MLB Player News

Keller (2-10) earned the win against the Mets on Friday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk while striking out four across 5.1 innings.

Keller allowed one baserunner or zero in each of the first five innings he pitched, with his lone blemish coming in the fourth, when he yielded a solo home run to Juan Soto. Keller has given up three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 starts, but he was finally able to get run support from the Pirates batters and came away with his first win since March 28. Keller now has a 3.90 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 77:25 K:BB across 99.1 innings this season. He'll look for his third win in his next start, tentatively slated for next week at home against the Cardinals.

McCullers (foot) will come off the 15-day injured list Saturday and start against the Cubs, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

McCullers landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June due to a right foot sprain. He resumed throwing shortly after his move to the IL and showed enough progress during his bullpen sessions to forgo a rehab assignment. McCullers has posted a 3.20 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB in 25.1 innings across five starts this season.

Martinez (5-8) earned the win Friday against the Padres, giving up one run on one hit and two walks in eight-plus innings. He struck out six.

It was a magnificent performance from Martinez, who matched a career high with 112 pitches while vying for a no-hitter all the way into the ninth inning. Elias Diaz ripped a double in the ninth to spoil those hopes, but Martinez reached a season high in innings pitched and set a season low in hits allowed. The veteran swingman had worked out of the bullpen in his prior two outings after being rocked for a season-high seven runs in his prior start, and he's since fired 11 innings of one-hit ball covering his last three appearances following that abysmal June 19 start. Martinez will take a 4.12 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 69:21 K:BB over 94 frames into his next scheduled outing against the Red Sox, who are batting a paltry .200 versus right-handed pitching since the beginning of June.

Cease (3-7) took the loss Friday against the Reds, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks in four innings. He struck out eight.

Cease was able to rack up a whopping 20 whiffs on the evening, but he walked at least three for the fourth time in his last five starts. The 29-year-old right-hander had done a great job of keeping the ball in the yard of late, as he conceded just one home run in his prior six outings to Friday, but he matched a season high with two homers allowed against Cincinnati. Cease will bring a 4.53 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 117:36 K:BB over 91.1 innings into his next appearance, which is projected to come on the road against a formidable Phillies lineup.

Festa (2-2) earned the win Friday against the Tigers, giving up two hits in 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

It was an encouraging performance by the 28-year-old right-hander, who was peppered for eight runs on 12 hits his last time out. Friday marked the first time this year that he didn't issue a free pass, and it was also Festa's first scoreless outing of at least five frames so far. Festa will aim to build on this showing in his next scheduled appearance against the Marlins, as he still holds a rough 5.40 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 38:15 K:BB over 36.2 innings.

Bello (3-3) took the loss Friday against the Blue Jays, giving up three runs on eight hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out one.

While Bello's one punchout tied a season low, he was able to record his fifth quality start in a row and seventh of the year. The eight hits allowed were his second most of the season, but the 26-year-old right-hander will nonetheless wrap up a strong month of June with a 2.87 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB over his past four outings (31.1 frames). Bello is tentatively set to toe the slab next week versus the Reds.

Berrios (4-3) earned the win Friday against the Red Sox, giving up no runs on four hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out eight.

Berrios fanned at least eight Friday for the first time since May 29, and he's now up to 11 quality starts on the campaign. Seven of those efforts have come in his last eight outings, during which the veteran right-hander boasts a 2.16 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 40:13 K:BB across these last 50 frames. Up next for Berrios is a scheduled home matchup versus a dangerous Yankees lineup.

Darvish (elbow) threw three simulated innings against Single-A hitters Wednesday, Yuki Yamada of MLB.com reports.

Per Yamada, Darvish threw 51 pitches, and his fastball topped out at 94.5 miles per hour. The right-hander threw about 10 more pitches than in his previous sim game June 20, so he appears to be gradually increasing his workload. Darvish said that he's uncertain what his next step will be, but he suggested that he could pitch in a minor-league game soon. Darvish also indicated that he's hopeful to return from the 60-day injured list before the All-Star break, though he acknowledged that he's unsure if that will happen. Darvish has yet to pitch for the Padres this season, and his return could be a big boost to a San Diego rotation that's currently without Michael King (shoulder) and Ryan Bergert (forearm) as well as Joe Musgrove (elbow), who isn't expected to pitch until 2026.

Warren (5-4) earned the win against the Athletics on Friday, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out seven across five scoreless frames.

Warren found himself in a bases-loaded jam in the first after issuing three walks, but he managed to escape the inning unscathed after striking out the side (though he needed 36 pitches to get through the inning. He was more steady over the next four frames, and the Yankees' bullpen was able to close things out for the team's ninth shutout of the season. Warren has yielded three runs or less in each of his last four starts and is up to 103 strikeouts on the season, which is seventh most in the American League. He's slated to face the Blue Jays on the road next week.

King (shoulder) played catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Playing catch is a meaningful step forward for King, who has been out of action for over five weeks. The right-hander is dealing with a pinched thoracic nerve in his right shoulder, which has resulted in him seeking advice from specialists around the country to better understand how to advance through the recovery process. Imaging on King's shoulder found no structural damage, and he said that he expects to return to action this season, though he'll likely remain sidelined until sometime after the All-Star break.