MLB Player News

Pepiot (knee) will increase the intensity of his throwing in a bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Pepiot threw a lighter bullpen session Saturday, his first significant activity since landing on the injured list. After Tuesday, Pepiot will throw a simulated game or go on a rehab assignment, though the team has not specified its plans.

Houck (8-7) took the loss Sunday against the Yankees, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out two in six innings.

The Yankees jumped on Houck early with three runs in the first frame and tacked on another in the fourth. Houck gave up four of his five hits in the opening inning and then settled in for his third straight outing reaching six innings. Despite attaining this mark, Houck has shown some regression with his command, posting an 11:14 K:BB in 21.1 innings in July. He's struck out two or fewer batters in three of his last four starts after only having done that once in his first 17 starts of the year. Despite all of this, Houck is still eighth in baseball with a 2.79 ERA to go with a 1.11 WHIP and 116:33 K:BB in 129 innings. He lines up to face the Rangers on the road over the weekend his next time out.

Gray plans to undergo imaging in the coming days to determine the severity of the right groin injury that forced him out of his start in Sunday's 7-3 loss to the Blue Jays before the beginning of the first inning, Ethan Diamandas of MLB.com reports.

Gray tweaked his groin during one of his final warmup pitches Sunday, and after consulting with manager Bruce Bochy, the right-hander was pulled from the game without facing a batter. Texas used three relievers to record all 24 outs in an impromptu bullpen day, but the Rangers may need to turn to long relievers Dane Dunning or Jose Urena or call up a pitcher from the minors to make a spot start next weekend against the Red Sox if Gray isn't fully healed from the groin injury by then. The Rangers should have a better feel for Gray's status heading into the weekend once the results of his imaging are in.

Mahle (elbow) struck out three and allowed three earned runs on three hits and one walk over four innings in his rehab start Thursday with Double-A Frisco.

Mahle tossed 55 pitches (34 strikes) in the outing, his second with Frisco and the fifth overall of his minor-league rehab assignment. Over those five starts, Mahle has turned in a 2.03 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings, and his fastball velocity has mostly sat in the lower 90s -- right in line with his readings from before he underwent Tommy John surgery last May. Mahle will likely look to push up his pitch count to the 60-to-70 range his next time out Wednesday with Triple-A Round Rock in what could be his final minor-league outing before he returns from the 60-day injured list. Texas has an off day coming up Thursday and could be able to get by with a four-man rotation this week before Mahle potentially returns from the IL to make his Rangers debut Aug. 5 against the Astros. The Rangers will have a spot open for Mahle in the rotation after trading Michael Lorenzen to the Royals on Monday.

The Royals acquired Lorenzen from the Rangers on Monday in exchange for left-hander Walter Pennington.

Kansas City has shored up its pitching depth with the acquisition of Lorenzen, though it's not immediately clear if the right-hander will be part of the rotation with his new team, as the Royals have gotten quality results from back-end starters Michael Wacha and Alec Marsh. Lorenzen has plenty of prior experience working in relief, and he could prove to be a more useful weapon at the back end of the Kansas City bullpen, especially after Hunter Harvey (back) and John Schreiber (knee) exited Sunday's game against the Cubs with injuries. Lorenzen had started in 18 of his 19 appearances with Texas this season, logging a 5-6 record, 3.81 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 75:48 K:BB over 101.2 innings. The 32-year-old is set to become a free agent after the season.

Festa is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Mets at Citi Field.

After being roughed up for 12 earned runs in 10 innings in his first two big-league starts earlier this summer, Festa was deployed as a bulk reliever in this past Wednesday's game against the Phillies following his call-up from Triple-A St. Paul. Upon entering the game behind opening pitcher Steven Okert, Festa delivered by far his best MLB outing to date, striking out seven over four innings of relief while giving up one earned run on four hits and two walks. Despite Festa's success out of the bullpen, the Twins will give him another look in a starting role when his next turn through the rotation comes up in New York. Festa brings plenty of strikeout upside to the table, though keeping the ball in the yard has been a major issue for the 24-year-old both in the majors and minors in 2024.

Lorenzen allowed one run on three hits and struck out one over four relief innings in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Toronto.

After getting chased by the Blue Jays on Saturday, when he lasted two-thirds of an inning (40 pitches), Lorenzen volunteered to pitch Sunday following starter Jon Gray's (groin) removal without throwing a pitch. He gave the Rangers 55 pitches and saved the bullpen. With the team having a day off Thursday, Lorenzen is expected to remain Friday's scheduled starter against Boston.

Miller (8-7) allowed three runs on seven hits over 6.1 innings Sunday, striking out six and earning a win over the White Sox.

Miller held the White Sox to one run through six frames before coughing up a two-run shot to Paul DeJong in the seventh inning. Miller has shown great command over the last several weeks, posting a 37:7 K:BB across his last 46.2 innings. He's issued just three free passes over his last six starts. Miller owns a 3.46 ERA with a 109:29 K:BB through 122.1 innings this season. He's currently lined up for a tough home matchup with the Phillies next weekend.

Crochet (6-8) yielded five runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over three innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against Seattle.

Crochet served up a two-run homer to Cal Raleigh in the first inning and never found his groove. Crochet was handed his second straight loss and has not earned a win since June 7. While he's reportedly still expected to receive a "normal workload," he's totaled just 13 innings through four starts this month. During that stretch, he's produced a 4.85 ERA while averaging just under 65 pitches per start. Crochet owns a 3.23 ERA with a terrific 160:26 K:BB through 114.1 innings this season. He's tentatively lined up to start in Minnesota next weekend, though the upcoming trade deadline could change those plans.

Ragans (7-7) allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk over 5.2 innings Sunday, striking out seven and taking a loss against the Cubs.

Ragans gave up a pair of runs in the third inning followed by two more in the sixth. He took his first loss since June 29 and broke a three-game streak of quality starts. However, he forced 17 whiffs Sunday, including 11 with his changeup. Ragans is sporting a 3.37 ERA with a 153:41 K:BB through 22 starts this season. His next outing is expected to be in Detroit.