MLB Player News

Gray didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 3-0 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays, allowing two hits and two walks over eight scoreless innings while striking out eight.

The right-hander threw 63 of 99 pitches for strikes and retired the first 12 batters he faced before the Jays put together their only rally of the game in the fifth inning, which Gray was able to escape thanks to an out at the plate followed by a double play. He's now posted quality starts in three of his last four outings, and Gray will carry a rapidly improving 4.81 ERA into his next start Wednesday at home against the Nationals.

Bundy (4--7) picked up the win Wednesday against the Mets, allowing just three hits and three walks across seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.

Bundy was in control for most of this one. He ran into some trouble in the seventh inning when he loaded the bases with two outs, but the 25-year-old was able to strike out Amed Rosario to get out of the inning unscathed. Bundy has now fired four quality starts in his last five outings, lowering his ERA from 5.31 to 4.04 over that stretch. He'll look to keep things rolling in his next start, which will be a difficult matchup at home against the Red Sox.

Blackburn (forearm) will be activated from the disabled list to start Thursday's series opener against the Royals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This confirms why Blackburn was scratched from his scheduled rehab start with High-A Stockton on Tuesday. The right-hander hasn't thrown more than 50 pitches in a rehab outing, so he'll be limited to around 75 pitches in his 2018 big-league debut. Blackburn, who has been sidelined all year with a right forearm strain, posted a 3.22 ERA and 22:16 K:BB across 10 starts (58.2 innings) with the A's last season.

Perez signed a minor-league contract with the Mariners on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Immediately after signing with Seattle, Perez reported to Double-A Arkansas and started Tuesday's game, tossing five shutout innings and striking out six. The 27-year-old right-hander had planned to attend spring training with the Cubs, but was cut in February shortly before camp was scheduled to begin after being arrested for his involvement in a shooting in his native Venezuela. Perez never faced charges after the shooting was later deemed an accident, so he'll be able to resume his career without any legal matters lingering over him.

Heaney (3-4) threw a shutout Tuesday against the Royals, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four.

Heaney was fantastic in Tuesday's outing, allowing just three batters to reach base by way of a single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. The lefty went the distance on 116 pitches (81 for strikes), lowering his ERA to 3.12 in the process. Heaney is limiting opponents to a .218 batting average and sports a 58:19 K:BB in 60.2 innings. His next start will be a matchup with the Mariners in Seattle.

Keller (1-2) allowed one run on five hits in a loss to the Angels on Tuesday, striking out three and walking one in 4.1 innings.

Making just his second start of the season, Keller didn't allow any extra-base hits and was able to go 75 pitches deep (45 for strikes) in his longest outing of the year. He now holds a 2.12 ERA and 1.15 WHIP and is holding opponents to a .225 batting average. His next start will be against the A's in Oakland.

Eovaldi (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits over five innings during Tuesday's game against the Nationals. He walked one and recorded four strikeouts.

Eovaldi didn't have the same command he illustrated in his return to the starting rotation Wednesday, when he threw six no-hit innings. The 28-year-old was faced with an incredibly difficult task with Max Scherzer starting opposite of him for the Nationals, leaving little margin for error. Eovaldi will carry a 3.27 ERA and 0.55 WHIP through 11 innings into his next scheduled to start Sunday against Seattle.

Giolito (4-6) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks across six innings to earn the win Tuesday in the second game of a doubleheader against the Twins. He recorded one strikeout.

Giolito didn't have dominant stuff on the day, throwing just 59 percent of his pitches for strikes while inducing five swinging strikes. He did keep the ball down effectively, however, recording 10 groundball outs. Giolito got into a bit of trouble in the third inning, allowing a pair of runs after loading the bases on two walks and two hits. All things considered, it was one of Giolito's better starts in recent memory, though he still sports a 7.08 ERA heading into this weekend's scheduled start against the Red Sox.

Blackburn (forearm) was scratched from Tuesday's planned rehab start at High-A Stockton and may instead make his 2018 big-league debut in the coming days, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Blackburn has yet to throw more than 50 pitches in a rehab appearance but would have been slated for 75 had he made his Tuesday start for the Ports. Instead, he's joined the big-league club in Texas. The right-hander's arrival was prompted by Daniel Gossett's placement on the disabled list earlier in the day with a right elbow injury, and Blackburn confirmed that he's "here to pitch sometime" when questioned about the sudden change in plans. Manager Bob Melvin wouldn't go as far as making an official proclamations about his plans for Blackburn.

Cobb (2-7) tossed six one-run innings while earning the win Tuesday against the Mets, allowing two hits with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Cobb only allowed hits in one inning on the day, with both proceeding a sacrifice fly from Jose Bautista in the fifth inning. He was able to rack up a solid strikeout total due to 15 swinging strikes. Cobb's quality start was his third in the last four outings, and the K:BB ratio was his best of the season. He still has an unsightly 6.19 ERA for the season, but he's allowed three runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts ahead of this weekend's scheduled start against the Blue Jays.