MLB Player News

Cortes allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over five innings Thursday against Seattle. He did not factor in the decision.

The left-handed hurler finished with his second straight five-inning start after spending most of the beginning of the campaign in the bullpen. He gave up a season-high five hits in addition to three walks but navigated around the frequent baserunners to hold Seattle to two runs. Cortes has posted a 2.15 ERA on the season and has found success as a fill-in starter, but his time in the rotation is likely contingent on the return timeframes of Gerrit Cole (COVID-19), Jordan Montgomery (COVID-19), Domingo German (shoulder) and Corey Kluber (shoulder). In addition, Luis Severino (groin/elbow) has started a minor-league rehab assignment and could make his long-awaited return to the big club in the coming weeks.

Baum has not pitched this year due an undisclosed injury.

A second-round pick in 2019, Baum logged a 4.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in 30.2 innings after getting drafted, but it appears he may go two full seasons without getting into official games.

Criswell has not pitched since May 8 due to an undisclosed injury.

Per Mark Chiarelli of Baseball America, Criswell is rehabbing in Arizona but is without a timetable to return. The two scoreless innings he logged in his first start of the year for High-A Lansing are the only professional innings on the 22-year-old righty's ledger. He was Oakland's second-round pick in 2020.

Keuchel (7-5) allowed two earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out five across six innings, taking the loss to the Royals on Thursday.

Keuchel surrendered two first-inning runs on an Emmanuel Rivera double, which was enough to hand him the loss. The 33-year-old has been inconsistent over his last eight starts, with a 5.71 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 41 innings. He only has one win in that stretch. On the season, he carries a 4.44 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 119.2 innings. His next start is scheduled for Tuesday in Minnesota.

Toussaint got a no-decision in Thursday's 8-4 win over St. Louis, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Making his fourth start of the season, Toussaint was adequate in limiting St. Louis' bats until Atlanta broke out with a six-run eighth. The 25-year-old allowed two runs on four baserunners in the third and another run came across in the sixth on a passed ball. It was a nice rebound from a poor outing against Milwaukee last time out. Toussaint has now permitted two runs or fewer in three of four starts.

Lynch (2-3) allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings, earning the win over the White Sox on Thursday.

Lynch's only damage came in the first inning on a solo home run by Jose Abreu. He shut out the White Sox over the next four innings. His seven-strikeout performance is a career high and it's just the second time he's allowed less than three runs in a start this year. The rookie has a 6.00 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP with 20 punchouts in 27 innings.

McKenzie (1-5) allowed three runs on five hits and struck out four over seven innings, taking the loss versus Toronto on Thursday.

This was McKenzie's third quality start in his last five outings. He pitched quite well against all batters not named Bo Bichette, who took him deep in the fourth inning for a two-run home run and added an RBI single in the sixth. The unlucky start saw McKenzie lower his ERA to 5.89 with a 1.36 WHIP and 83:45 K:BB across 70.1 innings this season. He's projected to make his next start versus Oakland next week.

Valdez (6-3) lost Thursday's 5-3 game at the hands of the Twins, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings.

Valdez pitched well aside from a tumultuous second inning where he allowed five of nine baserunners and all four runs, but Houston was unable to overcome the early deficit. The four runs surrendered tie for the second most in any of Valdez's 13 starts. Houston is 9-4 in games where the lefty toes the rubber.

Gray (4-6) allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out seven across five innings, earning the win over the Pirates on Thursday.

Gray fired four shutout innings before surrendering four runs in the fifth inning. He allowed five of his six hits all in that frame. However, he still received the run support needed to walk away with the win. The 31-year-old has struggled over his last four starts with a 8.53 ERA in 19 innings. On the season, his ERA has risen to 4.44 and his WHIP is up to 1.40. The righty offers high-strikeout potential with an 11.4 K/9 in 81 innings.

Nola allowed five runs on five hits and three walks over five innings in a no-decision against Washington on Thursday. He also had seven strikeouts.

Nola was sitting on a 2-0 lead through three innings but gave up an RBI single to Carter Kieboom and then hit Tres Barrera with the bases loaded in the fourth. The big blast came on Josh Bell's three-run homer in the fifth, which was the seventh long ball offered up by Nola in his last six starts. The 28-year-old Nola continues to endure an up-and-down campaign, logging a 4.49 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with a 152:28 K:BB in 126.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled for a home start against the Dodgers next week.