MLB Player News
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Zach Eflin SP | BAL
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Dealing with lower-back strain
Eflin was removed from Saturday's game versus Tampa Bay due to a lower-back strain, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Eflin noticed the issue while warming up in the bullpen prior to his start but thought he could pitch through it. However, the right-hander struggled through a four-run first inning before he was pulled, and it's logical to assume that the back issue contributed to the rough frame. Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino indicated following the contest that Eflin may need to get imaging done on his back, and it's unclear at this time if the veteran hurler will need a stint on the IL. The Orioles do have one injured starter close to returning to the rotation, as Cade Povich (hip) threw 75 pitches in a rehab start Thursday.
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Chris Bassitt SP | BAL
Blue Jays' Chris Bassitt: Rocked for eight runs
Bassitt (7-4) took the loss against the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits and four walks while striking out three across two-plus innings.
Bassitt entered Saturday's game having logged three quality starts over his last four outings. That momentum came to a crashing halt, as the veteran right-hander gave up three runs in each of the three innings he pitched, recording just six outs while tossing 70 pitches (44 strikes). The eight earned runs Bassitt gave up Saturday were as many as he yielded over his previous three starts combined, which inflates his ERA to 4.29 and WHIP to 1.36 across 94.1 innings this season. He'll look to get back on track in his next start, which is lined up to come against the Yankees at home next week.
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Jonathan Cannon P | CHW
White Sox's Jonathan Cannon: Sunday's start confirmed
Manager Will Venable said after Saturday's game that Cannon (back) will start for the White Sox on Sunday against the Giants, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.
Venable said pregame that Cannon could potentially start Sunday's game, but the skipper left no doubt in the matter with his postgame comments. It'll be Cannon's first MLB appearance since being placed on the 15-day injured list June 3 due to a lower-back strain. The 24-year-old made one rehab start, throwing three scoreless innings with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday. Cannon threw 48 pitches in the outing, so some sort of pitch limit should be expected.
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Bailey Ober SP | MIN
Twins' Bailey Ober: Rocked in Detroit
Ober (4-6) took the loss Saturday, coughing up seven runs on 11 hits -- including four home runs -- and a walk over 5.2 innings as the Twins were downed 10-5 by the Tigers. He struck out five.
Detroit put at least one run on the board in seven straight frames beginning in the second inning, and Ober served up long balls in four straight frames starting in the third, getting taken deep by Kerry Carpenter, Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Zach McKinstry. The right-hander has had trouble keeping the ball in the yard in the past, but not to this extent, and over his last six starts Ober has surrendered an incredible 15 home runs in only 34 innings, leading to an 8.47 ERA over that span. He'll try to snap a 10-start winless streak in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Rays.
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Clarke Schmidt SP | NYY
Yankees' Clarke Schmidt: Loud end to shutout streak
Schmidt (4-4) took the loss Saturday as the Yankees were downed 7-0 by the A's, giving up four runs on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander saw his scoreless streak end at 28.1 innings when Brent Rooker launched a solo shot in the fourth inning, and Schmidt then served up a three-run blast to rookie Nick Kurtz in the sixth. It was the first time since April 21 that Schmidt had been tagged for more than three runs, and over 11 starts since then he sports a 2.45 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 63:23 K:BB in 66 innings. He'll look to get back on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.
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JP Sears SP | SD
Athletics' JP Sears: Blanks former club in sixth win
Sears (6-7) picked up the win Saturday, allowing two hits and three walks over 5.2 innings in a 7-0 victory over the Yankees. He struck out four.
Facing the team that traded him west back in 2022 as part of the Frankie Montas deal, Sears tossed 48 of 90 pitches for strikes, as he fell one out shy of his first quality start since May 4. Saturday's performance was a much-needed turnaround after he'd gone 1-5 with a 7.90 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB over his prior nine outings and 41 innings, but it may have come too late to save Sears' spot in the A's rotation -- in each of his last two trips to the mound, top prospect Jack Perkins has dazzled in long relief, and the duo may switch roles in the near future. Sears currently lines up to make his next start at home next weekend against the Giants.
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Kohl Drake SP | ARI
Rangers' Kohl Drake: Promoted to Triple-A
Drake's next start will come with Triple-A Round Rock, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reported Saturday.
Drake is one of the top pitching prospects in the Rangers organization, and he's accumulated a 2.44 ERA and a 70:22 K:BB in 12 starts with Double-A Frisco this season. The 24-year-old was an 11th-round pick in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft.
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Allan Winans SP | NYY
Yankees' Allan Winans: Sent back to Triple-A
The Yankees optioned Winans to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.
The transaction creates an opening on the 26-man active roster for right-hander Marcus Stroman (knee), who will be reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Sunday against the Athletics, per Max Goodman of NJ.com. Winan made a spot start against the Reds this past Monday and took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and no walks while striking out one batter in 4.1 innings.
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Zach Eflin SP | BAL
Orioles' Zach Eflin: Exits game with back tightness
Eflin was removed from Saturday's game against the Rays due to lower-back tightness, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Eflin was rocked for four runs on 28 pitches (18 strikes) in the first inning, and his back issue may have contributed to his poor outing. He'll go to the clubhouse to undergo further testing, and the Orioles should provide an update on the veteran right-hander in the near future. Scott Blewett took the mound for Baltimore at the top of the second frame.
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Jordan Hicks RP | CHW
Red Sox's Jordan Hicks: Inching closer to team debut
Hicks (toe) could be activated from the 15-day injured list within the next couple of days, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.
Hicks was roughed up in his first rehab outing with Triple-A Worcester this past Sunday, when he allowed two runs on three hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning. He rebounded in his second appearance Friday, tossing one scoreless inning and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Part of the trade package the Red Sox received in return in the mid-June deal that sent Rafael Devers to San Francisco, Hicks is expected to slot into a middle-innings role in the Boston bullpen once he's activated from the IL.