MLB Player News

Perez (elbow) allowed a pair of hits and struck out nine over five scoreless innings for Low-A Hickory on Monday.

Perez was making his first rehabilitation start after being placed on the disabled list in late April due to a fracture in his non-pitching elbow. The left-hander injured the elbow during the offseason and apparently tried to come back too soon. In five starts before going on the DL, Perez posted a 9.67 ERA over 22.1 innings.

Clevinger (6-3) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts through five innings and took the loss Monday against the Cardinals.

Clevinger wasn't at his sharpest, as he was touched up for a pair of doubles by Matt Carpenter and Marcell Ozuna, induced only six swinging strikes and needed 98 pitches to get through just five frames. That said, if a start in which Clevinger allows just two runs to a solid Cardinals lineup is one of his sloppier starts of the year, you know he has been on his game. Clevinger has thrown four quality starts in his last six outings and will look to get back to that form Sunday against Oakland.

Verlander (9-3) allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks with six strikeouts through 6.2 innings in a loss Monday to the Blue Jays.

Home runs have been an issue for Verlander of late, as he has allowed six in his past four starts after giving up just five through his first 13 outings. The result was the first time all year Verlander has allowed more than three runs, pushing his ERA all the way up to 1.82. As long as Verlander is still missing bats -- he has 32 strikeouts in 32.1 innings in this slightly cold stretch -- there's little reason to worry about him, but he'll need to get over this home run issue to keep pitching like the Cy Young candidate he has been thus far in 2018. He'll try to get back on track Saturday against the Rays.

Hamels allowed four runs on nine hits and a walk with five strikeouts through five innings in a no-decision Monday against the Padres.

Hamels induced 13 swinging strikes but paid for a couple of huge mistakes, as he was touched up for home runs by Manuel Margot and Jose Pirela, which accounted for all four Padres runs. This marks the eighth time in just 16 starts that Hamels has allowed multiple home runs in a start, but his inability to keep the ball in the yard has been his only weakness all season long. Hamels owns a sharp 97:37 K:BB through 97.1 innings of work, the main reason why he still has a decent 3.61 ERA despite his home run issues. His next start will come Sunday against the White Sox.

Bundy (ankle) is still projected to start Thursday's game against the Mariners, the Associated Press reports.

He twisted his ankle running the bases in his last start in Atlanta, but apparently has a shot to make his next start. Bundy had a brutal three-start stretch in late April and early May, but has a 2.60 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 60 strikeouts in 55.1 innings over his last eight starts.

Keller (2-2) fired seven scoreless frames Monday against the Angels, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six and earning his second win of the season.

The Rule 5 pick has been quietly effective as the Royals have stretched him out, giving up seven earned runs over 25.2 innings in five starts, good for a 2.46 ERA over that stretch. He has only struck out 17 over that span, so his strikeout upside may be limited, but in deeper formats he could be worth a flyer. Keller figures to start again this weekend in Seattle.

Carrasco (forearm) threw a successful 25-pitch bullpen session Monday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Carrasco believes that everything is fine with his bruised forearm. He's set to throw another session Wednesday. Whether he'll need a rehab start after that is not yet clear.

Bundy rolled his ankle while running the bases Saturday against the Braves and is at risk to miss his next start, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

Bundy is lined up to start Thursday against the Mariners. If he's forced to miss a start, the Orioles are likely to place him on the disabled list, though it doesn't sound as though he's at risk for a long-term absence.

The Yankees could elect to skip German's next scheduled turn against the Red Sox during the upcoming weekend, Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News reports.

The Yankees are only two games ahead of Boston in the loss column entering Monday, so it makes some sense for the team to bring its top starters to the hill for the three-game series in an attempt to create separation in the standings. With that in mind, German, who was lit up for six runs in three innings Sunday against the Rays, could move to the bullpen temporarily, thereby allowing Luis Severino to start the series finale Sunday. Thanks to an off day Thursday in addition to Luis Cessa's insertion into the rotation for a spot start Wednesday, Severino would be able to take the hill Sunday on his normal four days' rest. Assuming the Yankees decide to go with Severino on Sunday, German's next start would likely come July 2 against the Braves.

German gave up six runs on nine hits and zero walks while striking out two in three innings Sunday against the Rays. He did not factor into the decision.

Even after this blowup outing, German has some positive indicators (3.59 xFIP, 1.23 WHIP, 74:21 K:BB in 63.1 innings), but as a young pitcher getting his first extended trial in the big-league rotation, there have been a lot of ups and downs that can be frustrating in fantasy. German's next start is scheduled for next Sunday at home against the Red Sox.