MLB Player News
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Jose Soriano RP | LAA
Angels' Jose Soriano: Comes undone in fourth inning
Soriano (6-7) allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out three over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Diamondbacks.
Soriano got through three innings with little trouble, but Arizona put together a four-run rally in the fourth, aided by an error. Over his last nine starts, Soriano has been operating on extremes -- he's given up five-plus runs four times, but his other five starts in that span have seen him surrender one run or fewer. That inconsistency is frustrating for fantasy managers, but the right-hander has been one of the Angels' more effective starters in the first half, posting a 3.90 ERA despite a 1.45 WHIP and 98:55 K:BB through 113 innings over 20 starts.
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Cade Povich SP | BAL
Orioles' Cade Povich: Sharp in rehab outing
Povich (hip) struck out three over three perfect innings in a rehab start for High-A Aberdeen on Sunday.
Povich needed just 30 pitches to retire all nine hitters that he faced. The 25-year-old left-hander suffered a setback in his recovery from hip inflammation during his June 26 rehab appearance with Triple-A Norfolk, but he's back on track for a return from the injured list sometime shortly after the All-Star break. With southpaw Trevor Rogers working to a 1.53 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB through six major-league starts this season and with Charlie Morton pitching better of late after a rough start to the campaign, the Orioles may not have a rotation spot available for the young southpaw once he's activated.
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Zach Eflin SP | BAL
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Throws 58 pitches in rehab start
Eflin (back) struck out two and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk over four innings in his rehab start with Double-A Chesapeake on Sunday.
Eflin tossed 58 pitches (38 strikes) in what may have been the only rehab outing he'll require before returning from the 15-day injured list. According to MLB.com, Eflin is scheduled to continue his throwing progression at the Orioles' spring facility in Florida on Friday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to re-enter the rotation for the team's second series following the All-Star break. Brandon Young appears to be the most likely candidate to lose his rotation spot once Eflin is activated.
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J.P. France SP | HOU
Astros' J.P. France: Faces hitters
France (shoulder) tossed a live batting practice session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
France has been facing live hitters for nearly a month, but the Astros haven't yet provided an update on when he might be ready to embark on what will likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. The right-hander has been out all season while recovering from last July's surgery to repair a torn shoulder capsule.
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Spencer Arrighetti P | HOU
Astros' Spencer Arrighetti: Closing in on rehab assignment
Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Arrighetti (thumb) could be ready to begin a rehab assignment in about a week or a week and a half, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Brown noted that Arrighetti has resumed throwing live batting practice sessions at the Astros' spring training facility in Florida, and the 25-year-old righty sounds like he'll get the green light to start up a rehab assignment shortly after the All-Star break. Arrighetti made just two starts to begin the season before being placed on the injured list April 8 due to a fractured right thumb, so he'll likely require multiple outings in the minors to build up his pitch count before he's cleared to rejoin the big-league rotation. Arrighetti could be back with the Astros at some point in early or mid-August.
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Max Fried SP | NYY
Yankees' Max Fried: Blister improving
Fried (finger) said Sunday that he's uncertain if he'll be ready to make his first start following the All-Star break next weekend in Atlanta, but he noted that he's improving as he recovers from a blister, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Fried was pulled from his most recent start in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Cubs ahead of the fourth inning due to a blister on his left index finger. The left-hander said Sunday that he's moving in the "right direction" and "getting better," but the Yankees might not have a better idea regarding his status for next weekend until he throws a bullpen session in the next few days. The three-time All-Star has enjoyed an impressive first season in New York, posting an 11-3 record, 2.43 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 113 strikeouts over 122 innings in 20 starts.
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Jacob Lopez RP | ATH
Athletics' Jacob Lopez: Scoops up third win
Lopez (3-5) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
The left-hander continues to give up some hard contact -- all four hits off Lopez went for extra bases, including a solo shot by Leo Jimenez in the second inning -- but he was able to minimize the damage. Lopez has been on a roll over the last month-plus, posting a 2.52 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 43:11 K:BB in his last seven outings and 35.2 innings, and his spot in the rotation should be secure coming out of the All-Star break.
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Kevin Gausman SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman: Stuck with loss Saturday
Gausman (6-7) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over five innings as the Blue Jays were downed 4-3 by the A's. He struck out two.
With the game tied 2-2 in the fifth inning, Gausman left a splitter up in the zone for Brent Rooker, and the A's slugger drove it over the left-field fence for a game-winning two-run homer. Gausman has struggled to find some consistency since the beginning of June, posting a 4.95 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 43:22 K:BB through 43.2 innings over his last eight starts, so the All-Star break comes at a good time for the veteran right-hander.
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Yusei Kikuchi SP | LAA
Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Pulled after comebacker
Kikuchi (4-6) picked up the win in Saturday's 10-5 victory over the Diamondbacks, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.
The southpaw served up a pair of solo shots to Eugenio Suarez but otherwise was in control until the sixth inning, when a 105 mph Josh Naylor comebacker with two outs struck him on the left shoulder. He stayed in the game for one more batter, but after a Randal Grichuk RBI single made it a 6-3 game, interim manager Ray Montgomery elected to lift the Angels' lone All-Star representative as a precaution, leaving him one out shy of his ninth quality start. There's been no word yet that he sustained any kind of lingering injury, and Kikuchi heads into the break with a 3.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 115:49 K:BB through 113 innings.
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Tanner Houck SP | BOS
Red Sox's Tanner Houck: Due back from IL this week
Houck is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list this week with his 30-day rehab window coming to a close Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.
Houck's rehab stint got off to a rocky start, but he's performed better over his last two outings with Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, allowing just one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out 10 over 9.1 innings. Despite his recent success, the right-hander is not expected to be inserted into Boston's starting rotation, with Richard Fitts getting the first chance to fill the vacancy created by Hunter Dobbins' season-ending knee injury. Houck still has two minor-league options left and could stick around with Worcester while continuing on a starter's trajectory until a rotation spot with the big club opens up. Boston also hasn't ruled out bringing him back as a member of the big-league bullpen.