MLB Player News

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday that Means (elbow) will make another minor-league rehab start prior to being activated from the 60-day injured list, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Means' rehab assignment will reach its 30-day limit Friday, so his upcoming outing will likely be his last in the minors before he's cleared to make his 2023 debut for the Orioles. The veteran southpaw -- who is working his way back from April 2022 Tommy John surgery -- looked sharp his last time out Thursday for Triple-A Norfolk. He struck out six while allowing one hit and two walks over five scoreless innings, building up to 86 pitches in the process. If Means takes the hill for Norfolk on Tuesday, he could reinstated from the IL as soon as next Sunday.

The Red Sox placed Whitlock on the bereavement list Sunday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock will be away from the Red Sox for at least the next three days -- and no more than seven -- as he tends to a personal matter. Lefty reliever Brennan Bernardino (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Kluber (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session soon, MLB.com reports.

If all goes well in the session, Kluber will go on a rehab assignment. Cora said the team hopes the right-hander can pitch again this season.

The Rays recalled Bradley from Triple-A Durham ahead of his start Sunday against the Guardians.

Bradley will be making his first appearance in the majors since July 29, when he surrendered five runs in just 3.1 frames against Houston. He's pitched to a 2.91 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 21.2 innings in the minors since being optioned to Durham, but fantasy managers should be cautious with Bradley until he can re-establish himself as a regular part of the Tampa Bay rotation.

Muller is slated to start Sunday's game against the Angels in Oakland.

Despite being lit up for six earned runs on nine hits and three walks over four innings in his return to the rotation this past Monday in Seattle, Muller will get a second straight start. A strong showing against the Angels could buy Muller some more time in the Oakland rotation, but another poor outing would put him at risk of a move to the bullpen or a demotion to Triple-A Las Vegas next week. The Athletics could get some reinforcement to their rotation as soon as next week with both Luis Medina (finger) and Mason Miller (elbow) tracking toward returns from the injured list.

Marsh (0-8) took the loss Saturday as the Royals were downed 9-5 by the Red Sox, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out one.

Five of the seven hits off Marsh went for extra bases, including a two-run homer by Triston Casas in the first inning. It's the most runs the right-hander has given up in an outing this season, but his luck may have been due to run out -- since rejoining the rotation in early August, the 25-year-old has a 5.59 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 33:15 K:BB through 29 innings. If he stays on turn, Marsh would next head to the mound next weekend in Toronto.

Houck (4-8) picked up the win Saturday, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over five-plus innings in Boston's 9-5 win over Kansas City. He struck out five.

The right-hander cruised through five innings before hitting a wall in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out on two singles and a hit-by-pitch. Houck then had to watch all three baserunners come around to score after he'd left the mound, but fortunately for the Red Sox, they'd already scored all nine of their runs at that point. It's Houck's first win since April 20, snapping an eight-decision losing streak, and in three starts since being activated from the IL in late August he's stumbled to a 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB through 14 innings. With Boston trying to stay alive in the wild-card race, it's not clear how patient the team can afford to be with the 27-year-old, but for the moment his next start is lined up for a home series next weekend against the Orioles.

Brown (10-10) took the loss Saturday, coughing up five runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over four-plus innings as the Astros were downed 5-4 by the Yankees. He struck out five.

A fifth-inning error by Mauricio Dubon on a potential double-play ball right after a leadoff walk to Aaron Judge spelled the end of Brown's night, and both baserunners eventually came around to score after he'd left the mound. The right-hander didn't necessarily deserve a better outcome, though -- he tossed only 54 of 94 pitches for strikes, and the four free passes were the most he'd issued since he walked five Giants on May 2. Brown has been tagged for at least five runs in three of his last five starts, and fatigue could be a factor for him down the stretch as his 137 innings on the season are already a career high. Unless Houston decides to give the 25-year-old some extra rest between starts, his next outing lines up for a home series next weekend against the Padres.

Allen did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four runs on seven hits over five innings against the Rays. He struck out five.

It wasn't the start that Allen hoped for as the right-hander surrendered a leadoff home run to Yandy Diaz in the opening at-bat. He appeared to settle in after that, retiring nine of the next 10 batters he faced before giving up a three-run shot to Christian Bethancourt in the fifth. Allen had not allowed more than one home run in any of his previous five starts, and he's now surrendered at least four runs in two straight. On a positive note, he did not issue a walk Saturday for the first time in his last seven outings.

Brito (6-6) picked up the win Saturday in a 5-4 victory over the Astros, scattering two hits over 3.2 scoreless relief innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

Luis Severino got the hook after four innings, and Brito's sharp relief outing allowed him to get credited with his second straight win. With Michael King still getting stretched out and Severino struggling, there's been plenty of long-relief work for Brito since he rejoined the big-league staff in August, and aside from a rough appearance against the Red Sox on Aug. 18 he's been mostly successful with the assignment, allowing one run or fewer in four of his five trips to the mound and compiling a 4.32 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB through 16.2 innings.