MLB Player News

Kay did not factor into Friday's decision against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out five across four innings.

It wasn't the cleanest outing from Kay, who was pulled following the fourth inning after tossing 83 pitches (47 strikes), though he did induce 11 whiffs. It's the second time he's failed to go beyond four innings over his last three starts, and he has a 4.24 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 76:38 K:BB across 93.1 innings this season. Kay is lined up to start next week on the road against the Rangers.

Lugo allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out three over six innings a no-decision Friday against the Padres.

Lugo recorded six strong innings on 93 pitches but did not factor into the decision against San Diego. The two runs Lugo allowed crossed the plate on the same play due to a fielding error by Michael Massey, which allowed both Ty France and Miguel Andujar to score in the top of the fifth. After making his 20th start of the year, the 36-year-old Lugo now maintains a 4.39 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 89:36 K:BB through 110.2 innings this season. Lugo is in line to make his next start Wednesday against the Giants.

Kolek (personal) will make a rehab start Saturday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Kolek has been on the Family Medical Emergency List since early July. Saturday's rehab outing will likely be his only one, and he could return to the Royals for their next series against the Giants that starts Monday. Kolek went 4-3 across 10 starts in the first half of the regular season, posting a 4.50 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 34:12 K:BB across 54 innings.

Lively (elbow) tossed a live bullpen Wednesday and is scheduled for another session Monday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Lively continues to progress in his recovery from a UCL reconstruction and flexor tendon repair that he underwent in May of 2025. He inked a minor-league contract with the Guardians in mid-February, and it appears he's not far from embarking on a rehab assignment. That means Lively could be available for the Guardians for the final weeks of the 2026 regular season.

Eovaldi is dealing with an illness but is lined up to start against Atlanta on Sunday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

It looks like Eovaldi picked something up over the All-Star break, but he may not end up missing significant time as long as he's cleared to start in Sunday's series finale. The veteran right-hander posted a 9-7 record across 18 starts in the first half of the regular season, along with a 4.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 120:26 K:BB across 111.1 innings.

DeGrom (glute) will throw a bullpen session Saturday and will likely make his next start during the Rangers' home series against the White Sox that begins Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Landry initially reported Thursday that deGrom was lined up to face Atlanta on Sunday, but it looks like the veteran right-hander needs a little bit more time to recover. He is dealing with a mild left glute strain that he picked up prior to the All-Star break, but the injury is not severe enough for him to require a stint on the injured list.

Bennett (5-3) picked up the win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Rays, scattering one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings. He struck out three.

Tampa Bay never got a runner into scoring position against the rookie southpaw, as Bennett tossed an extremely efficient 65 pitches (42 strikes) before being lifted with Boston comfortably ahead 9-0 to begin the seventh inning. Bennett has delivered five straight quality starts dating back to June 22, a stretch in which he sports an astounding 0.82 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB over 33 innings. He'll look to stay dialed in for his next trip to the mound, which is set to come at home next week against the Orioles.

Jax (5-7) took the loss in the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, coughing up seven runs on eight hits and one walk over five-plus innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander didn't get any help from his offense in a 10-0 rout, but Jax's efforts to keep the game close unraveled in the sixth inning when he led off the frame by hitting Caleb Durbin with a pitch, and then watched the next three Boston batters reach base before he got the hook. Jax tossed 55 of 85 pitches for strikes in his worst outing of the season, and it's the first time since June 1 he's been tagged for more than three runs. He'll take a 4.08 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 77:26 K:BB through 75 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week in Toronto.

Williams and the Guardians won't face the Pirates on Friday, as the game was postponed due to poor air quality.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday, with Williams taking the mound for Game 1, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. Williams went 10-4 with a 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 134:37 K:BB across 113.1 innings prior to the All-Star break.

Scherzer's (back) rehab assignment has been paused after he received three cortisone injections in his right thumb Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Scherzer was originally placed on the injured list last month due to back spasms, so he must have re-injured his thumb in his rehab start last Wednesday. The veteran right-hander has dealt with a laundry list of injuries this season, limiting him to six starts. Scherzer has posted a 10.23 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 14:11 K:BB across 22 innings when healthy enough to pitch.