MLB Player News

Kerkering (5-2) threw a clean eighth inning in Saturday's 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays, striking out one while earning the win.

Kerkering has been excellent in relief for over a month now -- he last conceded an earned run back on May 6. The 24-year-old right-hander's streak of no earned runs is up to 13.1 innings, during which he owns a 1.20 WHIP and 12:7 K:BB. It was interesting to see the Phillies bypass presumed closer Jordan Romano in a save opportunity in favor of left-hander Matt Strahm on Saturday, which suggests the club may have an unclear bullpen hierarchy that could also leave the door open for Kerkering to work his way into the mix.

Verlander (pectoral) completed a bullpen session Saturday and is expected to return during the Giants' upcoming homestand, which begins Tuesday versus the Guardians, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Verlander completed a 65-pitch sim game Wednesday in what appeared to be his final test before being activated from the injured list. Saturday's activity may have been one final confirmation that he's ready to retake the big-league mound, which he appears likely to do within the next week.

Donovan (toe) expects to return to the lineup Sunday versus the Brewers, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Donovan took batting practice and fielded ground balls Saturday and was pain-free afterward. He will wear a carbon-fiber orthotic in his shoe in the short term, but it appears that he will avoid a stint on the injured list after missing the past four games.

Holmes will start Sunday against the Rockies, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Chris Sale was originally scheduled to start, but Atlanta will push him back to its upcoming series against the Mets. Holmes will draw a more favorable matchup as a result, but he has a 5.65 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across his last 14.1 innings (three starts).

Boyd (6-3) picked up the win Saturday, allowing a run on one hit and one walk over six innings in a 2-1 victory over the Pirates. He struck out three.

The veteran southpaw fired 63 of 93 pitches for strikes in his fourth straight quality start and 10th of the year, but Boyd looked like he might have to settle for a no-decision until Dansby Swanson broke a 1-1 tie by going yard in the sixth inning. Boyd will take a 2.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 73:19 K:BB through 80.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Mariners.

Sale is having his start pushed back from Sunday to a game during Atlanta's upcoming series against the Mets, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Sale isn't dealing with any disclosed injury, rather Atlanta appears to be saving him for a key divisional series against the Mets. Grant Holmes will step in for Sales' originally scheduled start Sunday against the Rockies.

Burrows came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on five hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The rookie right-hander engaged in a pitchers' duel with veteran Matthew Boyd, and Burrows racked up an impressive 16 swinging strikes among his 81 pitches (56 total strikes) before exiting the mound with the score tied 1-1. The 5.1 innings tied for his longest outing among his first five appearances in 2025 with the Pirates, and Burrows will take a 4.24 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB through 23.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Rangers.

Stephenson went 2-for-5 with a double, a grand slam and a second run scored in Saturday's 11-1 win over the Tigers.

The backstop gave the Reds a 6-1 lead when he drove the first pitch he saw from Jack Flaherty in the fifth inning over the left-field fence. Stephenson has produced multiple hits in three of his last five games, and through 10 June contests he's batting .317 (13-for-41) with three doubles, two homers, six runs and 10 RBI.

Singer (7-4) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over six innings during an 11-1 rout of the Tigers. He struck out four.

The right-hander delivered his fifth quality start of the season on 96 pitches (56 strikes), and a six-run fifth inning by Cincinnati gave Singer all the run support he wound need. He's given up three runs or fewer in six straight outings, posting a 3.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 21:17 K:BB over 33 innings during that stretch. Singer will look to build on this performance in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in St. Louis.

Williams (3-8) took the loss Saturday as the Nationals were downed 4-3 by the Marlins, giving up two runs on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran righty didn't pitch poorly, tossing 55 of 80 pitches for strikes, but a lack of run support saddled Williams with his third straight loss. He's lasted six innings only once in his last six trips to the mound, posting a 5.46 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 28 innings over that stretch, and he hasn't fanned more than four batters in an outing since April 28. Despite that unappealing fantasy profile, Williams may have some streaming appeal in his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Rockies.