MLB Player News

Castillo (5-4) picked up the win Wednesday, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over 6.2 innings in a 7-3 victory over the Yankees. He struck out eight.

Making his Seattle debut, Castillo held New York mostly in check until fading late and serving up a two-run shot to Kyle Higashioka in the seventh inning. The right-hander fired 66 of 109 pitches for strikes while delivering his sixth straight quality start and ninth in 10 outings since the beginning of June, and Castillo boasts a 2.77 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 70:23 K:BB through 65 innings over that stretch.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Rays, giving up two runs on three hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out five.

The southpaw put together a solid line but got the hook after 74 pitches (44 strikes), as Toronto interim manager John Schneider didn't want him to face the Tampa Bay batting order for a third time. Kikuchi has been solid in two starts since returning from the IL, allowing three runs in nine innings with a 10:2 K:BB, but his 4.86 ERA on the season remains lackluster.

Bello was removed from Wednesday's game against the Astros due to a left groin strain, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The Red Sox hoped that Bello would be able to eat up some innings behind starter Rich Hill during Wednesday's matchup to give the rest of the bullpen some rest, but Bello exited after throwing just two-thirds of an inning. It's not yet clear whether the right-hander will require a trip to the injured list following his diagnosis.

Bello was removed from his relief appearance in Wednesday's game against the Astros due to an apparent injury, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. He struck out two of the four hitters he faced and allowed a double and a base hit.

Bello was originally scheduled to start Wednesday, but the Red Sox later scrapped those plans and had Rich Hill open the contest after he ultimately stayed with Boston following Tuesday's trade deadline. Hill was still on a restricted pitch count in his first start back from the injured list and tossed only three innings before exiting, as the Red Sox were counting on Bello to piggyback him. Instead, Bello's day ended after just 19 pitches, which will force the Red Sox to use their other relievers more than anticipated. The team should provide an updated diagnosis for Bello's injury later in the day.

Mahle will throw a bullpen session at Target Field on Wednesday and is lined up to make his Twins debut Friday against the Blue Jays in Minnesota, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Before he was acquired from the Reds on Tuesday for a trio of prospects, Mahle's final start with the Reds came last Saturday, so the right-hander will be taking the hill on five days' rest in his Minnesota debut. Though Mahle collected only five wins and turned in solid-if-unspectacular ratios over his 19 starts with the Reds (4.40 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 17 K-BB%), his fantasy outlook should improve with the trade to Minnesota. Not only will he be leaving one of the National League's bottom feeders for the current American League Central leaders, but he'll also be moving on from one of MLB's most punitive parks for hurlers (Great American Ball Park) for a more pitcher-friendly venue in Target Field.

Paxton (elbow) threw two innings during a simulated game Wednesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Paxton has been throwing bullpens over the last few weeks, and Wednesday's throwing session marked the first time that he's faced hitters this year. The southpaw hopes that he'll be able to rejoin the Red Sox sometime in mid-August, but he'll likely require several rehab appearances before he's cleared to return.

Rodriguez (lat) has begun throwing on flat ground from 120 feet, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Rodriguez has been shut down since early June with a Grade 2 lat strain, but the Orioles remain optimistic he can return to action before the end of the season. That said, he still has numerous hurdles to overcome in his recovery, and it's unlikely he's back before September.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Montas (personal) will be activated from the bereavement list to start Sunday's game in St. Louis, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Shortly after being acquired from the Athletics, Montas learned of a death in his family, so he'll take a few days off before meeting up with the Yankees in St. Louis. Though he turned in a 3.18 ERA and 1.14 WHIP over his 19 starts with Oakland this season, Montas was saddled with a 4-9 record, but wins should be easier to come by in the final two months of the season while he's supported by one of the majors' top offenses.

The Rangers will call up Ragans from Triple-A Round Rock to start Thursday's game against the White Sox in Texas, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Ragans, 24, was a first-round pick in 2016 and was sidelined from 2018-2020 due to Tommy John surgery and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he rebounded last season and has been arguably the best pitching prospect in the system in 2022. Ragans, whose plus changeup is his signature pitch, has a 3.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 113:31 K:BB in 94.2 innings split evenly across Double-A Frisco and Triple-A. If he pitches well Thursday, there's no reason he can't stick in the rotation for the rest of the campaign.

The Tigers placed Skubal on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left arm fatigue.

According to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, inflammation was detected in Skubal's forearm after he exited Monday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Twins, but the Tigers characterized his injury differently upon deactivating him. Assuming Skubal is in fact dealing with fatigue rather than any sort of forearm strain or structural damage, he should have a shot at returning from the IL when first eligible Aug. 17. Detroit will first have to replace Skubal's rotation spot Friday against the Rays, with the team likely to either treat the contest as a bullpen day or to call up a spot starter from the minors.