MLB Player News

Kirby (9-9) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.

Kirby scattered just two hits through the first five innings as the Mariners provided the righty a 7-0 cushion. A Joey Bart two-run homer in the sixth was the first and only blemish against Kirby, who contributed his 16th quality start of the season. The 26-year-old righty put a halt to the Mariners' five-game skid, rebounding from allowing career highs in runs (11) and hits (13) against Detroit in his last start to allow two runs or fewer for the 17th time over 25 starts. He'll carry a 3.40 ERA and 1.08 WHIP into a scheduled home matchup next week against the Giants.

Scherzer (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to pitch again Wednesday, possibly in a rehab start or live batting practice, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday and was quickly back on the mound Sunday, which is encouraging as he makes his return from a bout of shoulder soreness that required a nerve injection. Scherzer last took the mound for Texas in late July, and he could be back in the rotation before the end of August if he can continue trending in the right direction Wednesday.

Blanco (finger) is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander reported some finger soreness after being hit by a comebacker during his previous start Wednesday, but he'll be ready to make his next turn through the rotation Tuesday versus Boston. Blanco has pitched well in his first three starts of August with a 2.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB across 15 innings.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Verlander (neck) is tentatively scheduled to return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against Boston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander completed his second rehab outing Thursday with Double-A Corpus Christi, tossing 57 pitches over four innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out five. The 41-year-old threw a live bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, and Espada and the Astros staff apparently came away satisfied with how the right-hander looked during the workout. Verlander is now on track to make his first start for the Astros since June 9, after a stiff neck had kept him on the shelf for more than two months. Across 10 starts with Houston this season, Verlander has gone 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 57 frames.

Canning (4-11) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk over 4.1 innings while striking out three.

Canning got himself into trouble right out of the gate, allowing three consecutive hits to open the contest, including a three-run shot off the bat of Marcell Ozuna. The right-hander would surrender another run in the second, along with a second long ball in the fifth, marking the first time he's coughed up multiple homers since June 13 against the Diamondbacks. The seven runs charged to Canning on Saturday also marked a season high, and he's now lost three of his last four decisions (spanning eight starts).

Mize (hamstring) struck out three over 3.1 scoreless innings Tuesday in his second rehab start with Triple-A Toledo. He gave up one hit and one walk and hit a batter while tossing 50 pitches (34 strikes).

Mize has yet to permit a run through his first two rehab outings and has posted a 5:2 K:BB across 5.2 innings. Since he was initially placed on the 15-day injured list July 3 with a strained left hamstring before being transferred to the 60-day IL, Mize won't be eligible for activation until Aug. 30, but he appears well on his way to being ready to reclaim a spot in the Detroit rotation on that date. He's scheduled to make his third rehab start for Toledo on Sunday and will likely make one or two more starts after that before being reinstated from the IL.

Springs (1-1) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five innings in a 6-1 victory over the Diamondbacks. He struck out seven.

The southpaw has yet to work more than five innings or throw more than 87 pitches in his four starts since returning from Tommy John surgery in late July, but Springs appears to be rounding into form quickly. Over his last two outings, both against playoff-caliber foes in Baltimore and Arizona, the 31-year-old has dazzled with a 15:1 K:BB in 10 innings while giving up just a single run in each start. Springs will look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Oakland.

Eovaldi (8-7) allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks while striking out six batters over seven-plus innings to take the loss against Minnesota on Saturday.

Eovaldi didn't give up a run until Trevor Larnach tagged him for a solo homer in the fourth. The right-hander cruised through the next three innings without giving up another score and carried a 2-1 lead into the eighth. However, Eovaldi allowed three straight singles in that frame before being pulled with the bases loaded and no outs. All three baserunners then came around to score after his departure. It was a tough finish for Eovaldi, who was hit with his third straight loss. During that span, he's allowed 12 runs (11 earned) over 15 frames despite a strong 17:3 K:BB.

Festa allowed two runs on six hits and no walks while striking out six batters over five innings in a no-decision against Texas on Saturday.

Festa racked up 15 whiffs in the outing as he continues to show good swing-and-miss stuff against big-league hitters. While the rookie right-hander hasn't tossed more than five innings in any of his seven appearances with the Twins, that's largely due to a managed workload -- he's yet to toss more than 82 pitches in an outing. After a pair of rough starts during his initial MLB cup of coffee in late June and early July, Festa has looked much better since rejoining the big club July 24, posting a 2.38 ERA and 31:8 K:BB over 22.2 frames.

Bello (11-5) earned the win over Baltimore on Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out six batters over six innings.

Bello tossed five scoreless frames before serving up a game-tying solo homer to Gunnar Henderson in the sixth inning. That was the hurler's final frame, but Boston scored in the top of the seventh to move him in line for the victory. Bello has shown considerable improvement since the All-Star break, notching five quality starts across seven outings and posting a 3.57 ERA across 40.1 innings. The improvement in ERA is particularly promising after the right-hander recorded a 5.40 ERA over 83.1 frames during the first half of the season.