MLB Player News

Cortes (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday.

Cortes has been on the shelf since July 15, when he tested positive for the virus, but he'll rejoin the team Friday after a relatively brief absence. The left-hander owns a 1.05 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 31:10 K:BB in 25.2 innings (nine appearances) this season.

Flexen (9-4) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Athletics after allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while fanning one across 5.1 innings.

Flexen ended just two outs away from recording another quality start and while he delivered a decent outing in this one, he was outdueled by Sean Manaea. The right-handed Flexen has given up two or fewer runs in each of his last four outings and owns an excellent 1.42 ERA across 25.1 innings this month. His next start is scheduled for next week at home against the Astros.

Maeda (4-4) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Angels after allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning six across seven innings.

Maeda fired his second quality start of the month and hasn't given up more than three runs in any of his last four outings, but he was still tagged with the loss after being outdueled by Andrew Heaney, who also posted a quality start of his own. Maeda has given up three or fewer runs in six of his last seven appearances, in fact, and he owns a decent 3.89 ERA across 37 innings during that span. He's slated to make his next start next week at home against the Tigers.

Heaney (6-7) earned the win Thursday against the Twins after tossing seven innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits and two walks while fanning seven.

Heaney hadn't pitched more than 5.1 innings in any of his three previous starts, but he bounced back admirably here with his longest outing and sixth quality start of the year. The veteran southpaw owns a 5.40 ERA since the beginning of June, but this performance was clearly a step in the right direction. He's expected to make his next start next week at home against the Rockies.

Seabold (elbow) will be activated from the 7-day injured list by Triple-A Worcester and start Friday's game against Lehigh Valley, Jenna Ciccotelli of NESN.com reports.

Seabold will be making his 2021 debut at a full-season affiliate after checking out fine following his two rehab outings in the rookie-level Florida Complex League earlier this month. The 25-year-old first experienced elbow inflammation shortly before Worcester started its season in early May, prompting the Red Sox to take a cautious approach with his rehab. Since he covered only three innings in his final rehab start in the FCL, Seabold will likely have a restricted pitch count in Friday's outing.

Quantrill allowed a run on four hits and three walks while striking out two in six innings in a no-decision versus Tampa Bay on Thursday.

This matched Quantrill's longest appearance of the season, and it was also one of his most effective. Unfortunately for the right-hander, James Karinchak's recent struggles continued and denied the starter a win. Through 72.2 innings this year, Quantrill has a 3.84 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 50:25 K:BB. He lines up for his next start versus St. Louis next week.

Houck allowed an unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out eight across 4.2 innings Thursday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Houck mowed through the Yankees' lineup with little problem, racking up 19 called strikes and 10 swinging strikes across 87 total pitches. His outing was interrupted by a rain delay, though it's not clear how much deeper into the game he would have been allowed to work given his pitch count. The outing was also Houck's longest of the season, and he could ultimately take the place of either Garrett Richards or Martin Perez in the rotation before season's end.

Montgomery allowed three hits and one walk while striking out six across 5.2 scoreless innings Thursday against Boston. He did not factor into the decision.

Montgomery retired the first six batters he faced before running into trouble in the third inning. However, he escaped without allowing any earned runs and concluded the outing with his first scoreless effort since May 21 -- a span of nine starts. Montgomery now owns a 3.96 ERA with a 105:31 K:BB across 104.2 innings.

Ryan and Drew Strotman were traded from the Rays to the Twins on Thursday as part of a trade for Nelson Cruz.

Ryan was one of the top pitching prospects in the Rays' farm system, and he began the year at Triple-A Durham. He posted a 3.63 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 57 innings across 12 appearances (11 starts). The right-hander also impressed during spring training this year, and he could be in consideration to make his major-league debut at some point in 2021, especially if the Twins trade away some starting pitchers prior to the trade deadline.

Cortes (illness) has resumed throwing at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa and could be reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list as soon as this weekend, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

Whether New York reinstates Cortes from the IL during its four-game series with the Red Sox that begins Thursday may ultimately hinge on what kind of innings totals the club gets from its starting pitchers in the first two or three contests in Boston. If a healthy Cortes isn't needed as a multi-inning arm out of the bullpen this weekend, he could rejoin the Yankees in a starting role next week. With Michael King (finger) facing an uncertain timeline to return and with the club dropping Asher Wojciechowski from the 40-man roster after an ugly spot start Wednesday, Cortes could be a candidate to fill the final opening in the Yankees' rotation.