MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Thursday that Yarbrough (oblique) will make at least one more rehab start, Max Goodman of NJ.com reports.

He's made two rehab starts thus far, with the last one coming with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, when he allowed two runs while striking out three over 3.1 innings. Yarbrough got his pitch count up to 50 in that outing and will continue to build up his stamina in case he's needed in the Yankees' rotation. As things stand right now, however, he might be destined for long relief once he rejoins the big club.

Urena (0-1) took the loss Thursday against the A's, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.

All six of the A's runs of Urena came in the second inning, when the right-hander allowed six consecutive men to reach base with two outs. The veteran Urena had been pitching well for the Twins prior to Thursday, allowing just three earned runs over 12.2 innings in his first three appearances. Overall, Urena sports a 5.00 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and 20:13 K:BB across 36 innings between the Twins, Dodgers, Blue Jays and Mets this year.

The Astros activated France (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

France has completed his rehab from shoulder surgery, but the Astros have elected to keep him at Sugar Land where he's been on a rehab assignment. The righty will provide rotation depth in the minors.

Bido earned the save in Thursday's 8-3 win over Minnesota, allowing a run on two hits while striking out four over three innings.

It's the first save for Bido in his three-year MLB career. The right-hander has been decent in a long-relief role of late, posting a 3.18 ERA across 17 innings in his last seven appearances. Overall, Bido sports a 5.37 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP and 49:25 K:BB through 65.1 innings this season.

The Red Sox recalled Fitts from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.

Fitts has been used exclusively as a starter in the majors and minors this season, but the Red Sox will shift him to relief to see if his stuff might play up in shorter stints. The righty holds a 4.83 ERA and 34:13 K:BB over 41 innings during his time with Boston this season.

The Yankees signed Blackburn to a one-year contract Thursday.

Blackburn was recently cut loose by the crosstown Mets but has quickly landed on his feet with a new major-league deal. He has struggled during his time at the big-league level this season, posting a 6.85 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 18:8 K:BB in 23.2 innings. Blackburn will presumably work in long relief for now and offers the flexibility to enter the rotation, should a need arise.

Hancock has moved to the bullpen at Triple-A Tacoma and allowed one run on two hits and one walk over one inning of work in his first relief appearance there Wednesday.

The bottom-line results weren't there for Hancock, but he averaged 97.4 mph with his four-seamer in the outing. That's a substantial velocity uptick from the 94.7 mph he's averaged this season during his time as a starter with the Mariners. It's not clear whether this is a permanent move to the bullpen for Hancock, but he could turn into a weapon in relief with his stuff playing up in shorter bursts.

Rasmussen allowed two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six across six innings Wednesday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.

Rasmussen allowed a pair of solo home runs but otherwise held the Yankees in check. After having his workload limited during a brief stretch in July, Rasmussen has now turned in three consecutive quality starts. He's allowed only four runs (three earned) across 18 innings in that span, maintaining an excellent 15:2 K:BB.

Schlittler came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 6-4 extra-inning win over the Rays, allowing one hit and two walks over 6.2 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

The rookie right-hander was perfect through six innings, but he lost his bid for history when Chandler Simpson led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single. Schlittler then saw what would have been his second win of the year slip away when the Yankees' bullpen staged its usual meltdown. Schlittler's eight Ks were still a career high, and he's putting together a dazzling August, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 23:7 K:BB over 21.2 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Nationals.

Perez (1-3) took the loss Wednesday as the White Sox were downed 1-0 by Atlanta, allowing an unearned run on three hits over 5.1 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

Making his first big-league start since April 18, Perez kept the opposition off balance over 74 pitches (49 strikes), but a Colson Montgomery error in the fourth inning let Marcell Ozuna come home with the game's only run. The veteran southpaw could stick in the rotation for the rest of the season with Sean Burke and Jonathan Cannon both looking to get straightened out at Triple-A, and over 28.2 innings for the White Sox in 2025, Perez has delivered a 2.51 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB. He'll look for his first win since March 31 in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Royals.