MLB Player News

Wacha didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-1 extra-inning loss to the Yankees, allowing one unearned run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out nine.

As is the Tampa Bay way, Wacha wasn't allowed to go too deep into the game despite his impressive performance as he got the hook after 79 pitches (54 strikes). The nine whiffs tied his season high, and he didn't serve up a homer for the first time since June 24 after getting taken deep eight times in his last four appearances. On the season, Wacha sports a 4.79 ERA and 66:19 K:BB through 71.1 innings.

Cortes didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-1 extra-inning win over the Rays, allowing one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

While he was originally expected to have a cap of about 60 pitches in his return from the COVID-19 list, Cortes instead tossed 79 (52 strikes) and pitched well enough to earn a win. The Cuban lefty could find himself moving back to the bullpen once Luis Severino (elbow) completes his recovery even if the Yankees don't add another starting pitcher before the trade deadline, but Cortes has been outstanding in any role this season, posting a 1.93 ERA and 39:10 K:BB through 32.2 innings.

Lyles allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in seven innings Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. He did not factor in the decision.

Lyles earned his fifth quality start in his last seven outings, limiting the Diamondbacks to a David Peralta home run in the second inning and an Andrew Young sacrifice fly in the seventh before turning 2-2 game over to the bullpen. It was a steady effort by Lyles, who had been knocked around for 10 earned runs and seven homers over his previous two starts. The 30-year-old righty is 5-7 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 114.1 innings on the season.

Matz (8-6) allowed four runs on nine hits and one walk in 3.1 innings Wednesday in a loss to Boston. He had two strikeouts.

Matz didn't have any answers for the Red Sox, with the big blow coming on Jarren Duran's two-run triple in the fourth inning. The 30-year-old southpaw has dropped three of four decisions in July, with all those stumbles unfolding on the road. Matz has shown periodic flashes of effectiveness in his first year as a Blue Jay, but he now owns a bloated 1.38 WHIP in 18 starts and his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy if Toronto adds any starting pitching prior to Friday's trade deadline.

Houck allowed one run on two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts across four innings in Wednesday's no-decision against the Blue Jays.

Houck wasn't able to provide the Red Sox with much length due to his relatively high pitch count, but he limited Toronto's potent lineup to a Bo Bichette RBI single in the fourth inning. The 25-year-old Houck boasts an 18:4 K:BB over 11.2 innings in three July starts and is making a push to remain in Boston's rotation going forward. He boasts a 2.45 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 22 major-league innings overall this season.

Severino (elbow) will throw a simulated game Thursday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Severino was initially slated to resume his rehab assignment Thursday, but the game was up in the air due to a rainy forecast. The simulated game should allow the right-hander to pitch in a more controlled setting, and it will mark his fourth live session since mid-June. Assuming all goes well Thursday, Severino's next appearance could be in a rehab game.

Cortes said he expects to be capped around 60 pitches in his start Wednesday against the Rays, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Since being reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday, Cortes has been available out of the bullpen only in an emergency, as New York has been preparing for him to step into the rotation as its new fifth starter in place of Asher Wojciechowski, who was designated for assignment last week and later released. Because of the time he missed coming out of the All-Star break due to his positive COVID-19 test, Cortes isn't fully stretched out for a traditional start, so the Yankees will act conservatively with his workload Wednesday. How Cortes fares against the Rays along with what additions the Yankees make prior to Friday's trade deadline will likely determine whether the lefty picks up additional starts beyond Wednesday.

McClanahan (4-4) took the loss Tuesday as the Rays were downed 4-3 by the Yankees, giving up three runs on nine hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.

The rookie wasn't especially sharp, tossing 60 of 89 pitches for strikes, but he pitched well enough to earn his third quality start of the season -- all of which have come in his last six outings. With the Rays letting McClanahan work a bit deeper into games, he's posted a solid 3.34 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 38:12 K:BB through 32.1 innings over that stretch.

Montgomery (4-5) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing five hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in a 4-3 victory over the Rays. He struck out five.

The southpaw collected his first win since June 2 (coincidentally also against Tampa Bay) with a sharp effort as he tossed 65 of 102 pitches for strikes. Montgomery has a 14.2-inning scoreless streak going, lowering his ERA on the season to 3.78 with a 1.19 WHIP and 110:34 K:BB through 109.2 frames.

Flexen (9-5) lost Tuesday's game 8-6 at the hands of the Astros, allowing seven runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in four innings.

Flexen surrendered a Yordan Alvarez three-run homer in the first, then allowed four more runs on five hits in the fourth to snap his streak of starts with three runs or fewer permitted at eight. It's the 27-year-old righty's second straight loss, though he sports a solid though 3.81 ERA to go with a mediocre 1.25 WHIP and low 5.7 K/9.