MLB Player News

Kikuchi (6-3) earned the win Thursday after holding Toronto to one run on five hits and a walk while striking out six across seven innings.

The left-hander looked sharp once again, collecting his fifth win in his past seven starts while allowing one or fewer runs in each of his last four outings. Kikuchi's only blemish of the day came via a solo blast off the bat of Marcus Semien in the first inning. Otherwise, the 30-year-old blanked the Blue Jays the rest of the way, tossing 64 of 100 pitches for strikes. On the season, Kikuchi has put together a 3.18 ERA and 1.03 WHIP. He'll look to continue his success during his next tentative start at home Wednesday against the Yankees.

Suarez will pitch out of the rotation going forward, starting Monday against Boston, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Suarez has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this season but should be stretched out to start, as he threw 5.1 innings in relief of Dylan Bundy (illness) on Monday. He'll now get the chance to take Bundy's spot on a permanent basis. The young lefty has looked good in 27.1 innings of relief this year, striking out a league-average 23.9 percent of opposing batters while producing a 50.7 percent groundball rate, helping him to a 1.98 ERA.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said Thursday that Bundy will pitch out of the bullpen moving forward, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Bundy vomited on the mound during his most recent start Monday against the Yankees, an unfortunate metaphor for how his season has gone thus far. Since he only tossed 43 pitches in that outing, the Angels made Bundy available in relief in Wednesday's 11-8 comeback win over New York, when Shohei Ohtani was bounced from the game early. Bundy struck out three in two scoreless frames after Ohtani exited, and the Angels evidently saw enough promise from the 28-year-old in the relief role to give him an extended look out of the bullpen. Even if Bundy ultimately finds more long-term success out of the bullpen, the move from the rotation is undoubtedly a negative development for his fantasy prospects. After Bundy broke out last season to produce a career-low 3.29 ERA and career-high 27.0 percent strikeout rate, fantasy managers invested an early-round pick in him and had high expectations, but he's struggled to a 6.58 ERA while striking out a career-low 21.5 percent of opposing batters in 67 frames. Jose Suarez will step into the rotation in Bundy's place.

Montgomery won't pitch Thursday against the Angels since the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Thursday's contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader in August. Following the postponement, Montgomery will now start Friday's series opener at home against the Mets, while Gerrit Cole will be pushed back to start Saturday, Lindsey Adler of The Athletic reports.

Canning won't start Thursday against the Yankees after the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Thursday's matchup will be made up as part of a doubleheader in August, but Canning will simply be pushed back a day to start Friday's series opener at home against the Orioles, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. The right-hander has posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 16.2 innings across his last three outings.

Ober (0-1) was handed his first career loss after giving up five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three across 3.1 innings in a 13-3 defeat at the hands of the White Sox on Wednesday.

Four of the five runs Ober allowed came via the long ball, with all of Brian Goodwin, Andrew Vaughn and Jose Abreu taking him deep between the second and third innings. The rookie right-hander has now served up seven home runs in 24.2 innings, taking most of the shine off a strong 26:6 K:BB.

Perez (6-4) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-2 victory over the Royals, giving up two runs on seven hits and 5.1 innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The lefty hasn't completed six innings in any of his last five starts and hasn't fanned more than four batters since May 21, but Perez has provided some stability to the back of the Boston rotation nonetheless. He'll carry a 4.04 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 62:26 K:BB through 75.2 innings on the year into his next outing.

Ragans will be part of the All-Star Futures Game during All-Star weekend, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Ragans, who hasn't pitched since 2017 after a pair of Tommy John elbow surgeries, is making a bid for comeback player of the year. He has a 3.48 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 41.1 innings with 52 strikeouts and 13 walks at Hickory in the southern division of the High-A East League.

Winn has been selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game during All-Star weekend, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Winn is one of two organization hurlers named Cole that will appear in the game. Cole Ragans will join him. Winn, the first-round pick in 2018, leads the Double-A Central League (formerly the Texas League) with a 0.79 WHIP and .113 opponents' batting average to go with a 2.27 ERA over 43.2 innings for Amarillo.

Matz didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 9-7 extra-inning loss to the Mariners, giving up four runs on five hits over 2.2 innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The southpaw threw 32 of 48 pitches for strikes after being activated from the COVID-19 list for his first start since June 12, and he clearly didn't have his best stuff. Matz will take a 4.60 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 78:21 K:BB through 72.1 innings on the year into his next outing.