MLB Player News

Gray (7-1) earned the win against the Yankees on Friday, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three across 6.1 innings.

Friday's outing was far from Gray's best outing of the season, with his eight hits being his most allowed in a game since April 14 against the Twins (nine). He gave up a solo home run to Ben Rice in the first inning before yielding another solo shot in the fifth to Trent Grisham, but Gray managed to limit the damage to three runs and came away with his sixth quality start of the season (and fourth over his last five starts) while tossing only 79 pitches. The veteran right-hander sits at a 3.20 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 44:16 K:BB across 56.1 innings this season, and his seven wins are tied for third-most in the American League behind Gavin Williams (nine) and Davis Martin (eight). Gray's next start is slated for next week on the road against the Rays.

The Angels selected Natera's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.

Natera has pitched well out of the bullpen in Triple-A, where he has a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB across 30 innings. He'll now get a shot with the Angels, and Natera's first call to the mound will officially be his major-league debut. The move corresponds with the Angels designating right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment.

Kremer (quadriceps) threw a live bullpen session earlier in the week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz noted Friday that Kremer has been progressing well in his recovery from a right quadriceps strain that landed the right-hander on the 15-day injured list in late April. He was transferred to the 60-day IL last Friday, and depending on when he embarks on a rehab assignment, Kremer could be back with the big club in mid-to-late June. Prior to his injury, Kremer had a 4.09 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 11 innings.

Bassitt (back) is travelling to rejoin the Orioles in Toronto on Friday and could make his next start Monday against the Mariners, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bassitt was pulled from his last start Thursday against the Red Sox due to lower-back tightness. He was initially held back in Baltimore to have his injury examined, but it looks like the veteran right-hander will not miss a start in the rotation, barring any setbacks. Over his last five starts, Bassitt has a 4.44 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 17:5 K:BB across 24.1 innings.

Astros manager Joe Espada told reporters Friday that the team is weighing its options on whether Brown (shoulder) will need one more rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown made his third rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land, when he tossed 57 pitches (38 strikes) and allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four across 4.1 innings. Espada relayed that he felt good about Brown's latest rehab outing, and a decision about whether the 27-year-old right-hander will make his next start in the majors should be made within the next couple of days. Brown is nearly fully recovered from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain that was severe enough for him to be placed on the IL in early April.

Manager John Schneider said Friday that Cease (hamstring) is "very likely" to rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation next week, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Cease threw 75 pitches across four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday and came out of it feeling good. He appears likely to make the start for Toronto on Tuesday at home against the Phillies. The right-hander last pitched for the Blue Jays on May 24 and owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB across 62 innings this season.

The Red Sox optioned Bello to Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

The move opens up a spot on the 26-man roster for trade pickup Joe La Sorsa, who was acquired from the Pirates earlier in the week. Bello has been hammered for a 6.34 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and an American League-high 43 earned runs across 61 innings this season. He'll try to figure things out in the minors.

The Blue Jays optioned Dallas to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

With Toronto's acquisition of Simeon Woods Richardson from the Twins earlier this week, Dallas loses his spot on the 26-man roster after he picked up the win in relief during his major-league debut Thursday against Atlanta. Dallas yielded just one run on two hits and two walks with two strikeouts across 3.2 innings. He's operated mainly as a starter with Buffalo this season.

Skubal (elbow) will make a rehab start with High-A West Michigan on Sunday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

It will be Skubal's first rehab start since undergoing surgery to have bone chips removed from his left elbow in early May. He's been throwing bullpens and simulated games with the Tigers in recent weeks, but the lefty will now head out on a rehab assignment to get some game action. As long as all goes smoothly, Skubal looks poised to rejoin the Tigers' rotation perhaps as early as next week.

Lugo did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Twins, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings.

Lugo got off to a rough start when Byron Buxton led off the game with a home run, and the veteran right-hander never fully settled in. He allowed a run in each of his five innings of work, including three total home runs. The outing snapped what had been a strong stretch for Lugo, who entered Thursday having allowed just six runs combined across his previous three starts. He now owns a 3.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 64:24 K:BB across 76 innings this season. Lugo is scheduled to face Texas at home in his next start.