MLB Player News

Festa racked up seven strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief in Wednesday's win against the Phillies, allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks. He did not factor into the decision.

Called up Wednesday morning to bolster the Twins' rotation with Chris Paddack (forearm) on the injured list, Festa worked as the bulk reliever behind opener Steven Okert. The 24-year-old Festa struggled mightily in his first major-league stint, surrendering 12 earned runs with just eight strikeouts in 10 innings. Wednesday's outing was a completely different story, however, as Festa allowed just one earned run and racked up a career-best seven strikeouts against a formidable Phillies lineup. The right-hander now owns an 8.16 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB across 14.1 major-league innings. It remains to be seen when he will pitch next, but Festa made a strong case for consistent work with Wednesday's performance.

The Orioles selected McDermott's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

McDermott is set to make his major-league debut with a start Wednesday in Miami. The right-hander has collected a 3.96 ERA and 129:54 K:BB over 91 innings this season with Norfolk, covering 19 starts and one relief appearance. The fifth spot in the Orioles' rotation is currently open, and McDermott is being given a chance to show he can fill it.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Stripling (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Anaheim, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Stripling has been sidelined since late May with a flexor strain but is ready to rejoin the big club after making three rehab starts. The veteran right-hander had a maximum pitch count of 56 across the three outings, so he'll probably be a bit limited from a workload perspective against the Angels.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that McDermott will be called up from Triple-A Norfolk to start Wednesday against the Marlins, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

McDermott's promotion already appeared imminent after he joined the Orioles' taxi squad in Miami on Tuesday, and Hyde confirmed that the 25-year-old righty would fill the opening in the rotation created by Cade Povich's demotion to Triple-A shortly before the All-Star break. Over 20 appearances (19 starts) at Norfolk this season, McDermott posted a 3.96 ERA and 1.43 WHIP while piling up 129 strikeouts over 91 innings. Though McDermott should be able to continue generating swings and misses in the big leagues on the back of his mid-to-upper 90s fastball and a sharp slider, control remains a concern for the young righty, who has walked 13.5 percent of the batters he's faced in the minors this season. A matchup with a weak Miami lineup at least offers McDermott a soft landing spot in his MLB debut.

Berrios (8-8) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on three hits and six walks over 4.2 innings as the Blue Jays fell 4-2 to the Rays. He struck out five.

The six free passes were a season worst for Berrios, topping the four he'd issued in his last start July 13. The right-hander also served up a solo shot to Brandon Lowe, and in his last nine outings dating back to the beginning of June, he's been taken deep 12 times while stumbling to a 6.02 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 34:21 K:BB through 49.1 innings. Berrios will try to get back on track in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Rangers.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Philadelphia, allowing three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over six scoreless innings.

Woods Richardson was locked into a pitchers' duel with Zack Wheeler, with no runs scored until the ninth inning Tuesday. The performance marked Woods Richardson's first scoreless start since May and extended his streak of starts allowing three or fewer runs to six. The 23-year-old holds a 3.27 ERA with 76 strikeouts across 88 innings this season. He's on track to face the Mets at Citi Field early next week.

The Twins recalled Festa from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Festa started in his two appearances with the Twins earlier this season back on June 27 and July 3, giving up 12 earned runs while striking out eight batters over 10 innings. Though the Twins have an opening in the rotation for Wednesday's game against the Phillies after Chris Paddack (forearm) landed on the injured list, Festa looks set to work as a bulk reliever rather than a traditional starter, per Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Reliever Steven Okert will start the contest and likely work an inning or two before giving way to Festa, who owns a 4.06 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 93:28 K:BB over 64.1 innings at Triple-A this season.

Alexander (3-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing three hits over three scoreless innings of relief in a 4-2 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The southpaw entered the game in the third inning after Shawn Armstrong gave the Rays two scoreless innings as the opener, and Alexander kept the goose eggs coming to lower his ERA on the season to 5.88. It was his first appearance in the majors since May 30, but Alexander's latest stint as a bulk reliever figures to be a short one with both Jeffrey Springs (elbow) and Ryan Pepiot (knee) expected to rejoin the rotation in late July or early August. Alexander will likely get one more turn, however, and lines up for an outing at home against the Reds this weekend.

Gilbert (6-6) took the loss to the Angels on Tuesday, allowing five runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out eight over 6.2 innings.

Gilbert retired the first 12 batters he faced before things completely unraveled in the fifth. He allowed three base hits in the inning, and two throwing errors played a part in the Angels tacking on all five of their runs in the frame. Still, it was his third straight start of more than six innings, a span during which he's compiled a 24:2 K:BB in 21.1 innings. Gilbert only has one win over his last five starts despite posting four quality starts over that timeframe. He now has a 2.72 ERA (fifth lowest in MLB) and an 0.86 WHIP (lowest in MLB) to complement a 132:26 K:BB in 139 innings and lines up to face the Red Sox on the road to begin next week.

Gil came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Mets, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out six.

After a rough stretch in late June and early July, Gil has turned things around and given up just one run in each of his last three outings while delivering a 22:2 K:BB over 17.2 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander's stumble came after he topped 100 pitches for the first time June 14 against the Red Sox, so expect the Yankees to keep a close eye on his workload the rest of the way. Gil lines up to make his next start on the road early next week in Philadelphia.