MLB Player News

Lauer (3-5) earned the win over Minnesota on Monday, allowing zero hits and issuing three walks while striking out two batters over six scoreless bulk-relief innings.

Lauer had previously made two bulk-relief appearances this season, though both of those took place while he was with Toronto. After the southpaw started in each of his first four appearances since joining Los Angeles, the team elected to deploy him behind opener Will Klein against the Twins. That plan worked to perfection, as Lauer gave Los Angeles six sterling innings, allowing no hits and stranding all three batters he walked. It was far from an overpowering performance by the veteran hurler -- he notched just three whiffs and two punchouts -- but this was nonetheless his best performance of the campaign. Lauer posted a 6.69 ERA across 36.1 frames with the Blue Jays, but he's been much better since joining the Dodgers. Through five outings, he's registered a 2.54 ERA with a 16:8 K:BB over 28.1 innings while notching a 2-0 record.

Singer allowed two hits and issued two walks while striking out seven batters over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Monday.

Singer went toe to toe with Milwaukee hurler Brandon Woodruff, as the pair combined for 13 scoreless innings with 17 strikeouts. Singer had his swing-and-miss stuff working with 13 whiffs and a season-high seven punchouts while recording his first scoreless outing of the campaign. The right-hander held a 6.18 ERA through the end of May, but he's lowered that to 4.81 in June, posting a 1.64 ERA alongside a 23:9 K:BB over 22 innings.

Woodruff allowed one hit and struck out 10 batters over six scoreless innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Monday.

Woodruff made his first big-league appearance since April 30 after spending time on the shelf due to a shoulder injury. The veteran right-hander showed absolutely no signs of rust, as he retired the first 16 batters he faced and allowed just one baserunner overall (on a Tyler Stephenson sixth-inning single). Woodruff racked up a season-high 10 punchouts, and the only thing holding him back from an even more impressive performance was a restricted workload that limited him to 79 pitches over six innings. Woodruff said after the game that he felt "pretty much the same" physically throughout the start, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, so he appears to have emerged without any setbacks. Woodruff should be able to build up his pitch count as he racks up more starts, and he is next lined up to take the mound at home versus the Cubs.

Griffin (8-2) earned the win Monday against the Phillies, allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine over 7.1 innings.

Griffin recorded the deepest outing of his major-league career Monday, as the left-hander held the Phillies scoreless through six frames before Brandon Marsh finally got to him with a solo homer in the seventh. The nine strikeouts matched a season high for Griffin. He has limited opponents to one run or fewer in five of his last six starts while posting a stellar 1.78 ERA and 35:5 K:BB during that span. Griffin will carry that momentum into his next scheduled outing on the road against Baltimore.

Rocker took a no-decision Monday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks in five innings of relief. He struck out nine.

The Rangers have now deployed Rocker behind an opener twice this season, and the results so far have been promising to say the least. The 26-year-old right-hander twirled 7.2 shutout innings the last time he worked as a reliever during his May 19 outing, and he fanned a season-high nine Monday. It would make sense for Texas to use Rocker in long relief out of the bullpen once again this weekend in Toronto, where he'll try to further improve on a 4.14 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 65:30 K:BB across 74 innings.

Cole (2-2) took the loss Monday against the Tigers, allowing five runs on nine hits and one walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

It was perhaps a season-worst outing for Cole, who surrendered a season-high nine hits and five runs Monday. The 35-year-old right-hander had fired 12.2 scoreless innings to begin the season, but he's struggled to the tune of a 5.95 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 19.2 frames during the month of June. Cole will be trying to right the ship his next time out in Boston, where he'll carry a 3.62 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB over 32.1 innings.

Valdez (4-5) notched the win Monday against the Yankees, allowing one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out eight.

Valdez found himself in top form Monday, tying a season high in punchouts over six strong innings. The 31-year-old southpaw has now thrown at least five innings in eight consecutive starts, and he's also spun at least six frames while yielding two runs or fewer in nine of his 16 outings for the year. Valdez will bring a respectable 3.91 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 75:34 K:BB across 89.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance at home against the Astros.

The Twins scratched Ryan from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Dodgers due to an illness, Aaron Gleeman of AaronGleeman.com reports.

In Ryan's stead, Minnesota will turn to Kendry Rojas to serve as their opening pitcher Tuesday in what will likely be a bullpen game. The Twins haven't provided word on the severity of Ryan's illness, so it's unclear if he'll be available to pitch in their series later in the week against Colorado or if he'll have his turn in the rotation skipped entirely. The 30-year-old righty has gotten off to a strong start to the 2026 campaign, posting a 5-3 record, 2.99 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 99:18 K:BB across 87.1 innings.

Cease did not factor into the decision Monday against the Astros, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings.

Cease surrendered an early RBI-single by Isaac Paredes in the first inning before settling into a groove, retiring 13 consecutive batters at one point while piling up seven strikeouts during the stretch. The right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth, issuing back-to-back walks and then allowing an RBI single to Jose Altuve that ultimately ended his night. Cease's swing-and-miss stuff remained electric, as he recorded his eighth consecutive outing with at least seven strikeouts. Since the beginning of May, the 30-year-old has posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 61:14 K:BB across 41.2 innings. He is slated to face off against Texas at home next.

Brown did not factor into the decision Monday against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings.

The right-hander threw 54 of his 85 pitches for strikes but struggled to consistently find the zone, issuing two walks and plunking two batters. His lone run allowed came via Kazuma Okamoto, who led off the second inning with a solo homer. Despite lasting only three innings, Brown did not appear to be working under any workload limitations, as his pitch count suggests Houston is willing to let him work through trouble. Through two starts since returning, he has allowed just two runs across 8.2 innings while posting an 11:5 K:BB. Brown is scheduled to make his next start on the road against Detroit.