MLB Player News

Walter did not factor into Thursday's decision against the Rockies, allowing five runs on eight hits while striking out three across five innings. He did not issue a walk.

Walter entered Thursday's game with three quality starts over his last four outings, but he wasn't able to replicate that success in Colorado. He generated 13 whiffs on 91 pitches (62 strikes) but gave up at least one run in three of the five innings he pitched and avoided the loss only thanks to strong run support. Walter is now at a 4.15 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 33:2 K:BB over 34.2 innings this season, and he's lined up to face the Guardians at home next week.

The Mariners recalled Evans from Triple-A Tacoma ahead of his start against the Royals on Thursday.

The 24-year-old righty will be taking the place of Emerson Hancock in Seattle's rotation, as the latter was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday. Evans gave up eight runs in only three innings during his last start at Tacoma, but he'll have a good chance to bounce back Thursday against a Kansas City offense that is tied for 27th in MLB with a .662 OPS on the season.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (thumb/forearm) will start Saturday's game against the Angels, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

Scherzer battled right thumb fatigue and also some forearm tightness during his previous start in Monday's win over the Yankees. However, the 40-year-old was able to throw his between-starts bullpen session Thursday without any apparent issues, clearing the way for him to take his regular turn in the rotation Saturday. Scherzer's start against the Yankees was easily the best of his three this season for Toronto, as he struck out seven, didn't issue a walk and permitted just two runs over five innings. He threw only 71 pitches in that outing, however, and is unlikely to be ready to handle a full workload Saturday.

The Guardians recalled Nikhazy from Triple-A Columbus on Thursday.

Nikhazy was lit up during his lone MLB outing this season, giving up six runs on five hits and six walks in just three innings against the Red Sox on April 26. Since then, he's posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.46 WHIP over 49.1 frames at Columbus. The 25-year-old southpaw has worked exclusively as a starter this year, but with Joey Cantillo already slated to start Thursday in place of Luis L. Ortiz (personal), Nikhazy could be ticketed for a bullpen role. Kolby Allard was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Bello (4-3) allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk over five innings out of the bullpen and scooped up a win in the Red Sox's 5-3 victory over the Reds on Wednesday in the continuation of a game that was suspended Tuesday. He struck out three batters in the 62-pitch appearance.

Rather than having Bello start the regularly scheduled game for Wednesday, the Red Sox had the right-hander take the hill in the top of the fourth inning for the suspended game from Tuesday. Making what was his first relief appearance since 2022, Bello entered the contest with the Red Sox up 2-1, but Boston quickly fell behind after he served up a one-out, two-run home run to Spencer Steer in the fourth. Bello buckled down thereafter, however, retiring 13 of the final 15 batters he faced and inducing inning-ending double plays in the seventh and eighth. The Red Sox were able to plate the tie-breaking run in the bottom of the eighth to put Bello in line for the win before closer Aroldis Chapman finished out the contest with a scoreless ninth. Bello will return to a traditional starting role for his next appearance, which is expected to come during next week's series with the Rockies at Fenway Park.

Festa (2-3) took the loss against the Marlins on Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven across six innings.

Festa put the Twins behind early after yielding three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Agustin Ramirez. Festa gave up another run in the third, but he settled in over his final three innings -- striking out six batters over that span -- yet didn't receive enough run support to fade the loss. He has a 7.28 ERA (in 29.2 innings) across six starts since being promoted from Triple-A St. Paul in early June, but that number is inflated by two outings in which he gave up eight runs apiece. Festa is slated to face the Cubs at home next week, which will likely be his last turn in the rotation before the All-Star break.

Ortiz is being investigated by Major League Baseball due to a possible gambling-related offense, Zack Meisel and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic report.

Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave by MLB on Thursday, and he will remain on leave through the All-Star break as the league continues its probe. MLB has the ability to extend the leave beyond that, if necessary. Ortiz had been slated to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, but the Guardians will now hand the ball to Joey Cantillo instead.

The Guardians announced Thursday that Ortiz has been placed on leave per an agreement with the Players Association due to an ongoing league investigation.

Major League Baseball hasn't released any specifics regarding the nature of the investigation, though Tim Stebbins of MLB.com relays that Ortiz will be on "non-disciplinary paid leave" through the All-Star break, according to a statement from the league. Ortiz had been scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Cubs, but left-hander Joey Cantillo will instead be called up from Triple-A Columbus to start the series finale in Chicago. After being acquired from the Pirates over the winter, Ortiz has been an adequate mid-rotation arm for Cleveland this season, posting a 4-9 record, 4.36 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 96:42 K:BB over 88.2 innings.

Perez (elbow) has progressed to throwing bullpen sessions, MLB.com reports.

Perez landed on the injured list after only four starts this season and has been engaged in a lengthy rehab process. He is hoping to begin a rehab assignment by early August, which could line him up to return for the final month of the campaign.

Woods Richardson (4-4) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over five innings in a 2-1 victory over the Marlins. He struck out three.

The right-hander got the hook after 75 pitches (50 strikes), and while he hasn't been providing the Twins with much length, Woods Richardson has at least been giving them stronger results of late. Over his last four trips to the mound, he's posted a 1.71 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB through 21 innings. With Bailey Ober (hip) joining Zebby Matthews (shoulder) and Pablo Lopez (shoulder) on the IL this week, Woods Richardson's spot in the rotation seems very secure regardless of his numbers. He'll look to extend his win streak to three in his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.