MLB Player News

Miller didn't factor into the decision in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Tigers. He allowed just two hits while striking out nine over seven scoreless innings.

Miller was dominant Tuesday, though he'd ultimately come away with a no-decision after the Mariners' bullpen gave up two runs in the eighth. The 25-year-old right-hander has delivered 13 scoreless innings over his last two starts, allowing just five hits while striking out 15 in that span. Overall, Miller is 9-7 this year with a 3.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 128:31 K:BB across 139.2 innings. He'll have a tougher matchup in his next outing, currently scheduled for early next week on the road against the Dodgers.

Scherzer (shoulder) said Thursday that he's "turned a corner" and plans to throw a bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer received a nerve injection which has helped him take a step forward in his recovery from right shoulder fatigue. He will have gone two weeks without any throwing, so the veteran right-hander will need a little time to be built back up. A clearer timetable for Scherzer's return could be available in the coming days.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Criswell (illness) is expected to be ready to return from the COVID-19 injured list to make a start or bulk-relief appearance Friday in Baltimore, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Friday is the first day he's eligible for activation from the COVID-19 IL. Criswell is poised to serve as the Red Sox's No. 5 starter indefinitely after James Paxton recently sustained a likely season-ending calf injury. The 28-year-old Criswell holds a 4.02 ERA and 56:17 K:BB over 71.2 innings in a swingman role for Boston this season.

Kochanowicz is scheduled to start Sunday against Atlanta at Angel Stadium.

The rookie right-hander will make a second straight turn through the rotation and stick around as the club's No. 5 starter over Davis Daniel, who was optioned to Triple-A Salt on Tuesday. Kochanowicz struck out two batters and allowed just two runs over 7.2 innings en route to claiming his first big-league victory his last time out Sunday against the Nationals, but the 23-year-old was lit up for 12 runs (11 earned) in seven innings across his first two starts with the Angels back in July before he was sent back to the minors.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Scherzer received a nerve injection for his right shoulder and is feeling "really good," Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer was sent in for a precautionary MRI earlier this week after he had struggled to bounce back from right shoulder fatigue, an issue he contended with during his most recent start July 30 before landing on the injured list three days later. The recent diagnostic tests apparently didn't reveal anything too concerning, and Scherzer's condition finally seems to be trending back up again now after getting the injection. The veteran right-hander is still without a clear timeline for his return from the IL, and a target date likely won't come into focus until he's cleared to start throwing again.

Bradford is slated to start Thursday's game against the Twins at Globe Life Field.

Bradford will be making a third consecutive appearance as a starter, an unexpected development after the Rangers moved him to the bullpen during his minor-league rehab assignment before he was activated from the 60-day injured list July 29. However, with injuries to Jon Gray (groin), Max Scherzer (shoulder) and Nathan Eovaldi (oblique) having since tested the Rangers' starting depth, Bradford looks like he could have a pathway to a rotation spot. Bradford has turned in a solid 12:1 K:BB while allowing four earned runs over 8.2 innings across his last two starts, and a strong outing Thursday should be enough to keep him ahead of Jose Urena and Dane Dunning in the rotation pecking order. Even though Eovaldi is expected to avoid an IL stint, the Rangers should have room in the rotation for two of Bradford, Urena and Dunning until at least two of Gray, Scherzer or Jacob deGrom (elbow) return from the IL.

The Yankees optioned Warren to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Warren turned in a solid spot start in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the White Sox, taking a no-decision while allowing two runs over five frames. He'll rejoin the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre rotation and would likely be the first hurler called upon when/if the Yankees need another starter.

Woo came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Tigers, scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The right-hander put together another brilliant performance, generating 29 called or swinging strikes among his 85 pitches, but Woo wound up settling for his third straight quality start and seventh of the season when his bullpen couldn't get the job done. Through three outings in August, he's delivered a 1.31 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB through 20.2 innings, and he seems fully recovered from the hamstring issues that began bothering him in late June. Woo will face a tough test in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

Kremer (5-9) picked up the win in Wednesday's 4-1 victory over the Nationals, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander wasn't dominant, managing only six swinging strikes among his 92 pitches, but Kremer was able to ride a two-run homer from Gunnar Henderson in the first inning to his first win since July 3. Wednesday's quality start was only his second in his last 10 trips to the mound, with the other quality start coming with three unearned runs. Over that 10-start stretch, Kremer has stumbled to a 5.22 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB in 50 innings. He'll try to build on Wednesday's momentum in his next outing, which lines up to come on the read early next week against the Mets.

The Twins optioned Varland to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Varland put together a quality start in a no-decision Wednesday against the Royals, yielding three earned runs over six innings. He nonetheless finds himself back in the minors, which means Zebby Matthews should remain in the Minnesota rotation indefinitely as the club's No. 5 starter.