MLB Player News

Anderson (6-6) allowed one run on five hits and five walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings to earn the win over the Giants on Friday.

Anderson once again put on a master class in run prevention -- he's allowed multiple walks in five of his last six starts, but he hasn't given up more than one run in any of those outings. He's now at a 3.9 BB/9 this season, which means he's flirting with danger more often than not despite his excellent 2.58 ERA and passable 1.19 WHIP. He's also managed a 6.0 K/9 across 87.1 innings, which is the lowest strikeout rate of his career. Anderson is lined up to make his next start at home versus the Brewers, a tough test despite his recent success.

Urena allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two over 3.1 scoreless innings of relief in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Mariners.

Starter Andrew Heaney struggled over 4.2 innings, but Urena's strong performance spared the Rangers' bullpen. Prior to Friday, Urena had worked as a starter, covering 31.2 innings with a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB over his previous six appearances. Urena's at a 3.23 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB through 55.2 innings overall. The Rangers have a short-term dilemma on their hands, as Urena has been at least as good as Heaney, though both pitchers could be out of the rotation once Max Scherzer (back/arm) is able to return.

Heaney (2-8) allowed three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Mariners on Friday.

Heaney gave up a two-run home run to Mitch Garver in the first inning, his fifth homer allowed over his last seven appearances. This was the shortest of Heaney's three starts in June so far. The veteran southpaw is at a 4.19 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 62:18 K:BB through 66.2 innings across 14 appearances (13 starts) this season. It's unclear how he'll be utilized going forward -- he may lose his place in the rotation soon since Jon Gray returned from a groin injury last weekend and Max Scherzer (back/arm) could be back by the end of the month. Jose Urena, who pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of relief Friday, could also be a short-term option in the rotation if the Rangers grow tired of Heaney's inconsistency.

Garver went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.

Garver is up to eight homers this season, and he's hit three of them over his last eight games. In that stretch, he's batting .250 (6-for-24) with eight RBI and two doubles. It's encouraging to see more power out of the 33-year-old -- he went 18 games without a homer between May 13 and June 5. Garver is slashing a poor .176/.300/.352 across 230 plate appearances this season, though he's added 25 RBI, 23 runs scored and 10 doubles while seeing fairly steady playing time at designated hitter.

Munoz walked one and struck out three in a scoreless and hitless eighth inning to earn a hold in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.

Munoz has been dealing with a back issue for most of June so far, but he's still seen high-leverage work when available. The right-hander was deployed in the eighth inning Friday against the top of the Rangers' lineup, while Ryne Stanek got the call in the ninth and earned the save. Munoz has picked up three holds and a loss over his last four outings, but it seems this is less about his injury and more about a matchups-based approach to the late innings by manager Scott Servais. Munoz has a 1.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 41:10 K:BB with 12 saves and six holds through 29 innings this season.

Stanek allowed a hit in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 win over the Rangers.

This was the second outing in a row in which Stanek got a save, as manager Scott Servais deployed Andres Munoz against the top of the Rangers' lineup in the eighth inning. Stanek has kept runs off the board in eight of his last nine outings, though the exception was a three-run meltdown versus the Royals on June 7. He's pitched to a 4.05 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 28:10 K:BB with six saves, 10 holds and two blown saves over 26.2 innings. Stanek's numbers aren't dominant, but he's done well enough to remain in the high-leverage mix. Munoz is still the primary closer, but Servais may be leaning toward a committee approach in the late innings during a busy stretch in which the Mariners play 22 games in 23 days.

Castillo (6-7) allowed two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over six innings to earn the win over the Rangers on Friday.

Castillo received an extra day of rest after Emerson Hancock got a spot start Thursday. It looks like that was a good move, as Castillo was able to bounce back from his worst start of the year to earn his third quality start in his last four outings. He is now at a 3.32 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 92:24 K:BB over 89.1 innings through 15 starts. He's projected for a challenging road matchup versus the Guardians next week.

Smith (0-3) allowed an unearned run on two hits and struck out one in one-third of an inning to take the loss Friday versus the Dodgers.

Smith gave up a run for the first time since May 22, though it was deemed unearned since Mookie Betts advanced to second base on an error before Freddie Freeman brought him home with an RBI single. After a rough start to the year cost him his high-leverage role, Smith has allowed just three runs (two earned) over his last 14.2 innings, though he has a mediocre 10:3 K:BB in that span. The veteran southpaw is at a 5.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB with one save, five holds and one blown save through 21.2 innings overall.

Ragans allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Dodgers on Friday.

Ragans had just one bad inning -- he gave up a two-run home run to Miguel Rojas and a solo shot to Chris Taylor in the fifth. Aside from that, it was smooth sailing for the southpaw, who earned his fifth quality start in his last six outings, though he has just two wins in that span. The Royals' ace is now at a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 102:26 K:BB over 86 innings across 15 starts this season. He's given up more than three runs just twice, with both of those games being seven-run mishaps, so he's often been even more dominant than his surface stats would suggest. Ragans is projected to make his next start on the road versus the Athletics.

Perez was pulled from Friday's game against the Dodgers due to right knee discomfort.

Perez hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to give Kansas City a 3-0 lead, but his knee caused him to come out of the game during the eighth. It's unclear how severe the backstop's injury is, but the Royals should know more before Saturday's contest. If he does have to miss any amount of time, Freddy Fermin would be the next man up as Kansas City's main catcher.