance and has allowed five earned runs while striking out five batters and walking six over 10.2 total frames. He'll be taking the hill Saturday on just two days' rest, so he'll likely be limited from a workload perspective and could end up being deployed in tandem with Brad Keller, who had been starting for Triple-A Worcester before being recalled Friday.

Diaz went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.

Diaz singled in the seventh inning and then added a two-run homer in the ninth. He has carried a hot July into August, going 10-for-28 with four multi-hit efforts in his last seven contests. On the year, the 25-year-old is hitting .301 with 11 home runs, 61 RBI and 48 runs scored across 429 plate appearances.

Varland didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Guardians in the second game of a doubleheader. He allowed three runs on eight hits over 4.2 innings while striking out four.

Varland was cruising early, allowing just three hits while blanking Cleveland through his first four innings. However, things quickly unraveled in the fifth, as the right-hander allowed five hits including a three-run homer to Josh Naylor. The 26-year-old has struggled to a 6.46 ERA in 30.2 innings in the majors this year with a 1.66 WHIP and 29:10 K:BB. However, he fared better in Triple-A, posting a 1.48 ERA in his last six outings with St. Paul. Varland could get an extended look in Minnesota's rotation down the stretch with Joe Ryan (shoulder) sidelined indefinitely. He's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Rangers in his next outing.

Altuve went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox.

Altuve walked and scored a run in the first inning and then tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh. The long ball was his first extra-base hit in 10 games, but he has hit safely in seven of those contests with four RBI and four runs scored. On the season, the second baseman is hitting .302 with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 64 runs scored and 15 steals across 498 plate appearances.

Houck did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Astros, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with one strikeout over six innings.

Houck allowed a run in the first inning but rebounded for five scoreless frames before departing with a 3-1 lead that the bullpen couldn't preserve. He generated only two swinging strikes on 82 pitches but also limited the Astros to four hard-hit balls. The 28-year-old's command remains worth monitoring, as he has posted a 19:19 K:BB in six starts between July and August. On the year, he owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 124:38 K:BB across 140 innings and lines up to face the Orioles next week.

Richards earned the save during a 6-3 win over the Guardians in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. He struck out one in a perfect ninth inning.

After Jhoan Duran earned the save in the first game of the doubleheader, Richards got the call in the nightcap, setting down Cleveland in order to earn his first save of the year. It's a nice bounce-back effort from Richards, who allowed three runs while issuing five walks in just two-thirds of an inning in his last appearance. Overall, the 31-year-old Richards sports a 4.82 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and 53:29 K:BB across 56 innings between the Twins and Blue Jays this year.

Blanco did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-4 win over the Red Sox, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

Blanco surrendered a two-run double in the second inning and allowed another run to score on an errant pickoff attempt in the fourth. He was pulled at 88 pitches in his shortest appearance since being ejected after three innings May 14. The 30-year-old is winless in four outings since the All-Star break, yielding 12 earned runs across 19 innings while failing to log a quality start. On the season, he owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 126:51 K:BB across 128 innings and will try to get back on track in a matchup with the Rays next week.

Horwitz went 3-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 3-1 win over the Athletics.

Horwitz doubled in the fourth inning, singled in the sixth and went yard in the eighth. While the long ball was his first since July 11, the 26-year-old has three multi-hit efforts in seven August contests. On the year, he is hitting .282 with five homers, 20 RBI and 24 runs scored across 206 plate appearances.

Springer went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-1 win over the Athletics.

Springer hit his 59th career leadoff home run to give the Blue Jays the early lead. It was the 34-year-old's first long ball since a two-homer game July 21, and he has gone just 4-for-27 at the plate so far in August. On the season, he is hitting .224 with 14 home runs, 42 RBI, 56 runs scored and 13 steals across 448 plate appearances.

Soriano didn't factor into the decision Friday against Washington, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven.

After allowing a run on a pair of hits and a walk in the first inning, Soriano proceeded to blank the Nationals over his final five frames, allowing just two additional hits. The 25-year-old has held opponents to one run or fewer in four of his last five outings. His ERA is down to 3.36 on the season with a 1.19 WHIP and 92:42 K:BB across 109.2 innings. Soriano's currently in line for a home matchup with Atlanta in his next outing.