MLB Player News

Mejia was claimed off waivers by the Angels on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Mejia will head back to the Angels after a two-game, three-inning sojourn with St. Louis in which he allowed three earned runs. The 26-year-old appeared in four games with the Angels earlier this season before being DFA'd on July 26. He's currently out of minor-league options, so he's likely to get an extended look as the Halos assess his potential role on the squad next season.

Rodriguez worked five frames and gave up two runs on seven hits and three walks Wednesday against the Royals before the contest was suspended in the top of the 10th inning with the score tied at 4-4.

The two sides will finish up the suspended game Aug. 22, with all statistics accrued by Rodriguez in the outing set to show up on his season line once the contest is officially completed. Rodriguez notched just one strikeout -- his fewest of the season -- in the 101-pitch outing.

Kikuchi gave up one run on four hits and three walks across five innings during Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Padres. He struck out eight but did not factor in the decision.

Kikuchi served up a leadoff homer to Fernando Tatis to start the game, but he didn't allow another extra-base hit in the outing. The 28-year-old exited in line for the victory, but the bullpen promptly allowed a solo homer in the sixth to tie the game. Kikuchi has a 5.34 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 92:41 K:BB over 123 innings and should pitch next week at Detroit.

Means (8-7) gave up four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five through 3.2 innings to take the loss against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Means threw three scoreless innings before a disastrous fourth frame in which he allowed five baserunners overall and a three-run home run. The left-hander's ERA continues to climb, now sitting at 3.36 for the season, including 7.11 in his last four starts. Means will make his next start Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

Paxton (7-6) gave up one run on five hits and one walk while striking out seven through 6.2 innings to take the win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

Paxton gave up a solo home run in the fourth inning but was otherwise masterful in the quality start. For the first time in six starts, Paxton was able to get through the first inning without allowing a run. The left-hander has a 4.40 ERA and 130 strikeouts through 20 starts this season. Paxton will make his next start Monday in the first game of a doubleheader in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Lynn (14-7) took the loss in the nightcap of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Indians after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits over seven innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

Lynn delivered another workhorse performance -- he threw 73 of his 120 pitches for strikes -- but the Rangers mustered only one extra-base hit to saddle him with the loss. The veteran right-hander has given up five runs (three earned) and has a 26:7 K:BB across his last three starts, covering 20 innings. Lynn's next start should come next week in Toronto.

Perez (8-5) allowed seven runs (six earned) on 11 hits with two walks and six strikeouts across six innings while taking a loss against the Braves on Wednesday.

For the third time in his last four outings, Perez allowed three homers. He yielded seven home runs in his first 17 starts this season, and in his last five, Perez has served up 11 long balls. The trouble keeping the ball in the park is the main reason his ERA has increased a whole run over the last two months. Perez owns a 4.80 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 106 strikeouts in 122 innings this season and will look to correct his home run issues in his next start Tuesday at the Brewers.

Cole (14-5) picked up the win in Wednesday's 14-3 rout of the Rockies, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings while striking out 10.

Both runs scored on solo shot from Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story, but with the Houston offense once again piling up double-digit runs, Cole had little to worry about. The right-hander has now won 10 straight decisions, and he'll take a 2.87 ERA and 226:39 K:BB through 156.2 innings into his next start Tuesday, on the road against the White Sox.

Snell (elbow) will travel with the Rays to Seattle over the weekend, where he's scheduled to resume throwing, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Snell has been shut down from throwing since he underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery at the end of July. While this is an encouraging development for the left-hander, he remains multiple weeks away from a return.

Cortes (5-0) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 9-4 win over the Orioles after striking out one and working around a base hit and a walk in 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Since CC Sabathia's knee injury left the Yankees without a fifth starter, manager Aaron Boone elected to treat Tuesday's contest as a true bullpen game. All four pitchers used recorded between six and eight outs, with the official scorers electing to credit Cortes with the win since he outperformed the two pitchers who worked ahead of him (Jonathan Holder and Stephen Tarpley). Unless he's used heavily in relief the next four days, Cortes will likely be involved in another bullpen game when the fifth spot in the rotation comes up again Sunday in Toronto.