MLB Player News

Bibee mentioned the greater use of his sinker as the main reason for his recent turnaround, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports. "It just feels like a real weapon, where I can really lean on it to get quick outs," the right-hander said Friday. "Or I still can have guys freeze on it... It opens up a lot of stuff."

Bibee, who is Sunday's scheduled starter against the White Sox, changed up his pitch mix following a disastrous outing against the Nationals on May 25, when he gave up seven runs and five home runs over three innings. In the six starts since then, he's made throwing the sinker a priority, using it 37.2 percent of the time, and the change has resulted in a 2.29 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 28:8 K:BB over 39.1 innings. The sinker has also made his four-seamer and cutter more effective, as his opponents' batting average and hard-hit rates have dropped against each pitch. What would really help Bibee, who is 2-9 over 18 starts, is more help from his teammates; his 2.78 runs of support ranks 133rd out of 136 pitchers with at least 10 starts.

McDougal (forearm) allowed three earned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two across one inning with High-A Winston-Salem on Saturday, MLB.com reports.

McDougal has been sidelined by forearm tightness since late April and has now made two rehab appearances. They've each been a single inning, so it's unclear when he'll be activated from the injured list or what his role might be.

Young (7-2) earned the win against the Reds on Saturday, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings.

Young allowed four runs through the first two innings but finished with three scoreless frames and benefited from an eight-run outburst from the Orioles. While he was able to log at least five frames for the eighth straight outing, Saturday marked just the second time in 14 contests this season the 27-year-old yielded more than three earned runs. He owns a 3.38 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 62:30 K:BB across 77.1 innings overall and will take on the Royals at home in his final start before the All-Star break.

Messick did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the White Sox, allowing one run on five hits and three walks with three strikeouts over five innings.

Messick allowed a run in the first inning but rebounded with four scoreless frames despite generating just four whiffs on 100 pitches and tossing only one clean inning. The 25-year-old, who recently earned his first career All-Star nod, was able to turn the page on a subpar June in which he went 1-4 with a 4.26 ERA. He owns a strong 2.80 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 109:32 K:BB across 106 innings this season and lines up for a road matchup with the Marlins next weekend.

Burke did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Guardians, allowing one run on seven hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts over six innings.

A solo homer in the fifth inning was the only blemish on Burke's performance as he generated 16 whiffs on 95 pitches while registering a career-high 11 strikeouts. It continued a strong run for the 26-year-old, who's worked into the sixth inning or beyond in four straight outings while allowing just five earned runs during that span. He'll take a 3.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 106:33 K:BB across 98.2 innings this season into a home matchup with the Athletics next weekend.

Aldegheri (3-4) took the loss against Boston on Saturday, allowing three runs on one hit and four walks while striking out two batters over four innings.

Aldegheri gave up all of his runs in the first inning, when he walked two of the first three batters he faced before Willson Contreras tagged him for a three-run homer. Following that blast, the lefty hurler allowed only three more baserunners (on two walks and an error) and no more runs, but the damage was enough to send him to the loss. The four walks were a season worst for Aldegheri, though he's issued three free passes on two occasions and has a poor 4.5 BB/9 on the campaign. Grayson Rodriguez (back) is nearing the end of his stint on the IL, and Aldegheri is a candidate to be removed from the rotation when Rodriguez returns.

Gray (10-1) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Gray gave up a solo homer to Josh Lowe in the second inning but otherwise kept the Angels off the scoreboard. The veteran righty needed just 70 pitches (48 strikes) to complete six frames and record his seventh straight quality start. Gray has been filthy during that stretch, posting a 1.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 48:12 K:BB across 45.2 innings. He was somewhat shockingly omitted from the announcement of All-Star teams Saturday, but that shouldn't lessen the impact of his performance so far on what has been a disappointing first half for Boston. Among qualified AL hurlers, Gray ranks second in ERA (2.61), 10th in WHIP (1.10) and first in wins (10).

Civale (5-6) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Marlins on Saturday.

Civale has now lost five straight starts, including all four since he returned from shoulder tendinitis. The right-hander has given up 16 runs (15 earned) over 16.2 innings since coming off the IL. On the year, he has a 5.10 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 54:22 K:BB through 72.1 innings over 15 starts. He's projected to make his next start on the road versus the White Sox.

Wacha (5-6) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing four runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out seven batters over six innings.

Wacha kept the Phillies off the board for three frames before back-to-back homers by J.T. Realmuto and Gabriel Rincones in the fourth plated Philadelphia three runs. Wacha allowed one more run in the sixth on an Alec Bohm solo blast. The veteran hurler had previously gone three straight outings without allowing a long ball and hadn't yielded more than two home runs in an outing this season, and he's posted a HR/9 of less than 1.0 each of the past two campaigns, so his inability to keep the ball in the park Saturday is likely more of an aberration than a concerning development. Wacha will look to bounce back in his next start, which is lined up to be a matchup versus the Mets in New York.

Rodriguez (back) allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks while striking out five across 5.1 innings during his rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday.

Rodriguez looked strong in his second rehab start, tossing 56 strikes on 78 pitches while inducing five groundouts. The 26-year-old southpaw looks to be just about fully stretched out and could be ready to return from the 15-day injured list to make his next start with the Angels. Ryan Johnson and Sam Aldegheri are the likeliest candidates to get moved out of the rotation once Rodriguez returns.