MLB Player News

Gray (6-4) earned the win over Oakland on Wednesday, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out nine batters over seven scoreless innings.

Gray was dominant in what was arguably his best outing of the season, striking out five of the first six batters he faced and allowing only one baserunner -- via an infield single -- across seven frames. The right-hander racked up 16 swinging strikes and finished with his sixth quality start of the campaign. Gray has been a solid addition to Texas' staff this season, ranking second on the team with six wins while posting a 3.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 10.0 K/9 over 89.2 innings.

Javier (6-5) allowed three runs on five hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts in 3.2 innings, taking the loss Wednesday versus the Angels.

Javier recorded 10 of his 11 outs via strikeout, but the Angels made the most of his mistakes. Shohei Ohtani delivered the biggest hit off Javier, a two-run triple in the second inning that proved too much for the Astros to overcome. This was a second straight shaky start from the 25-year-old right-hander. He now owns a 3.22 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 112:30 K:BB across 78.1 innings in 17 appearances (13 starts). Javier's spot in the Astros' six-man rotation is probably safe at least until Lance McCullers (forearm) is cleared to return.

McClanahan (10-3) earned the win over Boston on Wednesday, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out six.

McClanahan was quite efficient in the outing, throwing 57 of 85 pitches for strikes. His only troublesome inning was the fifth, when he allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base via singles. The Red Sox got only one run out of the frame, however, and they couldn't manage anything else against McClanahan and three Rays relievers. The southpaw lowered his season ERA to 1.71 with the dominant performance, and that mark now ranks first in the majors following a rare poor outing by previous leader Tony Gonsolin on the same night. McClanahan also leads the league with a 0.80 WHIP and 147 strikeouts, and he is one of only five pitchers to have reached 10 victories thus far.

McCullers (forearm) threw a two-inning sim game Tuesday in Anaheim, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers threw 37 pitches, and he is scheduled to throw another two-frame outing Saturday. The team will re-evaluate the next step in his recovery after his latter throwing session. Though it's unclear exactly when it may begin, McCullers appears to be closing in on a rehab assignment.

Sears was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following Wednesday's extra-inning win over the Reds.

The left-hander was called up by the Yankees in early July and covered 3.2 frames in long relief Wednesday after starter Luis Severino was removed with a shoulder injury. Sears had given up only one run across 15.1 innings entering the contest, but Cincinnati scored two runs against him. The 26-year-old could be an option to step into the rotation should Severino be forced to miss any time.

Ryan allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out three across 5.1 innings Wednesday against the Brewers. He did not factor into the decision.

Ryan surrendered a solo home run to Jace Peterson to account for his only earned run. He was otherwise effective, though he wasn't particularly elusive -- he induced eight swinging strikes on 78 total pitches -- and also walked more than two batters for the first time in his last seven starts. For the season, Ryan owns a 2.99 ERA and 66:22 K:BB across 75.1 frames.

Wacha (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Wacha landed on the 15-day injured list last week with shoulder inflammation, so his quick return to mound work is an encouraging sign. The veteran right-hander will be eligible to be reinstated shortly after the All-Star break, and it's possible he's able to do so without the need for a minor-league rehab assignment.

Hill (knee) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The veteran left-hander returned to throwing off flat ground last week after a brief shutdown due to the knee sprain, and he'll progress to mound work Thursday. Hill landed on the shelf July 2 with the injury, and it's unclear if he'll require a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the Red Sox's rotation after the All-Star break.

Skubal (6-8) allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits across six innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Royals. He had no walks and struck out five.

Skubal allowed two runs across six innings in his last start five days ago, but Wednesday's outing was more in line with other recent results. The lefty has now allowed four earned runs or more in his five of his last eight starts. During that stretch, Skubal has seen his ERA climb from 2.15 to 4.11. His early-season success seems to be a distant memory, but he'll look to revert back to that form in his next scheduled appearance July 21 against the Athletics following the All-Star break.

Stripling (5-3) earned the win Wednesday after he tossed seven innings, surrendering two runs (zero earned) on two hits while striking out six against the Phillies.

Stripling pitched six scoreless innings before giving up a two run homer to Bryson Stott in the top of the seventh inning. Both runs were unearned though because Rhys Hoskins reached on a throwing error to open the frame. It was the first time in six starts that he did not walk a batter and he now has three quality starts this season. Since joining the starting rotation June 6, the right-hander has produced a 2.13 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 32 strikeouts over 42.1 innings in eight starts.