MLB Player News

Junis (6-11) got the win Wednesday, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings against the White Sox.

Junis allowed a home run on the first pitch he threw all night but settled in from that point on, not allowing another run until the sixth inning with Kansas City already ahead by nine. Even with the relatively easy win, the four earned continues a troubling stretch for the 25-year-old, as he's posted a 7.84 ERA over 41.1 innings in his last eight starts and has allowed 14 home runs in that span. He'll take a 5.12 ERA into Monday's game against the Cubs.

Covey (4-7) took the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out one over 4.1 innings against the Royals.

Chicago's fielding did Covey no favors, committing a pair of errors -- including one by the pitcher himself -- but it was still a rough outing for the 26-year-old. It was his sixth start with two or fewer strikeouts in his last eight turns, and he's lasted longer than five innings just once in that span. Wednesday's showing ballooned his ratios to a 5.70 ERA and 1.57 WHIP, and his 51:33 K:BB through 72.2 innings doesn't offer much solace. He'll look to turn it around Monday against the Yankees.

Beeks will be deployed as a long reliever for Thursday's matchup against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Hunter Wood is slated to open the game, but Beeks figures to enter after the first few innings. He'll look to redeem himself after getting knocked around in his last relief appearance (eight runs on 10 hits across 3.1 innings).

VerHagen (2-2) pitched three scoreless innings of relief and picked up the win Wednesday against the Reds. He allowed three hits and struck out two.

Detroit starter Mike Fiers took a line drive to the shin and left after tossing two innings, which forced VerHagen into early action, and he performed well. The righty has a subpar 5.77 ERA this season, but he's been better since returning from a DL stint on July 9. Over his last 15.2 innings, VerHagen has a 1.72 ERA and 0.51 WHIP. He should continue serving in a long-relief role for the Tigers.

Manaea (10-7) picked up the win Wednesday in an 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings while striking out five.

It was the southpaw's third quality start in his last four outings and 13th of the season. Manaea hasn't been able to completely recapture his dynamic early-season form, but he does have a 3.37 ERA and 21:6 K:BB in 34.2 innings over his last six starts. He'll look to keep his momentum going Tuesday at home against the Dodgers.

Hand allowed a hit and a walk in 1.2 scoreless innings Wednesday to record his second save with Cleveland in a 2-0 win over the Twins.

Cody Allen got a four-out save Tuesday, leaving Hand to handle closing duties in this one. The back end of the Cleveland bullpen is increasingly looking like a time share between the two, an arrangement which would restrict the fantasy value of both relievers if it continues.

Ramirez was designated for assignment by the Athletics on Wednesday.

Ramirez was bumped off the 40-man roster to make room for the reinstatement of Boog Powell from the 60-day disabled list. Ramirez appeared in five games for the Athletics in 2018, allowing three runs while fanning five across 8.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Martin struck out eight over seven scoreless, one-hit innings for Double-A Corpus Christi in its 5-4 win over San Antonio on Tuesday.

Since moving up to the Texas League in early May, Martin has only burnished his standing as one of the top arms in the organization. Through 16 appearances (13 starts) with Corpus Christi, the 22-year-old has submitted a 2.40 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 66:18 K:BB in 75 frames. Wednesday's outing may have been the best of them all, as he retired the first 20 hitters he faced to outshine the more highly-touted pitching prospect who was opposing him (Chris Paddack).

Barnes (knee) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list prior to Wednesday's game against Oakland, Mike Wilner of BlueJaysTalk reports.

Barnes will return to Toronto's bullpen after being placed on the DL in late June with left knee tendinitis. He was able to pitch in three minor-league games while on a rehab assignment and didn't experience any problems, so expect him to be available immediately. Across 32 appearances this year, he's logged a 4.60 ERA and 1.60 WHIP.

Yarbrough (10-5) allowed six earned runs on nine hits and a hit batsman over five innings in a win over the Angels on Tuesday. He struck out four.

Yarbrough took over for opener Ryan Stanek after one inning, and he cruised through his first trio of frames in relatively uneventful fashion. That all began changing in the fifth -- ironically, after he'd been spotted a 10-1 lead -- when the right-hander allowed a two-run home run to Kole Calhoun. A pair of RBI singles followed in the sixth, and Yarbrough gave up the sixth run of his stint on the mound when Mike Trout took him deep to center for a 427-foot shot in the seventh. Despite the difficulties, Yarbrough had more than enough of a cushion to earn the victory, making him the second Rays pitcher to reach double-digit wins behind Blake Snell (12).