MLB Player News

Mikolas came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Padres, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.

The veteran righty appeared to be headed for another rough outing when San Diego jumped on him for four runs in the second inning, but Mikolas shook it off and left the mound after 93 pitches (63 strikes) with St. Louis having taken a 5-4 lead. The Cards' bullpen couldn't get him his ninth win of the year, however. Mikolas has been tagged for at least four runs in four of five August starts, leaving him with an ugly 6.39 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 25.1 innings on the month. He's scheduled to make his next trip to the mound on the road early next week in Milwaukee.

Williamson (shoulder) struck out four and gave up one hit and one walk over 2.2 scoreless innings in his rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Louisville.

After making four rehab starts in May and June, Williamson was pulled off his minor-league assignment when he experienced a setback with his shoulder. He was then diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder, but rather than opting for season-ending surgery to address the issue, he instead received injections to treat the injury. Williamson seems to be responding well more than two months later, and he took a major step forward in the recovery process by restarting his rehab assignment Tuesday. He tossed 50 pitches (26 strikes) in the rehab outing for Louisville, generating seven swings and misses along the way. Williamson will likely continue to build up over at least two more rehab outings before he becomes a realistic option for the Cincinnati rotation.

Cease came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Cardinals, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four and threw three wild pitches.

The right-hander got only 52 of his 96 pitches in the strike zone as he issued three or more free passes for the fourth time in his last seven starts. Over that stretch, Cease has maintained a 2.92 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB in 37 innings, though he hasn't produced a single double-digit strikeout performance in that span. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Tampa Bay.

Maeda is expected to be used as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Mason Englert in Wednesday's game against the Angels, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Maeda hasn't made a start since July 9, but he's essentially maintained a spot in the rotation since the All-Star break while working as a bulk reliever. He's turned in a 4.55 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26:2 K:BB over 29.2 innings across his seven relief appearances, with his ERA inflated by a rough showing this past Thursday against the Cubs in which he coughed up six runs across five frames. After Wednesday's appearance, Maeda could move into more a flexible multi-inning role out of the bullpen with the Tigers having recently added Triple-A Toledo call-up Ty Madden to the rotation. Additionally, Casey Mize (hamstring) appears poised to return from the 60-day injured list this weekend to give the Tigers another rotation option.

Canning is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park.

For the first time all season, Canning didn't start in his most recent appearance Thursday in Toronto, as he instead worked as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher Brock Burke. Though Canning struck out six over six scoreless innings out of the bullpen Thursday, the Angels won't use an opener in front of Canning in Detroit and will instead return him to his normal starting role. Canning enters Wednesday's contest with a 4-11 record, 5.18 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 102:48 K:BB through 139 innings on the season.

Woods Richardson came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-6 extra-inning loss to Atlanta, giving up four runs on three hits and three walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander tossed only 55 of 91 pitches for strikes and exited the mound with the Twins in a 4-0 hole, but his offense got him off the hook for the loss. Woods Richardson has failed to last longer than five innings in five of his last six starts, stumbling to a 5.59 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 26:13 K:BB in 29 innings over that stretch. He'll look for a better result in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Tampa Bay.

Schwellenbach came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-6 extra-inning win over the Twins, giving up five hits and three walks over 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

Atlanta spotted the rookie right-hander a 4-0 lead, but Schwellenbach wasn't efficient enough to take advantage as he needed 106 pitches (67 strikes) to record 14 outs. The bullpen then let Minnesota back into the game late in the later innings. Schwellenbach has allowed three runs or less in all five of his August trips to the mound, posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and dazzling 42:8 K:BB through 29.1 innings on the month. He faces a tough test in his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Philadelphia.

Criswell came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 6-3 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on five hits and three walks over 3.1 innings. He failed to strike out a batter.

He needed 72 pitches (46 strikes) to record 10 outs, and Criswell benefitted from some sloppy baserunning by Toronto just to do that well. The right-hander has thrown more than 70 pitches in three straight outings but has failed to last five innings in any of them, posting a 6.35 ERA, 2.29 WHIP and 5:8 K:BB in 11.1 frames over that rough stretch. The Red Sox have fallen four games back of the Twins for the final wild-card spot in the AL, and Criswell could have a very short leash in the rotation as a result. He currently lines up to make his next start on the road this weekend in Detroit.

Rodriguez (1-6) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up six runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings as the Blue Jays were downed 6-3 by the Red Sox. He struck out three.

Half of the hits off the right-hander went for extra bases, including a leadoff homer by Jarren Duran. Rodriguez had served up just one home run in his first 30 innings since coming off the IL in late June, but over his last four trips to the mound he's been taken deep six times, leading to a 7.20 ERA in 20 frames over that stretch. He'll try to turn things around in his next outing, which currently lines up to come on the road this weekend in Minnesota.

Williams (2-7) took the loss Tuesday against the Royals, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out six.

The Cleveland right-hander's run of tough luck continues, as he took his third consecutive loss in this rain-shortened, 83-pitch outing. However, the only blemish on this particular night was a two-run homer allowed to Paul DeJong in the second inning. The 25-year-old Williams has now pitched to a 4.99 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 58:21 K:BB across 52.1 innings this season. He currently lines up to make his next appearance against the Pirates at home this weekend.