MLB Player News

Scherzer (forearm) gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over 3.2 innings for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. He struck out five.

While the results weren't great, the 41-year-old right-hander topped out at 95.7 mph with his fastball while throwing 73 pitches (44 strikes), per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Scherzer has dealt with a litany of healthy issues in the early part of the season, including right forearm tightness, but he's closing in on returning to the Blue Jays' rotation for the first time April 24. It's not yet clear whether the organization will activate him from the IL next week for a home series against the Phillies, or have Scherzer make one more rehab start.

Kay didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks over four-plus innings. He struck out four.

The left-hander was taken off the hook for a loss when the White Sox tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning, but Kay still stumbled to one of his worst starts of the season, with homers by Brandon Marsh in the second inning and Adolis Garcia in the fourth accounting for a big part of the damage off him. Kay will take a 4.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 46:26 K:BB through 61.1 innings into his next outing, which is set to come at home against Atlanta.

Burke is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Brandon Eisert during Saturday's game in Philadelphia, Brooke Fletcher of Chicago Sports Network reports.

The top half of the Philadelphia lineup often features three tough left-handed hitters in Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh, so the White Sox will have the left-handed Eisert open the contest in an effort to avoid an early deficit. Once Eisert works the first inning or two, Burke should take over in relief and handle something close to the workload he would typically handle as a starter. The right-hander has been solid out of the front end of the Chicago rotation this season, delivering a 3.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB in 65.1 innings across 12 appearances (10 starts).

Valdez (3-4) picked up the win in Friday's 7-3 victory over the Mariners, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The southpaw wasn't particularly efficient, needing 102 pitches (61 strikes) to record 15 outs, but Valdez didn't give up any extra-base hits and shut the door on Seattle after the visitors scratched out a first-inning run. It was Valdez's first win since April 19, and over eight starts since that date he's managed a 4.85 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 39:18 K:BB in 42.2 innings. He'll look to build on Friday's performance in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Twins.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay confirmed that Morris will start Saturday's game in Houston, Chris Correa of the Turlock Journal reports.

The Athletics called up Morris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, and after he wasn't needed in relief in any of the ensuing four games, he'll make his MLB debut Saturday as the club's new fifth starter. Prior to receiving his promotion, Morris compiled a 4.45 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 49:26 K:BB over 60.2 innings with Las Vegas in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. Since neither Luis Severino (shoulder) nor Aaron Civale (shoulder) appear especially close to returning from the injured list, Morris has a path to making multiple turns through the big-league rotation. If Morris performs poorly in Saturday's contest, however, the Athletics could swap him out of the rotation for Mason Barnett, who is stretched out enough to handle a starting role after tossing four shutout innings in long relief during Friday's 5-1 loss to the Astros.

Rocker didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Guardians. He allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five across five innings.

Rocker gave up a solo homer to Travis Bazzana in the top of the first inning and an RBI single to Austin Hedges in the fourth, but that would be all the damage he allowed. The 26-year-old right-hander has given up two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts, going 1-1 with a 1.88 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 28.2 innings in that stretch. He'll aim to continue that strong run in his next start, scheduled to come on the road against the Royals. Rocker recently faced Kansas City, tossing six scoreless innings at home May 30.

Woo (5-4) took the loss Friday, coughing up five runs on nine hits over 6.1 innings as the Mariners fell 7-3 to the Tigers. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

Only one of the hits off Woo went for extra bases, but it was a two-run homer by Kerry Carpenter in the third inning that put Detroit in the lead for good. It's the third time in seven starts since the beginning of May that the right-hander has been tagged for at least four runs, and over that stretch he sports a 3.64 ERA in 42 innings despite a 0.95 WHIP, 48:8 K:BB and just three home runs allowed. Woo will look to bounce back in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Baltimore.

Messick (6-2) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Rangers after allowing three runs on five hits, including two home runs, and a walk across 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

Messick was tagged with the loss for just the second time this season -- and the first since May 3 -- but still posted a decent line while ending up one out shy of what would've been a quality start. Messick also extended his streak of games with three or fewer earned runs allowed to six, posting a 2.41 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with a 9.1 K/9 across 33.2 frames during that span. The left-hander will aim to get back in the win column in his next start, scheduled for at home against the Yankees.

Lambert (5-4) earned the win Friday over the Athletics after tossing 5.1 innings of one-run ball. He allowed five hits and four walks while fanning four.

Lambert might have issued four walks while tossing just 57 of his 94 pitches for strikes, but he ended a three-game run in which he'd either thrown a wild pitch or hit a batter. The final line was respectable for Lambert, as he ended just two outs shy of a quality start while allowing one earned run or zero for the third time this season, though the command issues are still present. Over his last six starts since the beginning of May, Lambert has a 28:18 K:BB across 35.1 innings while sporting a 3.57 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. His next start should come on the road against the Angels.

Castillo is slated to start Sunday's game against the Tigers, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Castillo and Bryce Miller worked in tandem in each of the previous three turns through the rotation, but both pitchers will receive standalone starts during the final two games of the series in Detroit. Though he currently maintains an ugly 5.53 ERA and 1.45 WHIP on the season, Castillo took some steps forward over his last two outings, covering nine innings between a start and relief appearance behind Miller while striking out nine batters and yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks. Mariners manager Dan Wilson hasn't outlined his plans for the rotation beyond this weekend, so Castillo could need another positive showing in Detroit to avoid falling back into a piggyback arrangement with Miller or shifting into a full-time bullpen role.