MLB Player News

Kopech (calf) made his debut for High-A Salem on Thursday, pitching four scoreless innings while giving up one hit and three walks. He struck out six and threw strikes on 40 of his 60 pitches.

Kopech walked the first two batters faced, then settled down to dominate the Carolina Mudcats. In his final inning, Kopech struck out the side on nine pitches with his last pitch reaching 101 mph. The right-hander has said all the appropriate words about getting his career on track after a couple of off-field incidents.

Meyer (shoulder) has begun playing catch again and could soon throw off a mound, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Meyer hasn't pitched since May 3 due to shoulder inflammation. It's good news he's making progress, but there's not a clear timetable for his return.

Paxton allowed just two runs with a pair of strikeouts and one walk across eight strong innings in Thursday's start versus the Royals. He did not factor into the decision.

Paxton was remarkably efficient, as he needed just 78 pitches to get through eight frames, throwing 53 for strikes. He ran into a bit of trouble in the eighth and allowed a pair of runs that tied the game before being removed at the start of the next inning, tarnishing what could have been an even better start. Thursday's events were still encouraging, and Paxton will carry a 3.91 ERA into his next start after the All-Star break.

Hill improved to 9-3 with Thursday's win over the Astros, allowing just one run with 10 strikeouts compared to just two walks across six strong innings.

Hill was a strike-throwing machine Thursday, as he pounded the zone at a 65% clip and induced 11 swinging strikes while notching 10 punchouts for the third time this season. He has picked up right where he left off after a month-long layoff, allowing just three runs with 16 strikeouts in 12 innings across a pair of starts since returning, and he will take a shiny 2.25 ERA into his next start after the All-Star break.

Darvish (shoulder) threw 32 pitches in the bullpen Thursday and he's expected to make a second rehab start over the weekend at Double-A Frisco, T.R, Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Darvish is expected to need an additional rehab start following his upcoming effort this weekend, and the struggling Texas rotation will be welcoming him back with open arms. A return during the abbreviated week following the All-Star game seems unlikely but a return shortly thereafter seems a given.

Verlander (8-6) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs, six hits and four walks while striking out five in Thursday's no-decision against the Blue Jays.

After a nine-game stretch in which the righty pitched into the seventh inning each start, Verlander has now failed to make it past the sixth for the second time in three starts. The main factor for Thursday's sixth-inning exit was his lack of control. Verlander threw just 65 of his 103 pitches for strikes, while setting a season high for walks. He'll hit the break sporting a 4.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 120:33 K:BB.

Snell (1-4) tossed six quality innings, but took the loss Thursday against the Angels. He allowed two runs, four hits and two walks while striking out a career-high seven.

Snell held the Angels scoreless through the first five frames, but he allowed two runs to score in the sixth on a single by Albert Pujols. He threw a first-pitch strike to the first 12 batters he faced and had his highest strike percentage of the season (64 percent). The southpaw also induced 13 swings and misses, way up from the 5.9 average he posted through his first five starts. Snell looked more like the No. 1 prospect Thursday than in any of his previous starts, and he's worthy of a roster spot in most formats, especially dynasty leagues.

Clevinger was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

With the call-ups of Austin Adams and Joseph Colon on Thursday, Clevinger was sent down to Triple-A to make room on the Indians' roster. Clevinger has made one appearance during his most recent stay in the majors, tossing two scoreless innings against Detroit on July 5. The 25-year-old will now resume a 2.70 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 70 innings pitched for Triple-A Columbus.

Cobb (elbow) allowed three earned runs on two hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning for High-A Charlotte on Wednesday, his first minor league rehab start since Tommy John surgery.

The 28-year-old faced a total of six batters and threw 21 pitches overall, eight of which went for strikes. Cobb was a bit wild early, handing out both of his free passes within the first three batters. After recording two outs, he then allowed an RBI single and a double to close out the outing. The most pertinent aspect of the appearance was that Cobb reported feeling good afterwards, a considerably important development considering the nature of the injury he is recovering from.

Kopech (calf) will return to start Thursday's game at High-A Salem, the Boston Globe's Alex Speier reports.

He missed the last three weeks with a calf injury, but will make his second minor league start of the year Thursday. Kopech remains one of the Red Sox's top pitching prospects, and could really do with a run of good luck here after missing time this season with a various injuries (one self-inflicted) in addition to 50 games at the end of last season due to a PED suspension.