MLB Player News

Eovaldi (1-3) allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out five across six innings in a loss Wednesday to the Astros.

Eovaldi gave up a whopping four home runs out of his seven hits allowed, including three home runs to see him off in the sixth inning. He had already allowed a slightly allowed four home runs over his previous three starts combined. The Astros routinely punished him for missing middle-middle, regardless of the pitch -- two came on sliders, one on a cutter, and one on a good old four-seam fastball. Eovaldi is still pumping the gas, but he has to figure out a way to keep the ball in the yard. He'll take a 4.91 ERA into his next start Tuesday against Washington.

Montas (4-1) got the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 6.2 innings against the Padres.

The Oakland offense jumped all over Padres starter Joey Lucchesi, staking Montas out to a 7-0 lead by the third inning as he cruised to a fourth win in his five starts. The 25-year-old was working to just a 4.39 ERA over nine starts with Triple-A Nashville, but has had much more success since joining the big-league club; he's allowed more than two runs just once and has worked into the seventh inning in three of the last four outings. He'll take a 2.41 ERA into Monday's start in Detroit.

Verlander will start Sunday against the Royals, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

With the Astros off the schedule Thursday, Verlander will flip places in the rotation with Gerrit Cole -- who is now slated to pitch Monday against the Blue Jays -- in order to stay on regular rest. Verlander has been absolutely lights out this season, posting a 1.60 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 130:21 K:BB across 16 starts (107 innings), so it makes sense the Astros want to trot him out as often as possible.

Cole will make his next start Monday against the Blue Jays, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston reports.

With Houston off Thursday, the Astros have opted to push Cole's next start back by a day to give the right-hander some extra rest while keeping Justin Verlander -- who will start in Cole's place Sunday -- on regular rest. Cole, who owns a 2.59 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 138:30 K:BB across 15 starts (100.2 innings) this season, will now be afforded six days of rest before his next outing.

Perez (elbow) is hoping to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Monday, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Perez tossed live batting practice Wednesday for the second time in less than a week and reported no issues afterwards. The Rangers are expected to wait and see how the southpaw checks out Thursday before determining the next step in his rehab, but it sounds like he's on the verge of being cleared for minor-league action.

Manager John Gibbons confirmed Stroman (shoulder) will be activated from the disabled list to start Saturday against the Angels, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

As expected, Stroman has been cleared to rejoin the big-league rotation after getting through a simulated game -- due to his scheduled rehab start being rained out -- with no issues earlier in the week. The right-hander will look to turn things around now that he's healthy, as he struggled to a 7.71 ERA and 1.71 WHIP across seven starts (37.1 innings) prior to landing on the shelf with a shoulder injury in mid-May. His return will likely push Sam Gaviglio from the starting rotation.

Clevinger (6-2) tossed seven one-run innings to earn the win Tuesday against the White Sox, striking out 10 while allowing five hits and two walks.

Clevinger's stuff was electric Tuesday, as he threw 68 percent of his pitches for strikes, including first-pitch strikes to 22 of 31 batters faced. He was touched up for a run in the first inning but quickly rounded into form and cruised into the eighth inning before an elevated pitch count led to his removal. He's had back-to-back outstanding efforts against the White Sox, during which he's struck out 21 while walking three over 14.2 total innings. He'll face another favorable matchup this weekend against the Tigers.

Rodon (0-2) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 6.1 innings in Tuesday's 6-3 loss to Cleveland.

Rodon had a bout of wildness in the second inning when he gave up all four runs. He walked two, hit a batter and allowed a run on a wild pitch. Other than that, he was good. He retired 11 of the final 12 batters faced and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in three starts. He'll get his second start of the week Sunday at home against the A's.

Blackburn allowed two runs on four hits in a no-decision against the Padres on Tuesday, striking out four and walking two in five innings.

Tuesday's outing was a nice bounceback performance from Blackburn's previous start (in which he allowed eight runs in 1.1 innings), and he made it to 85 pitches (53 strikes) on the night. The young right-hander has now made three starts this year, allowing 15 hits in 12.1 innings while striking out seven and walking four. With several A's starters expected to return to the rotation soon, his time in the rotation is likely nearing an end.

Berrios did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing one run on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 6.1 innings against the Red Sox.

Berrios was taken deep with two outs in the sixth inning by Rafael Devers, but aside from that mistake he shut down a potent Boston lineup all night. The 24-year-old wasn't at his sharpest -- the three walks matched a season high and he also threw a wild pitch and hit a batter -- but he managed to work his way through it without his best stuff to earn his third straight quality start and sixth in seven tries. He'll take a 3.38 ERA into Sunday's home date against the Rangers.