MLB Player News

Rodriguez (12-4) earned the win over Texas on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over six innings.

Rodriguez was staked to a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but he gave up a pair of runs to split the advantage in half in the bottom of the frame. However, those were the only tallies Texas managed against him, and the right-hander ended with his 12th win -- second most in the majors -- and 10th quality start. Four of those quality starts have come over Rodriguez's past five outings.

Lopez allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out seven over seven innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Saturday.

Lopez limited the damage to an RBI single by Jackson Chourio in the third inning, but the Twins didn't get on the board until the eighth. This was Lopez's third quality start in his last five outings. Minnesota's ace has had a few too many duds this year, giving him a 4.86 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 128:24 K:BB through 111 innings over 20 starts. He's projected to make his next start at Detroit.

Blackburn (foot) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Salt Lake on Saturday night and was charged with the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out one.

Blackburn bumped up his rehab assignment to Triple-A after making his first two appearances with Single-A Stockton. The right-hander immediately got off on the wrong foot by allowing a leadoff homer to MLB veteran Jake Marisnick, who also got to Blackburn for an RBI double in the third inning. In all, Blackburn worked up to 49 pitches, but he located only 26 for strikes. Given he's been ineffective in two of his first three rehab appearances, Blackburn appears set to make at least a couple more starts with an affiliate in an effort to build up some confidence ahead of activation.

Williams (0-2) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Padres.

The Guardians mustered just two baserunners, giving Williams next to nothing for support. He had a particularly rough fourth inning, loading the bases and allowing all three runs on his line in that frame on three hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. This was the shortest of four starts for Williams so far, and it looks like he's still shaking off some rust after missing the first three months of the year with an elbow injury. Williams has a 4.50 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB over 18 innings this season. The right-hander's next start is projected to come at home versus the Tigers.

Scherzer was pulled after two innings in his start in Saturday's 8-4 loss to the Orioles after experiencing right arm fatigue during the outing, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. The right-hander took the loss and dropped to 1-3 on the season after giving up four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out one batter.

Scherzer threw 53 pitches through two frames, and though he was initially preparing to go back in the game for the top of the third inning, he and manager Bruce Bochy decided it was for the best to turn the game over to the bullpen. The three-time Cy Young Award winner spent almost three months on the injured list to start the season due to back, thumb and forearm injuries before being activated June 23. He was stretched out to 95 pitches by his fourth start, but has now been limited to 71 and 53 pitches in his last two appearances. While Scherzer shared optimism that the arm fatigue is a short-term concern, it wouldn't be surprising if the 39-year-old's workload in future starts remained somewhat limited. He tentatively lines up to make his next start Thursday against the White Sox in Arlington.

Garcia (elbow) threw 15 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Garcia threw 15 pitches as part of his first mound work since July 4. While Saturday's session was a major step toward resuming his rehab assignment, Garcia will likely have to complete additional bullpens before being shipped out. The 27-year-old is 14 months into his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

Verlander (neck) threw 40 pitches during a bullpen session Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Verlander is recovering from a neck injury that has sidelined him since June 18, but he's thrown a pair of bullpen sessions in the last week and was stretched out to 40 pitches Saturday. At this point, it's unclear if the 41-year-old will require a minor-league rehab stint.

Kochanowicz (0-2) took the loss against the Athletics on Saturday, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks with four strikeouts over four innings.

Kochanowicz surrendered a three-run home run to Brent Rooker in the first frame and then four more runs in the fourth. The rookie has yielded 11 earned runs in his first seven major-league innings with five strikeouts and three walks. Should he remain in the rotation, the 23-year-old lines up for a rematch with the Athletics next week.

Kikuchi (4-9) took the loss against the Tigers on Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over five innings.

Kikuchi allowed one run over his first five frames but loaded the bases to open the sixth. He was pulled at 94 pitches and all three inherited runners scored on a grand slam. The southpaw generated an impressive 15 swinging strikes, but he has now yielded at least four earned runs in six of his past 10 starts and hasn't won a game since June 11. On the season, he owns a 4.54 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 125:28 K:BB over 111 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Rangers next week.

Clevinger (elbow) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Tuesday will mark Clevinger's fifth rehab start in Triple-A, and it will be his third start since neck stiffness forced him to pause his assignment in late June. Manager Pedro Grifol said the team still hasn't decided if the 33-year-old will require an additional rehab outing, though how Clevinger performs Tuesday will likely affect that decision. Across his four starts, Clevinger has surrendered 10 earned runs in 14.1 innings while striking out 13 batters and walking four.