MLB Player News

Stroman (2-2) took the loss against Houston on Thursday, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 5.2 innings.

Stroman got off to a poor beginning Thursday, giving up three first-inning runs on homers by Yordan Alvarez and Jon Singleton. He rebounded to keep Houston off the scoreboard over the following three frames before being tagged for another run in the fifth. Stroman at least allowed New York to keep within striking range, but this was his second time giving up four runs over his past three starts. The veteran right-hander has been only moderately effective for the Yankees thus far, posting a 3.80 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 40:22 K:BB through 42.2 innings.

Blanco (4-0) earned the win over the Yankees on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out five batters over 5.2 innings.

Blanco was a bit shaky with his control, as he threw just 62 of 107 pitches for strikes and tied a season high with four free passes. However, he allowed just one extra-base hit -- an Anthony Volpe two-run homer that accounted for both runs against him. Blanco thus improved his perfect record to 4-0 on the season, and he's allowed three or fewer runs in all seven of his starts. He's also recorded five quality starts on the campaign, falling one out shy in each of his two outings during which he hasn't met that mark. Blanco has cemented his place in Houston's rotation with a 2.23 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB through 44.1 innings.

Lopez (4-2) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing one run on four hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out 10.

Lopez was excellent Thursday, holding Seattle to a lone second-inning run while recording a season-high 10 strikeouts. After an inconsistent start to the campaign, Lopez looks to be settling in -- he's won his last three starts while holding opponents to one run in back-to-back outings. He lowered his ERA to 3.89 with a 0.98 WHIP and a stellar 55:8 K:BB across eight starts (44 innings) this year. Lopez is currently slated for a home matchup with the Yankees in his next outing.

Gilbert (3-1) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

Five of Minnesota's runs came in the first inning, including three on a Manuel Margot double. Gilbert hadn't allowed more than two earned runs in his previous five starts, recording quality starts in six of his previous seven outings. His ERA went from 1.69 to 2.94 after Thursday with a 0.94 WHIP and 54:15 K:BB across 52 innings. Gilbert will look to get back on track in his next turn in the rotation, currently scheduled for next week against Kansas City.

Woo (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Athletics, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Woo has been on the injured list all year due to right elbow inflammation, but he has now been given the green light to make his season debut with the Mariners. The 24-year-old righty did not give up a run through 11.1 innings during his three rehab starts at Triple-A Tacoma, and he managed to strikeout 17 batters while walking none. Emerson Hancock is expected to be optioned to Tacoma once Woo is activated.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Brown could be available out of the bullpen for the next few days, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brown last pitched Sunday and had been on turn for a start Saturday in Detroit, but Cristian Javier (neck) is returning that day and Justin Verlander will move ahead of Brown to pitch Sunday on regular rest. Brown seemingly would be set up to make a start Monday versus the Athletics if he doesn't pitch in relief before then, but it doesn't appear that has been decided yet. Espada hasn't ruled out the possibility of using a six-man rotation for a while, which would leave room for both Brown an Spencer Arrighetti to keep making starts.

Urquidy (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Urquidy is slated for four innings and/or 60-to-65 pitches in the outing. It's a fairly substantial workload considering the right-hander has been on the shelf with a forearm strain since mid-March. Urquidy would seemingly need at least one additional rehab start after that before returning to the Astros.

The Guardians transferred Williams (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The move clears a spot on the team's 40-man roster for the addition of Darren McCaughan. Williams resumed a throwing program a week ago after a brief shutdown period following a setback with his right elbow. It was going to take him a while to get ramped back up anyway, though, so this transaction shouldn't alter his timetable.

Lagrange is on the Florida Complex League Yankees' 7-day injured list with an undisclosed injury.

A 6-foot-7 righty with a monster fastball, Lagrange logged a 4.97 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 41.2 innings in the Florida Complex League last season. Given that he turns 21 later this month, Lagrange would ideally make his full-season debut at some point later this season, health permitting.

Lalane is on the Florida Complex League Yankees' 7-day injured list with an undisclosed injury.

One of the most electric teenage pitchers in the minors, Lalane seemingly mastered the complex league last year (0.97 WHIP, 34:4 K:BB in 21.2 innings), so this explains why he hasn't been assigned to a full-season affiliate yet. If it were a very serious injury, Lalane may have been put on the 60-day injured list, so perhaps he'll just need some time to rehab the injury at the Yankees' spring training complex before making his season debut.