MLB Player News

Bassitt (9-11) took the loss against the Athletics on Sunday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks with five strikeouts over four innings.

The Athletics brought 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring six runs and crushing two homers before Bassitt was finally able to escape. It's been a frustrating year for the veteran, who was coming off a seven-inning gem against one of baseball's best lineups in Baltimore. However, that outing was his only quality start in seven chances since July 4, a period in which his ERA has grown from 3.24 to 4.30. He'll try to rebound in a road matchup with the Cubs next week.

Sears (10-8) earned the win against the Blue Jays on Sunday, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks with four strikeouts over seven innings.

Sears completed seven innings for the third consecutive outing and was even pushed into the eighth, but he walked two batters without recording an out in the frame. The southpaw has gone 6-1 since the calendar flipped to July, allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of the victories. On the season, he owns a 4.32 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 101:37 K:BB across 133.1 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Giants next week.

Festa allowed a run on three hits and three walks while striking out three over 3.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Guardians on Sunday.

Festa allowed four of those six baserunners in the fourth inning, which included a Jose Ramirez solo home run as the lone run on his line. Festa needed 70 pitches (46 strikes) in this outing, which was the shortest of his six major-league appearances (five starts) this year. He's now at a 5.20 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB through 27.2 innings. The rookie right-hander's next start is projected to be at Texas next weekend.

Brown (10-7) earned the win against the Red Sox on Sunday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Brown mostly cruised until loading the bases and allowing two runs in the sixth inning. He generated an impressive 16 swinging strikes on 95 pitches and has now completed at least five frames in 17 consecutive outings. On the year, the 25-year-old owns a 3.96 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 139:48 K:BB across 127.1 innings and lines up for a favorable matchup with the White Sox next weekend.

Cantillo was returned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday after serving as the 27th man in Friday's doubleheader versus the Twins.

Cantillo allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings, but he took his second loss in three major-league starts. With Matthew Boyd (elbow) nearing a return from the injured list, Cantillo has no obvious path to a rotation spot for the Guardians unless another injury arises.

Bibee (10-4) allowed one run on six hits and struck out five without walking a batter over 5.2 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Twins.

Bibee hadn't pitched since July 29 due to a shoulder issue, but he was able to avoid a stint on the injured list. He came up an out short of a quality start Sunday, throwing 58 of 84 pitches for strikes to earn his 10th win of the year and his third victory in his last four starts. He's at a 3.39 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 137:31 K:BB through 127.1 innings over 23 starts this season. Assuming he doesn't have a recurrence of the shoulder issue, he's lined up for a road start in Milwaukee next weekend.

Rangers general manager Chris Young said Sunday that Eovaldi (side) will return to Texas to visit with team physician Dr. Keith Meister before a determination is made if he'll be able to make his next start, MLB.com reports. "The hope is that [Eovaldi's side injury is] something that can be managed," Young said. "He's feeling OK [Sunday]. Actually, better than he was, I think, a couple of days ago. It's something he thinks he can pitch through. We're just not sure we want to make him do so. We may end up pushing him back or skipping a start. We don't think it's an IL at this point, but we will clearly decide that once he sees Dr. Meister."

Eovaldi started Saturday but was lifted after just three innings due to right side tightness in the Rangers' 8-0 loss to the Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader. While more information on Eovaldi's next steps won't be available until he meets with Dr. Meister, the right-hander's availability for his next turn through the rotation would appear to be in doubt at the moment. Eovaldi tentatively lines up to take the hill either Thursday or Friday versus the Twins, but the Rangers would likely have to call upon Cody Bradford to make another turn through the rotation if Eovaldi can't go.

Scherzer (shoulder) returned to Texas on Sunday to receive further evaluation from team doctors, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 2 due to right shoulder fatigue, Scherzer had been hopeful to return when first eligible Thursday or shortly thereafter. However, an activation no longer appears imminent for Scherzer, as his shoulder hasn't responded to extra rest as well as the Rangers had anticipated. The Rangers will determine the next steps for the veteran right-hander once he's evaluated further, but with his stay on the IL likely extending into late August if not September, fantasy managers in redraft leagues might not be able to afford to hold him much longer. With Nathan Eovaldi (side) also returning to Texas for further examination and likely to have his next start pushed back, the Rangers could have spots in the rotation available for both Jose Urena and Cody Bradford in the short term.

Pivetta (rest) is scheduled to make his next start Thursday in Baltimore, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Pivetta has stayed healthy since returning from a month-long stay on the injured list May 8, but the Red Sox opted to skip his turn in the rotation this past week to provide him with some extra rest after he had delivered a 7.71 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over his last three starts. After having made his last start Aug. 4, Pivetta will be taking the hill on 10 days' rest when he returns to the mound Thursday.

Verlander (neck) threw 52 pitches and allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three over three innings during his rehab start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday.

The veteran right-hander will be re-evaluated Sunday but is soon expected to be cleared for a second rehab outing. If all goes well during his next rehab start, Verlander could be activated from the 15-day injured list and make his return to Houston's rotation as early as Aug. 20 versus the Red Sox.