MLB Player News

Watkins (4-3) allowed one earned run on five hits and no walks while striking out two across 5.2 innings to take the loss Thursday against the Cubs.

Watkins pitched to contact and worked efficiently, allowing only a solo home run in his final inning of work to take the tough-luck loss. The strong effort was needed, as entering Thursday's start Watkins had given up 11 earned runs across his last 19.2 innings, covering a span of four outings. Despite posting only a 48:22 K:BB, Watkins has managed to maintain a 4.04 ERA across 78 innings for the campaign.

Montas (4-10) took the loss Thursday against Toronto, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two in six innings.

The second inning was a nightmare for Montas as the Blue Jays scored five times, capped off by a two-out, three-run homer by Vladimir Guerrero. Following that, he settled down, allowing just one run and inducing seven groundball outs over the final four frames. Two of his three starts as a Yankee have been subpar and he has a 9.00 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB in 14 innings since being acquired from the A's. His next start will likely come in the middle of next week in the Subway Series.

Berrios (9-5) earned the victory Thursday against the Yankees, striking out nine in 6.2 innings while allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits, a walk and a hit batsman.

Outside of the first three batters of the third inning, Berrios was excellent. In the third, he allowed a walk and hit a batter before a run-scoring single and an RBI groundout led to both of New York's runs. He scattered four hits over the rest of the outing and kept the Yankees off the board. It was his first good outing in August as he allowed 13 runs and four homers in 7.2 innings over his previous two starts. His next start will likely come in the middle of next week at Boston.

Brubaker (3-10) earned the victory Thursday over Boston, striking out seven in seven scoreless innings while allowing two hits and hitting one batter.

Brubaker was dominant as he scattered two singles and the hit batsman, with only one baserunner making it past first base. He efficiently carved up the Red Sox's lineup but was pulled after just 84 pitches after he developed a blister, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Over his last 10 starts, the 28-year-old is 3-3 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, three homers allowed and a 59:18 K:BB in 56.1 innings. Assuming he can overcome the blister issue, Brubaker tentatively lines up to start Wednesday against Atlanta.

The Marlins are planning on having Rogers (back) make a third rehab start this weekend at Triple-A Jacksonville, MLB.com reports.

Rogers built up to 76 pitches in his second rehab start Sunday with Double-A Pensacola, but he wasn't as sharp as the Marlins probably hoped. While covering 4.2 innings for Pensacola, Rogers struck out six and allowed five earned runs on seven hits and zero walks. If Rogers fares better in his upcoming start with Jacksonville, he should be cleared to rejoin the Marlins later next week. He could be part of a six-man rotation, as Edward Cabrera and Braxton Garrett have both pitched well enough of late to hold on to starting roles.

Miley (shoulder) struck out two and allowed one unearned run on two hits and one walk across five innings Tuesday in his rehab start for Triple-A Iowa.

Miley built up to 75 pitches in the start, the fourth and likely final outing of his rehab assignment. Assuming he checks out fine once re-evaluated in Chicago later this week, Miley should come off the 15-day injured list as soon as Sunday. Three separate stints on the IL have limited Miley to just four starts at the big-league level during his first season with the Cubs.

Webb (11-6) took the loss Thursday against Arizona, allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He did not strike out any batters.

Webb was not at his best Thursday as 12 of the 24 batters he faced reached safely. It was the first time in his big-league career that he failed to record a strikeout in a start. He was pulled with two outs in the fifth inning, ending a streak of 13 straight starts where he completed at least five frames. After fanning an impressive 26.5 percent of batters in 2021, the 25-year-old has a below-average 19.6 percent strikeout rate this season. His next start will likely be in the middle of next week in Detroit.

Gallen (9-2) earned the victory Thursday in San Francisco, striking out 12 in 7.1 scoreless innings while allowing four hits.

Gallen faced the minimum through the first six innings, erasing the two singles allowed with double-play groundballs. The 12 punchouts set a career-high for the 27-year-old, and it was the first time in his big-league career that he exceeded seven innings in a start. Gallen has been dominant since the All-Star break with four of his last six starts lasting seven innings or more while allowing no runs. During that span, he's gone 5-0 and posted a 0.92 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 43:7 K:BB in 39 innings. His next start will likely be in the middle of next week in Kansas City.

Jobe was promoted to High-A West Michigan on Thursday.

Jobe completed 61.2 innings at Single-A Lakeland before being bumped up a level. He posted only a 4.52 ERA but also maintained a 71:25 K:BB across 61.2 innings. Jobe is still a few years away from the majors but has shown flashes of the skills that caused Detroit to pick him third overall in the 2021 Amateur Draft.

The Mets are optimistic that Walker (back) could make his next scheduled start Sunday against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Walker exited Tuesday's start after just two innings due to back spasms, but he underwent an MRI on Wednesday that didn't reveal any structural damage. The right-hander said that the injury was "the worst pain [he] ever felt," but he's feeling better two days later. The Mets will see how he feels in the coming days before confirming him as Sunday's starter, but Walker is trending in the right direction.