MLB Player News

Ragans (shoulder) completed a 40-pitch up-and-down bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

For the past few weeks, Ragans has thrown multiple bullpen sessions as he begins to build back up again following a prolonged shutdown due to a left rotator cuff strain. Assuming all went well during Saturday's session, Ragans will take the next step forward in his rehab by facing live hitters during the upcoming week. The southpaw could then head out on a rehab assignment, which could set him up for a return from the 60-day injured list around the middle of September. Ragans appears as though he'll get the chance to rejoin the Royals in a starting role, but since he may not have sufficient time to get fully stretched out in the minors, he could be operating with more limited pitch counts than usual once he gets activated.

Cameron isn't listed among the Royals' starting pitchers for the team's three-game series versus the Angels that begins Tuesday, Jackson Stone of MLB.com reports.

Citing fatigue, Cameron had his latest turn through the rotation skipped this past weekend against the Tigers, prompting the team to call up Stephen Kolek from Triple-A Omaha to make a spot start. Kolek has since been returned to Omaha, but the Royals look as though they'll push Cameron to the back of their pitching schedule because he's already logged 140.2 innings between the majors and minors this season, well ahead of the career-high 122.2 innings he covered in 2024. Cameron now tentatively lines up to make his next start during the Royals' weekend series versus the Twins in Kansas City.

Means (elbow) allowed one unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.

Making his fourth rehab start and second in a row with Columbus, Means tossed 58 pitches (37 strikes). The left-hander is on track to return from the 60-day injured list at some point in September, though Means will likely need one or two more outings in the minors to build up his pitch count before the Guardians consider him for a spot in the rotation. Per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Cleveland 's brass has discussed moving to a six-man rotation in September, as the team facing a taxing schedule that includes a stretch of 17 games in 17 days.

Ginn (2-6) took the loss Sunday against Texas, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over six innings.

Ginn surrendered a pair of home runs during the start, yielding a two-run home run in the first inning to Joc Pederson and a solo shot to Josh Jung in the second. Ginn has now allowed seven home runs in his last six starts. He's 0-5 with a 7.52 ERA and a 33:12 K:BB across 26.1 innings during that stretch. He's on track to face the Angels his next time out.

DeGrom (11-6) picked up the win Sunday against the Athletics, allowing two hits and one walk with six strikeouts over five scoreless innings.

DeGrom had taken a loss in each of his last four decisions, a five-start stretch in which he posted a 5.00 ERA and a 33:7 K:BB across 27 innings. He got back on track in a major way Sunday, hurling his second scoreless outing in his last 10 starts. On the year, deGrom has a 2.69 ERA and a 161:33 K:BB across 150.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Astros his next time out.

Brown (10-7) took the loss Sunday against the Angels, allowing one run on three hits and three walks across six innings. He struck out five.

Brown notched a fourth straight quality start -- a streak that includes a six-run (two earned) outing against the Rockies in Houston -- but the Astros offense failed to scrape across a run, leaving him with the loss. Brown has been excellent lately, boasting a 1.71 ERA and a 38:13 K:BB in 42.2 innings across his last seven starts. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Rangers in his next start.

Soriano (10-9) picked up the win Sunday against Houston, allowing one hit and three walks across seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

Soriano delivered his third scoreless start of his last four outings, shutting down the Astros and notching his most strikeouts in his last 12 appearances. A five-run start against the Athletics on Aug. 17 spoiled Soriano's stats over that four-start stretch. Soriano had five scoreless outings in 24 starts before his recent streak. Through 161.1 innings, Soriano has a 3.68 ERA and a 144:68 K:BB. He's tentatively scheduled to make his next start at home against the A's.

McCullers struck out three and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks across two innings of relief in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Angels.

Working out of the bullpen for the first time in the majors since 2018, McCullers kept the Angels off the board in the seventh inning, but he allowed five of the first six runners he faced in the eighth to reach base, with two coming around to score. Finding more success in his future relief appearances in September likely represents McCullers' clearest path to earning a spot on the Astros' postseason roster, as he doesn't appear likely to get another look in the rotation anytime soon unless the team loses another starter to an injury. Houston appears set to maintain a six-man rotation during the final month of the season, but McCullers will give up his spot to Luis Garcia (elbow), who will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's series finale. Before shifting to the bullpen this weekend, McCullers struggled mightily over his 12 starts with the Astros, logging a 6.89 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 54:34 K:BB in 48.1 innings.

Harrison was scratched ahead of his scheduled start with Triple-A Worcester and could be called up to start or pitch in bulk relief Wednesday against the Guardians in Boston, Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com reports.

Harrison had been a candidate to join the big-league rotation this past week when the Red Sox moved Walker Buehler to the bullpen and later released him, but the southpaw was bypassed for a promotion in favor of fellow Triple-A starter Payton Tolle. Though Tolle impressed in his MLB debut while striking out eight batters and allowing two earned runs over 5.1 innings in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates, the Red Sox appear committed to keeping the 22-year-old on at least a five-day rest schedule between outings. As a result, Tolle doesn't appear to be in line to start Wednesday's series finale versus the Guardians, opening the door for Harrison or another pitcher to temporarily step into the rotation. The Red Sox could also opt to treat Wednesday's game as a bullpen day in lieu of calling up Harrison, who has submitted a 3.65 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 49.1 innings with Worcester this season.

Skubal (12-4) pitched seven scoreless innings with four strikeouts to collect the win Sunday at Kansas City. He allowed four hits and two walks.

The Detroit ace didn't have his sharpest stuff in this 93-pitch outing, generating only eight whiffs, as he tallied four or fewer punchouts for just the fourth time this season. The Royals lineup never sniffed a run against Skubal, who has now posted a quality start in four consecutive appearances. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has continued his run as one of the game's best pitchers, firing a 2.18 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 216:27 K:BB across 173 total innings. Skubal currently lines up to make his next start at home against the White Sox next weekend.