MLB Player News

Williams (3-9) took the loss against the Rays on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out five.

Williams got off to a rocky start, surrendering a solo homer to Brandon Lowe in the second at-bat of the game to put Cleveland in an early hole. The Rays would get to the right-hander again in the fourth, this time for two runs after he allowed three of the first five batters to reach. Williams would not make it through six frames for the fifth time in his last six starts while going on to take his second straight loss. He now carries a 6.23 ERA in September over three starts to go along with an 11:7 K:BB. Williams has also issued multiple walks in six consecutive outings.

Criswell did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Yankees. He gave up one run on four hits and three walks while striking out four across 5.1 innings.

Criswell gave up a leadoff home run to Gleyber Torres but settled in nicely after that to pitch into the sixth inning. Criswell was removed from the rotation shortly after the All-Star break and then spent some time on the COVID-19 IL in August, but he's now back in the rotation for the final weeks of the campaign. The 28-year-old has a 3.98 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 97.1 innings in his first season with the Red Sox.

Cortes came away with the no-decision in Thursday's 2-1 win over the Red Sox. He pitched five innings and allowed one run on three hits and three walks with nine strikeouts. 

Cortes matched a season-high with nine strikeouts Thursday, which came on the heels of his first relief outing since 2021 last weekend. The left-hander is now back in the rotation with the Yankees going to a six-man unit for the stretch run. Outside of his Sept. 1 start versus the Cardinals when he gave up five runs, Cortes has now allowed one run or less in five of his last six appearances. The 29-year-old will take a 3.90 ERA and 1.15 WHIP into his next start, which tentatively lines up to come at Seattle.

Pepiot was pulled from Thursday's start against Cleveland after two innings but did not suffer an injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Pepiot labored through two innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one. He threw only 38 pitches, though the Rays may be opting to manage his workload after he threw only 64.2 total innings in 2023 and is up to 115 frames this year.

Manning (lat) was reinstated from the minor-league injured list Thursday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Manning will start for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday after being on the shelf for nearly two months. He didn't make any rehab outings prior to being activated, so he could face a limited pitch count.

Valdez didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Oakland, allowing a run on five hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out six.

Valdez looked like he was on his way to a third-straight scoreless outing, as he blanked the A's through six innings. However, Oakland would eventually scratch a run across in the seventh before Brent Rooker tied the game 2-2 with a homer off Valdez in the eighth. While it was a tough finish, it was another excellent start overall for the left-hander, who's posted a 1.33 ERA over his last seven outings (47.1 innings). Valdez is 14-6 on the season with a 2.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 159:51 K:BB across 163.2 innings. He's currently scheduled to face the Padres on the road next week in his next outing.

Spence allowed two runs on seven hits across seven innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Astros. He struck out two.

Spence was sharp Thursday, with both Houston runs coming on a Jason Heyward homer in the second inning. The 26-year-old Spence has pitched to a 3.66 ERA over his last 10 starts (54 innings), lowering his ERA on the season to 4.33 with a 1.35 WHIP and 113:41 K:BB across 137.1 innings. Spence currently lines up for a road matchup with the Cubs in his next outing.

X-rays on Skubal's right hand came back negative after he exited Thursday's start against the Rockies, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Skubal was hit on the non-throwing hand by a comebacker in the sixth inning Thursday, though he stayed in the finish the frame. It sounds as through he'll be fine, but he will undergo additional testing to be safe. Skubal yielded just one run on four hits and no walks while limiting the Rockies to one run over six innings in a no-decision. He had thrown just 84 pitches over his six frames, so the lefty might have gone back out for the seventh if not for the hand issue. Skubal is lined up to face the Royals on the road the next time out, as long as his hand continues to check out fine.

The Guardians placed Cobb on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a right hand blister, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Cobb had to be scratched from a scheduled start this past weekend due to the issue and didn't heal fast enough to avoid another stint on the IL. He'll be eligible to return during the final week of the season and should be ready to go by that time. Cobb's injury means both Joey Cantillo and Ben Lively (thigh), presuming the latter is healthy enough to do so, should remain in the Cleveland rotation.

Cortes is slated to start Thursday's game against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Cortes will return to the New York rotation after he made his first relief appearance since the 2021 season in the Yankees' 2-0 win over the Cubs last Saturday, when he piggybacked Clarke Schmidt in the latter's return from the 60-day injured list. With both Schmidt and Luis Gil having recently been activated from the IL, the Yankees now have six healthy starters on hand, and one of those pitchers will likely lose his spot when the team condenses its rotation as the postseason approaches. Including his recent relief outing, Cortes has pitched well enough to maintain his rotation spot, as he'll head into Thursday's start with a 1.86 ERA and 0.79 WHIP in 29 innings over his past five appearances.