MLB Player News
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Zebby Matthews P | MIN
Twins' Zebby Matthews: Throws bullen session
Matthews (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at Target Field on Sunday, MLB.com reports.
Matthews has been on the shelf since June 8 due to a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. He'll likely need to complete at least a couple more bullpen sessions before advancing to facing hitters in live batting practice and then heading out on a rehab assignment. Matthews could be ready to return from the injured list shortly after the All-Star break.
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Tarik Skubal SP | DET
Tigers' Tarik Skubal: Shuts down Twins
Skubal (10-2) allowed a hit and a walk while striking out 13 over seven shutout innings to earn the win Sunday over the Twins.
Skubal had one of his best starts of the year -- this was second only to his two-hit shutout versus the Guardians on May 25. He also matched his season-high 13 strikeouts from that outing. Skubal has kept runs off the board in seven of his 17 starts this season, and he went a perfect 5-0 with seven runs allowed over 33.1 innings in June. For the season, he has a 2.15 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 138:14 K:BB across 109 innings, numbers even better than his Cy Young campaign from 2024. The superstar southpaw is lined up for a road start in Cleveland in his next outing.
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Chris Paddack SP | MIA
Twins' Chris Paddack: Handed seventh loss
Paddack (3-7) allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three without walking a batter over 4.2 innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Tigers.
Paddack was decent compared to recent outings, but he still gave up some loud contact, as four of the six hits he allowed went for extra bases. The first two runs came on solo shots by Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene, and Paddack's start came to an end after Carpenter's RBI triple in the fifth. Paddack has allowed 21 runs (19 earned) over his last 18.2 innings, which simply isn't good enough. His ERA is up to 4.70 with a 1.23 WHIP and 63:24 K:BB over 90 innings across 17 starts. That's already his most innings in any seasons since 2021, so it's possible the right-hander may be struggling with a heavier workload after multiple years in a row impacted by injuries. His next start is projected to come at home versus the Rays.
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Jack Kochanowicz SP | LAA
Angels' Jack Kochanowicz: Quick exit in no-decision
Kochanowicz allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over four-plus innings in a no-decision versus the Nationals on Sunday.
Kochanowicz was pulled at 63 pitches (37 strikes) after running into trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. Interim manager Ray Montgomery has shown no hesitation to pull starters if they begin to fade in the middle innings -- since he took over managerial duties June 20 due to Ron Washington's health-related absence, only three of nine starting pitchers have exceeded 90 pitches. That shortens an already limited runway for Kochanowicz, who pitched into the sixth inning just once in six June starts. He allowed 18 runs over 25.2 innings while adding a 21:11 K:BB this month, so his outings are likely to continue being short unless he turns a corner with his performance. Overall, he has a 5.44 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 61:40 K:BB through 86 innings over 17 starts this season. Kochanowicz's next start is expected to be in Toronto.
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Luis Castillo SP | SEA
Mariners' Luis Castillo: Solid in no-decision
Castillo didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Texas, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings.
Castillo pulled himself out of a rough patch Sunday, snaring a quality start and not allowing a home run. The 32-year-old had allowed 16 runs (14 earned) in 22 innings over his previous four starts. He gave up eight home runs during that stretch after having yielded merely four round trippers in his first 12 starts. On the year, Castillo owns a 3.55 ERA, and he's scheduled to face the Pirates next time out.
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Jack Leiter P | TEX
Rangers' Jack Leiter: Gets back on track
Leiter didn't factor into the decision Sunday against Seattle, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out seven.
Leiter posted his first quality start in seven appearances, completing at least six frames for just the third time this season. The 25-year-old will end June on a high note after allowing 13 runs with a 9:8 K:BB in 13.2 innings during his past three outings. He took a loss in all three appearances. Leiter will take a 4.29 ERA into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come in San Diego next weekend.
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Mike Vasil P | CHW
White Sox's Mike Vasil: Grabs five-out save
Vasil picked up the save Sunday against the Giants, allowing one walk and no hits with one strikeout over 1.2 scoreless innings.
Vasil has been a multi-inning option for the White Sox recently, going at least three innings in each of his last seven appearances (three starts). However, he got the ball in a high-leverage scenario Sunday, taking over for Tyler Gilbert in the eighth inning with one out and the bases loaded. Vasil induced a double play to escape from the jam and then shut the door on the Giants in the ninth frame for his second save of the campaign. Vasil's been one of the White Sox's most reliable arms this season, holding a 2.73 ERA over 56 innings.
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Jonathan Cannon P | CHW
White Sox's Jonathan Cannon: Goes three innings in return
Cannon didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Giants, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out four.
A lower-back strain kept Cannon on the shelf for over three weeks, and the 24-year-old was on a pitch count Sunday in his first start back. He threw just 69 pitches. Cannon has struggled with control this season, having walked three or more batters in six of his 13 appearances. He'll take a 4.59 ERA and a 55:24 K:BB through 66.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come next weekend at Coors Field.
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Framber Valdez SP | DET
Astros' Framber Valdez: Blanks Cubs for ninth win
Valdez (9-4) picked up the win Sunday against the Cubs, allowing five hits and two walks with six strikeouts over six scoreless innings.
Valdez posted a second straight scoreless start, and he's now gone 13 consecutive innings without allowing a run. His ERA is down to 2.72 on the year, which would be his best since 2018. In his last seven starts, Valdez is 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA and a 49:20 K:BB across 46 innings. His next start is tentatively scheduled to come against the Dodgers next weekend.
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Richard Fitts SP | STL
Red Sox's Richard Fitts: Getting another start
Fitts is scheduled to make his next start Tuesday against the Reds at Fenway Park.
Fitts will get a second straight turn through the Boston rotation after he returned from Triple-A Worcester and struck out six while allowing two earned runs over four innings in a no-decision versus the Angels this past Wednesday. Though Fitts will make for a volatile streaming option due to his issues in reining in the long ball -- he's allowed seven home runs through 25 big-league innings this season -- he could put himself in position for a longer-term stay in the Boston rotation with a positive showing Tuesday. Tanner Houck (elbow) could be ready to return from the injured list shortly before the All-Star break to reclaim a starting role, but the struggling Walker Buehler (four home runs allowed, 8:14 K:BB over his last three starts) may be at greater risk than Fitts of losing his rotation spot.