MLB Player News

Manager Rocco Baldelli said Saturday that Keuchel isn't in line to make another start and has been moved to the bullpen, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Keuchel made his sixth start of the season Wednesday, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks over four innings in a no-decision against the Rays. With the veteran southpaw now sporting a 5.34 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 30.1 innings with the big club this season, he'll cede his spot in the rotation to Bailey Ober, who will stick around in a starting role after limiting the White Sox to two runs over five innings Friday against the White Sox after being recalled from Triple-A St. Paul. Keuchel could be available to make his first appearance out of the bullpen as soon as Sunday.

Eflin (15-8) allowed one earned run on one hit and no walks while striking out eight across seven innings to earn the win Friday against the Orioles.

In a pivotal series for the Rays, Eflin stepped up to deliver an excellent performance, marking the third time in his last 12 starts that he's managed to work at least seven innings. In that same span, he's allowed one run or zero on six occasions, a stretch that has helped him lock in a career-best year by nearly every statistical measure.

Flaherty (8-9) allowed three earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six across four innings to take the loss Friday against the Rays.

Flaherty had an uneven performance, with the positive being that he racked up 15 swinging strikes on only 79 pitchers. On the other hand, he allowed a lot of hard contact, including two doubles and a solo home run. Overall, Flaherty has now failed to work at least five innings in four of his last five turns through the rotation, during which he has a 9.15 ERA and 1.89 WHIP to go along with a 22:8 K:BB across 20.2 frames.

Cole allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Friday.

Cole's highly anticipated first start in Pittsburgh (the team that drafted him) since 2017 ended up being a bit of a dud, as the Cy Young contender failed to complete six frames for the first time in five starts and struggled at times with his control, tying a season high with three walks. The Yankees ace nonetheless gave up just two earned runs, and he's held opponents to that amount or fewer in 10 of his 12 starts since the All-Star break. While this certainly won't rank as one of Cole's best performances this season, he probably didn't do anything to hurt his Cy Young case, and his overall numbers -- including a 2.81 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 208:48 K:BB over 192 innings -- remain excellent.

Diaz allowed seven runs on seven hits and two walks over one-third of an inning in relief during Friday's loss to Detroit.

When Diaz entered the game for the Angels in the eighth inning, the game was still relatively close, with the Tigers leading 4-1. However, the lefty reliever couldn't keep it that way -- he allowed nine of the 10 batters he faced to reach base, with his only out coming on a sacrifice fly. Diaz had been unscored upon over 4.2 major-league innings coming into Friday, but his ERA now sits at 12.60.

Greinke did not factor into the decision Friday as the Royals downed the Astros 4-2, giving up three hits and a walk over two scoreless innings. He struck out one.

The 39-year-old got the start but was limited to 48 pitches (28 strikes) before being lifted in favor of Angel Zerpa, who wound up getting the win. It was Greinke's shortest appearance of the season by innings, although he did toss 44 pitches in a much more efficient five-inning outing May 3 against the Orioles -- his last, and only, win of the season. He hasn't completed five frames in any of his last six games, posting a 5.73 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 22 innings over that stretch.

Javier (9-4) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over five innings as the Astros fell 4-2 to the Royals. He struck out six.

Single runs by Kansas City in the third, fourth and fifth innings -- the latter two on solo shots by Nelson Velazquez and Bobby Witt -- proved to be too much for the Houston offense to overcome, and Javier got the hook after 81 pitches (52 strikes). The right-hander has served up at least one homer in nine straight outings, a stretch in which he has a rough 5.68 ERA and 1.47 WHIP despite a 44:22 K:BB through 44.1 innings. Javier will try to get back on track in his next start, likely to come at home next week against the Orioles.

Heaney allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three over two relief innings in Friday's 12-3 loss to Cleveland.

Heaney looked likely to rejoin the starting rotation this weekend with Max Scherzer (shoulder) on the shelf, but he ended up being summoned in long relief Friday after starter Jon Gray lasted just 3.2 innings. The veteran lefty made his second long-relief appearance in as many outings, both after short outings by Gray. Since he tossed 55 pitches Friday, Heaney is removed from consideration to start Sunday in what would have been Max Scherzer's turn in the rotation. The Rangers will need a fifth member of the rotation at least two more times beyond Sunday during the regular season, so Heaney could be used as a traditional starter over the coming two weeks.

Ober (7-6) picked up the win Friday, giving up two runs on five hits over five innings in a 10-2 victory over the White Sox. He struck out six without walking a batter.

Ober tossed 60 of 93 pitches for strikes as he made his first start in the big leagues since Aug. 27 and recorded his first MLB win since July 18, blanking Chicago for four frames until Elvis Andrus tagged him for a two-run homer in the fifth. Ober may have only been making a spot start, but with Dallas Keuchel stumbling to an 8.03 ERA through his first three outings in September, the Twins may elect to keep the right-hander in the rotation for the last couple weeks of the regular season instead.

Canning (7-7) yielded four runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out seven and taking a loss against Detroit.

Canning allowed a run in each of the first two innings and later coughed up solo shots to Javier Baez and Jake Rogers. Over his last three starts, Canning has posted a solid 17:3 K:BB but has gone 0-3 while allowing nine runs. He hasn't picked up a win since snagging one in relief Aug. 19, and his last win in a start was June 24. Canning is currently projected to start in Minnesota next week.