MLB Player News

McCullers (6-3) took the loss against Cleveland on Saturday as the Astros fell 8-6, allowing seven runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over 4.1 innings while striking out two.

To say the right-hander didn't have his best stuff in this one would be an understatement. McCullers hadn't served up a home run since April 17, but Yonder Alonso's two-run shot in the fourth snapped a streak of 47 straight innings in which he'd kept the ball in the park. The seven earned runs also matched his total from the entire month of May coming into Saturday's game. McCullers will carry a 3.98 ERA into another tough test Thursday when he faces the Red Sox at home.

Gray (3-4) took the loss against the Angels on Saturday in an 11-4 defeat, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks over 3.2 innings while striking out seven.

The Yankees' offense actually staked the right-hander to a 4-1 lead after two innings, but Gray gave it all right back before getting the early hook. He threw only 52 of 86 pitches for strikes while getting tagged with at least five runs for the fourth time in his last eight starts. As a result, he'll carry a 5.98 ERA into his next outing Thursday in Baltimore.

Keller will start Wednesday's game against the Twins, Maria Torres of The Kansas City Star reports.

The Rule 5 pick threw 33 pitches in two innings Saturday, so he will have to come back a day early to make the start, meaning it will likely be the equivalent of a bullpen game. His longest outing of the month was a 43-pitch, three-inning appearance May 11, so expecting much more than three innings out of Keller in this start would be pretty optimistic. Keller has a shot at sticking in the rotation going forward, as Eric Skoglund (elbow) is out indefinitely. The 22-year-old righty has a 2.01 ERA and 13:7 K:BB in 22.1 innings of relief this season.

Montas will be recalled from Triple-A Nashville to start Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Athletics are looking to give Trevor Cahill, who recently returned from the disabled list, an extra day of rest before his next start, so Montas will be summoned from the minors to make a spot start. The 25-year-old owns a 4.39 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB through nine starts (41 innings) with the Sounds this season. He struggled to a 7.03 ERA across 32 innings of relief with the A's last season, so expectations should be tempered for his 2018 big-league debut.

Bassitt was recalled from Triple-A Nashville on Saturday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bassitt will join the Athletics to offer length out of the bullpen with Frankie Montas slated to start Sunday's series finale. The 29-year-old, who last appeared in the majors in 2016, owns a 6.35 ERA and 1.66 WHIP across 28.1 innings with the Sounds this season. Josh Lucas was sent to the minors in a corresponding roster move.

Nuno fired a scoreless ninth inning in his Rays debut Friday against the Orioles.

The veteran southpaw was just summoned from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday after Jake Faria (oblique) hit the disabled list. Nuno is capable of working long relief and would be a likely candidate for a "bullpen day" start as well, considering he's opened 42 games over his five previous major-league seasons.

Rodon (shoulder) is expected to make his next start after he was removed from his previous outing when a comebacker hit him on the forehead, Phil Thompson of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Rodon exhibited no signs of a concussion and was treated merely for a cut on the forehead. He's expected to make at least two more rehabilitation starts and is on path to return to Chicago by the first week of June.

Paxton (4-1) struck out 11 and walked zero in a win over the Twins on Friday, giving up one run on three hits in seven innings.

Paxton was efficient Friday, throwing 72 of 103 pitches for strikes while not walking a batter for the second time in his last three starts. This was the fourth time this year that Paxton has recorded double-digit strikeouts in a game, and he now carries a superb 90:20 K:BB in 69.2 innings. The left-hander has thrown six straight quality starts and is now holding opponents to a .187 batting average. His next start will be against the Rangers at home.

Keuchel didn't factor into the decision against Cleveland on Friday, scattering eight hits over six innings, giving up two earned runs, striking out five and walking one in the Astros' 11-2 victory.

Keuchel pitched well in this contest, but didn't find himself in line for the win, as the Astros got all 11 of their runs off Cleveland's bullpen after Indians ace Corey Kluber got taken out of the game. Keuchel's 3-6 record through his first 11 starts of the season has been a bit of a disappointment considering he's averaged 15 wins per season over the last three years. However, his 3.39 ERA and 1.17 WHIP over 69 innings are still strong numbers, and if he continues to keep his stats around those levels, he should start to find himself in line for more victories pitching on a great Houston team with one of the better lineups in baseball.

Kluber didn't factor into the decision against the Astros, scattering seven hits over 6.1 scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking none before the Indians eventually lost 11-2 to Houston on Friday.

Kluber was his customarily dominant self in this contest, but the Indians ended up getting blown out as his bullpen was torched for all 11 earned runs after he exited the contest. It was unfortunate to see such a strong outing wasted, but Kluber remains one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, as he has a 2.17 ERA, a microscopic 0.86 WHIP, and an elite 78:10 K:BB through 78.2 innings this season.