MLB Player News

Rasmussen (8-4) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Royals. He struck out eight.

Rasmussen allowed only one extra-base hit in the form of a double from shortstop Bobby Witt. The righty has been particularly effective lately with a 33:6 K:BB and a 0.83 WHIP over 38.2 innings over his last seven starts. In addition, the 27-year-old has been significantly better at home with a 1.99 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 58.2 innings compared to a 3.86 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 46.2 innings away from Tampa Bay.

Cole (9-6) took the loss against Toronto on Saturday, pitching six innings and allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

Cole was locked in through four frames, allowing only two baserunners on a walk and a hit batsman. After striking out Matt Chapman to begin the fifth, he subsequently let six straight batters reach base on three doubles, two infield singles and a free pass. The onslaught resulted in four runs, and though Cole rebounded to retire the side in order in the sixth, the damage was too much for a recently tepid New York offense to overcome. Cole has now gone six starts without earning a victory, and he's posted an uncharacteristic 4.62 ERA over that span. He leads the majors with 189 strikeouts but has otherwise had a mildly disappointing campaign thus far.

Butto will start Sunday's game against the Phillies, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Butto was only recently promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, and his second start with the club was cut short in anticipation that he may be needed in the majors. He has spent the majority of the season with Double-A Binghamton, where he posted a 108:35 K:BB, 4.00 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 92.1 frames. Butto's first stint in the majors could be short, as the Mets only need to turn to a six-man rotation due to their doubleheader Saturday.

Garrett will be on placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain and isn't expected to return this season, Craig Mish of SportsGrid.com reports.

He was a late scratch from his scheduled start Saturday against the Dodgers, and while Garrett is eligible to be activated at the end of August, the nature of the injury probably makes it unrealistic for him to get stretched out in time to rejoin the rotation before the end of the season. The 25-year-old lefty had a successful campaign, logging a 3.67 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 68.2 innings through 13 MLB starts. Miami's one strength is starting pitching depth, but Garrett should at least get to compete for a rotation spot next spring.

Garrett will not make his scheduled start Saturday against the Dodgers and will be placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's not clear who will start in Garrett's place or what the injury is, but he will be out until at least Aug. 30.

Mahle (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Per Miller, it's a precautionary move by the Twins that allows the team to add a lefty reliever (Devin Smeltzer) against the lefty-heavy Rangers. Mahle was already expected to miss his next start. He is eligible to return Sept. 2.

Blackburn (finger) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

His right middle finger will be in a splint for the next six weeks, so Blackburn's season is over. He was a great story in the first half of the season, but his production plummeted over his final eight starts (7.94 ERA), in part due to the finger discomfort he dealt with over his final four starts. Blackburn will be a key part of Oakland's rotation in 2023.

May (elbow) was activated ahead of his start Saturday against the Marlins.

The runway is clear for May to be in the Dodgers' rotation for the rest of the regular season. He logged a 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 36:6 K:BB in 21 innings across six rehab outings.

Boyd (elbow) took the loss for Triple-A Tacoma against Albuquerque on Friday, allowing two earned runs on two hits, a balk and a hit batsman while recording four strikeouts.

As the busy final line implies, Boyd had some control issues in his third rehab appearance. The veteran southpaw did work up to 40 pitches (26 strikes), and his swing-and-miss stuff was encouraging. Boyd had logged a pair of scoreless one-inning outings in his first two trips to the mound for the Rainiers, and the Associated Press reports manager Scott Servais estimates the 31-year-old could join the big-league bullpen within the next two weeks.

Blackburn (finger) revealed Friday that he pitched through progressively worsening discomfort during his final four starts of the season before being shut down Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. "I was hoping that it would just kind of go away," he said. "... It just never went away. It got worse."

The right-hander was a first-time All-Star in 2022, and his 8.41 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 2.7 HR/9 over the 20.1 innings covering his last four starts are largely explained by what was ultimately revealed to be a torn flexor tendon sheath in his right middle finger. Blackburn apparently suffered the injury in his preparation for his July 13 start against the Rangers, the outing that marked the beginning of his slump. The combination of the increasing pain and the inability to extend his finger and finish pitches ultimately caused the early end to Blackburn's season, and although he'll be in a cast for up to eight weeks, he's expected back at full strength for spring training.