MLB Player News

Thorpe (3-2) took the loss Friday, surrendering eight runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks in only two-thirds of an inning as the White Sox were routed 10-0 by the Mariners. He struck out one.

The rookie right-hander's eighth career start was an absolute disaster, as Seattle batted around in the first inning and launched back-to-back-to-back homers off Thorpe to chase him from the game. The brutal performance sent his ERA soaring from 3.03 to 4.81, and it snapped his streak of five straight quality starts. Thorpe will try to shake it off and get back on track in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Royals.

Kirby (8-7) picked up the win in Friday's 10-0 rout of the White Sox, scattering six hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

Seattle's offense staked Kirby to an 8-0 lead before he even took the mound for the bottom of the first inning, but the right-hander didn't take it easy on the opposition. Chicago never got a runner past second base against Kirby as he fired 60 of his 88 pitches for strikes before exiting. He's been incredibly consistent for the M's -- he hasn't given up more than three runs in an outing since May 24, and he's lasted at least six innings in nine straight starts, posting a 1.73 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 55:7 K:BB in 57.1 innings over that stretch. Kirby is scheduled to make his next trip to the mound on the road next week in Boston.

Valdez (9-5) picked up the win Friday, allowing four hits and two walks over 6.1 scoreless innings in a 5-0 victory over the Dodgers. He struck out 10.

The 10 strikeouts tied his season high, a mark he set in his final outing before the All-Star break, while the quality start was his 11th of the campaign. Valdez has been locked in since the beginning of June, giving up three runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts while posting a 2.73 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 60:23 K:BB in 62.2 innings. He lines up to make his next trip to the mound at home next weekend against a Rays squad that could be seriously depleted after the trade deadline.

Stone (9-4) took the loss Friday as the Dodgers fell 5-0 to the Astros, giving up four runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out three.

The Los Angeles offense couldn't get anything going against Framber Valdez and the Houston bullpen, but Stone didn't help his cause by serving up long balls to Alex Bregman and Jon Singleton. The right-hander managed to last six innings for the first time in four July starts, but his 6.27 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB through 18.2 innings on the month are still rough. His spot in the rotation is safe for now, but once Walker Buehler (hip) is ready to return, Stone could be fighting for one job with River Ryan and Justin Wrobleski, and that's before considering any trade deadline additions for the team. Stone is scheduled to make his next start on the road next weekend in Oakland.

The Rockies plan to call up Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque to start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader with the Giants in San Francisco.

The right-hander is likely to be designated as the Rockies' 27th man for the twin bill and will presumably be returned to Albuquerque immediately after his start Saturday. Gordon has previously made two starts for the Rockies, taking the loss in both of those outings while giving up 11 earned runs on 16 hits and two walks while striking out seven over 9.1 innings.

Morton (5-6) took the loss Friday, coughing up seven runs (five earned) on six hits -- including three home runs -- on a walk over 2.2 innings in an 8-4 loss to the Mets. He struck out two.

After holding New York off the board through the first two frames, Morton fell apart in the third and served up a grand slam to J.D. Martinez, a two-run shot to Mark Vientos and a solo blast to Francisco Alvarez before getting the hook. It's the third time in four July starts the veteran right-hander has been taken deep multiple times, a stretch in which he's stumbled to a 5.31 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 16:4 K:BB through 20.1 innings. Morton will try to turn things around in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come on the road next week in Milwaukee.

Estes came on in relief in Friday's 5-4 win over the Angels, collecting a hold while allowing two hits and two walks over 2.2 scoreless innings. He didn't strike out a batter.

After making each of his previous 13 appearances with the Athletics this season as a starter, Estes worked out of the bullpen for the first time with Oakland bringing Paul Blackburn (foot) back from the injured list Friday. Since Blackburn was making his first start with the big club in more than two months, he was limited to five innings and 72 pitches in his return, prompting the Athletics to turn to Estes in relief on his normal four days' rest. The Athletics cleared up their logjam in the rotation to some degree by optioning Hogan Harris to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, but Estes could still end up sticking in the bullpen if Oakland elects to proceed with Osvaldo Bido as its fifth starter.

Springs (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Sunday and then will return from the 60-day injured list to start for the Rays on Tuesday or Wednesday versus the Marlins, MLB.com reports.

Springs is on the cusp of his 2024 debut with the Rays after completing 12 rehab starts and most recently building up to five innings and 82 pitches with Triple-A Durham on Thursday. Assuming all goes well with his bullpen session Sunday, he'll be set for his first big-league appearance since April 2023. The Rays may monitor Springs' innings due to his lengthy layoff due to Tommy John surgery, but he'll assume the rotation spot vacated by Zach Eflin, who was traded to the Orioles on Friday.

Pepiot (knee) plans to throw off a mound either Saturday or early next week, MLB.com reports.

Pepiot suffered a knee infection in the latter portions of the All-Star break and was briefly in the hospital for treatment. He's feeling much better and seems to be on track for a quick return from the injured list, though the team has not committed to activating him immediately when eligible.

Gore yielded six runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings in a no-decision Friday. He struck out three during the extra-inning win over St. Louis.

Most of the damage against Gore came during a disastrous third inning. He served up a two-run shot to Masyn Winn, and that was followed by a three-run blast from Nolan Arenado. After posting a terrific 2.91 ERA through the end of May, Gore has registered a 6.51 ERA since the start of June. He now owns a 4.51 ERA with a 121:43 K:BB through 105.2 innings this season. His next start is projected to be in Arizona.