MLB Player News
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Jack Flaherty SP | DET
Tigers' Jack Flaherty: Twirls gem vs. Houston
Flaherty (7-12) earned the win Monday against the Astros, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
This performance was a welcome sight for Flaherty, who entered the contest on the heels of back-to-back outings allowing five earned runs. The Detroit right-hander notched his 10th quality start of the season, as he threw 60 of his 90 total pitches for strikes. The 29-year-old lowered his season ERA from 4.76 to 4.51 across 131.2 total frames to go with a 1.29 WHIP and 162:50 K:BB. Flaherty will look to continue his good form when he next takes the mound at home against Kansas City this weekend.
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Cole Ragans RP | KC
Royals' Cole Ragans: Ramps up bullpen work
Ragans (shoulder) threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Monday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Ragans has been steadily building up his pitch count in bullpen sessions and had more velocity on his fastballs and more offspeed pitches on display Monday. The 27-year-old southpaw continues to recover from a left rotator cuff strain that initially landed him on the 15-day injured list in mid-June before he was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 8. Ragans' next step in his throwing program would be throwing to live hitters, and if all goes well, he would be cleared to embark on a rehab assignment, making an early September return to the majors a possibility.
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Cristian Javier SP | HOU
Astros' Cristian Javier: Expected to be fine for next start
Javier (illness) is expected to be fine for his next scheduled start this weekend in Baltimore, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Javier had to depart Sunday's start versus the Orioles after three innings due to illness and then stayed behind in Houston rather than travel with the team to Detroit. However, Javier now appears recovered from the illness and is slated to rejoin the club at some point Monday. It's not yet clear which day Javier will start, but that should be revealed after he meets with manager Joe Espada.
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Tyler Wells SP | BAL
Orioles' Tyler Wells: Needs two more rehab starts
Wells (elbow) is slated to make two more rehab starts before returning from the 60-day injured list, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Making his way back from June 17, 2024 UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery, Wells permitted three runs with five strikeouts over five innings in the fourth start of his rehab assignment this past Friday with Triple-A Norfolk. He'll require two more outings in the minors before rejoining the big club, although it's not yet clear whether he'll be part of the Baltimore rotation or work out of the bullpen once he's activated.
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Kyle Bradish SP | BAL
Orioles' Kyle Bradish: Slated for season debut next week
Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino said Monday that he expects Bradish (elbow) to return from the 60-day injured list and make his season debut Aug. 25, 26 or 27 against the Red Sox, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Working his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery, Bradish struck out nine across five scoreless frames in his most recent rehab outing with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday. Bradish is slated to make one more rehab start before making his long-awaited return to the Orioles rotation.
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Cristian Javier SP | HOU
Astros' Cristian Javier: Status uncertain for next start
Manager Joe Espada said Monday that the Astros haven't determined whether Javier (illness) will be ready to make his next start, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
While making his second start since returning from the 60-day injured list Sunday, Javier lasted just three innings before being pulled from the Astros' eventual 12-0 loss to the Orioles due to an illness. Javier stayed behind in Houston to visit a doctor, but Espada relayed that the right-hander will rejoin the team in Detroit later Monday, which suggests his illness isn't too serious. Javier tentatively lines up to make his next start during this weekend's four-game series in Baltimore, but Espada said that he wants to check in with the 28-year-old in person before determining whether he'll be able to take the hill for his next turn through the rotation. Lance McCullers (finger) is with the Astros in Detroit and could be activated from the 15-day IL and inserted into the rotation at some point this week if the team wants to build in more recovery time for Javier.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Shane Bieber: Poised for season debut Friday
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Bieber (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game in Miami, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Bieber will be making his first start for the Blue Jays and his first at the major-league level since April 2024, as the right-hander has finally completed a long rehab from Tommy John surgery. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner has looked sharp during his rehab assignment, posting a 1.86 ERA and 37:3 K:BB over 29 innings covering seven starts. Bieber went seven scoreless frames and threw 90 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo this past Friday, so he should be ready to handle a fairly typical starter's workload in his Toronto debut.
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Bryce Miller SP | SEA
Mariners' Bryce Miller: Cleared to return Tuesday
Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Monday that Miller (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday in Philadelphia, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander permitted two runs with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings in his most recent rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma last Wednesday, getting his pitch count up to 76. Miller -- who is returning from right elbow inflammation -- has bounced back well from that outing, officially clearing the way for him to rejoin the Mariners rotation. He will likely be limited to around 85-to-90 pitches against the Phillies.
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J.P. France SP | HOU
Astros' J.P. France: Covers four innings in rehab start
France (shoulder) struck out seven and allowed three earned runs on four hits and four walks across four innings in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land.
The right-hander has now made five rehab starts across stops with three different affiliates and has been gradually increasing his workload. He built up to 77 pitches Thursday and probably needs just one more rehab outing to get himself stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload, but France likely hasn't performed well enough to garner serious consideration for a spot in Houston's rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. After undergoing shoulder surgery last July, France has struggled to regain his control thus far during his rehab assignment, as he's posted a 15:13 K:BB while hitting two batters and uncorking a wild pitch over 13 innings. France has a minor-league option remaining, so the Astros could have him remain with Sugar Land once his 30-day rehab window comes to a close.
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Martin Perez SP | ATL
White Sox's Martin Perez: Entering rotation Wednesday
Perez will start Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Perez is taking the rotation spot vacated by Sean Burke, who was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. Aaron Civale had been scheduled to take the ball Wednesday but has been pushed back in the schedule to start Friday versus the Twins. Perez made one relief appearance last Wednesday after returning from a lengthy absence due to a flexor strain, tossing 3.1 innings of one-run ball in a 1-0 loss to Detroit. He threw 66 pitches in that appearance, which is more than he threw in either of his two rehab outings before being activated from the 60-day injured list. With that in mind, Perez likely won't be ready to handle a full workload Wednesday.