MLB Player News

The Rockies are expected to call up Brown from Double-A Hartford to start Sunday's game against the Pirates at PNC Park, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

After Colorado released Austin Gomber on Friday, Brown looks to be the leading candidate to fill the opening in the rotation. The 79th overall pick in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, Brown missed significant development time after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 and has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, but he's pitched effectively over 11 outings for Hartford. Since getting promoted from High-A Spokane on May 30, the 25-year-old right-hander has logged a 3.14 ERA and 57:15 K:BB across 43 innings at Double-A.

The Marlins recalled Gusto from Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday.

Gusto will draw the start in Friday's contest versus the Blue Jays in what will be his second outing for the Marlins since he landed with Miami in a trade that sent Jesus Sanchez to the Astros. The righty holds a 4.89 ERA in 92 innings at the big-league level in 2025, though that's come with a promising 95:30 K:BB. Gusto should get the chance to stick in the Marlins' rotation for the rest of the season if he performs.

The Giants recalled Whisenhunt from Triple-A Sacramento ahead of his start against the Brewers on Friday.

Whisenhunt officially joins the 26-man roster, taking the place of Landen Roupp (knee). The 24-year-old Whisenhunt made his MLB debut in late July with three starts for the Giants, posting a 5.02 ERA and a 12:7 K:BB across 14.1 innings before being sent back down Aug. 12. Whisenhunt's numbers at Sacramento weren't much better, as he tallied a 4.37 ERA and 92:32 K:BB across 103 innings.

The Giants placed Roupp on the 15-day injured list Friday with left knee inflammation.

The club is calling it inflammation for now, but Roupp underwent an MRI on Thursday and a more specific diagnosis could come Friday, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. Roupp was injured during Wednesday's start versus the Padres after being struck by a comebacker and then twisting awkwardly when he fell to the ground. Carson Whisenhunt is taking Roupp's spot on the roster and in the rotation.

Snelling allowed four hits and three walks over six scoreless innings for Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday. He struck out eight.

The 21-year-old southpaw hasn't given up an earned run in 21 straight innings for the Jumbo Shrimp, and he's worked at least six innings in five straight starts, delivering a stunning 0.88 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 46:6 K:BB over 30.2 innings during that dominant stretch. Ryan Gusto is getting called up Friday to take the open spot in the Marlins' rotation created when Cal Quantrill was waived, but Snelling has done everything he can to demonstrate he's ready for a big-league audition over the final weeks of the season.

Sasaki (shoulder) threw 3.1 innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out two batters.

Sasaki struggled with his control Wednesday, throwing a modest 39 of his 60 pitches for strikes. However, he had better results than in his previous appearance with OKC, when he allowed three runs over two-plus frames. The rookie right-hander's fastball averaged 96 mph Wednesday after it sat in the 93-94 mph range in his first rehab start. Despite the step forward, it doesn't seem like Sasaki is ready to return to the big-league roster. The Dodgers' rotation has gotten mostly healthy since he's been shelved, and Emmet Sheehan has filled in capably as the sixth starter, so Sasaki doesn't have a clear role available once he's physically ready to return.

King (knee) threw bullpen sessions Monday and Thursday, per MLB.com.

King landed on the IL due to left knee inflammation Aug. 14. However, the move was backdated to Aug. 11, so the righty hurler is eligible to be activated this coming Tuesday. The hope has been that King will be able to return to the roster after a minimum-length IL stay, and his ability to throw two bullpens this week suggests that such a scenario remains feasible, though the Padres may opt to give him a few more days to keep the team's other starters on their usual schedule. For the time being, JP Sears is in line to get at least one more start while King remains out of action.

Gray (12-6) allowed three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Rays on Thursday.

Gray wasn't dominant, but this was a much better effort than his last start, when he allowed six runs over five innings in a loss to the Yankees. Gray has given up 12 runs (11 earned) across 24 innings over his four starts in August, numbers right in line with his overall performance this year. He's at a 4.33 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 161:25 K:BB in 145.1 innings through 26 starts. The right-hander has a favorable matchup coming next week, as he's projected for a home start versus the Pirates.

Cease (6-11) earned the win Thursday against the Giants, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.

Though the six hits were his most allowed since July 2 in Philadelphia, Cease produced 13 whiffs en route to fanning at least seven for the fourth time in his last five starts. The right-hander continues to offer fantasy managers plenty of strikeout upside, as he has 178 punchouts over 137.2 innings, but he's been unable to reach his top form consistently with a 4.71 ERA for the season. Cease will be aiming for better run prevention his next time out, which is slated for next week at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against the Mariners.

Verlander (1-10) took the loss Thursday against the Padres, allowing seven runs on seven hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out four.

Following a season-best outing in innings and strikeouts against the Rays on Aug. 16, Verlander surrendered a season-worst seven runs Thursday. The veteran right-hander made it through three spotless frames before the Padres got to him, and it was the sixth time this year that he couldn't last at least five innings. Verlander has a shaky 4.64 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 99:37 K:BB over 110.2 frames, and he'll remain difficult to trust from a fantasy perspective in a tough matchup against the Cubs next week.