MLB Player News

The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Rocker was shelled for five runs in just 3.1 innings during his start Wednesday against the Rays. Poor outings have become a common theme for the 25-year-old righty this season, who now owns an 8.87 ERA and 1.84 WHIP through six MLB starts. He'll attempt to find his footing in the minor leagues; meanwhile, Chris Martin (shoulder) will return from the injured list to fill the opening in Texas' pitching staff.

Burke did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-2 extra-inning win over the Tigers, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts over seven innings.

Burke cruised through six innings before losing a 2-0 lead in the seventh. He threw a season-high seven frames and generated an impressive 15 whiffs on 96 pitches. The 25-year-old has now logged at least six innings in five of his past seven appearances, yielding more than two earned runs just once during that stretch. On the season, he owns a 4.03 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 50:32 K:BB across 67 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Astros next week.

The Royals reinstated Ragans (groin) from the injured list Thursday.

Ragans is set to take the mound Thursday in St. Louis for the second part of a doubleheader. This will be the southpaw's first start since May 16 when he injured his groin. In a corresponding move, the Royals designated Thomas Hatch for assignment.

Mize did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the White Sox, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Mize limited the damage to a two-run fourth inning despite generating only four whiffs on 93 pitches and issuing a season-high four walks. After completing at least five frames in each of his first eight starts, the 28-year-old has logged just eight total innings over his past two outings. He'll take a 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 48:16 K:BB across 55.2 innings into a road matchup with the Orioles next week.

McCullers is not listed among the Astros' probable pitchers for this weekend's series in Cleveland, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

McCullers' next turn comes up Sunday, but the team is listing TBA in that slot for now. Manager Joe Espada did not rule out McCullers ultimately taking the ball that day, but it appears Tuesday versus the White Sox is likelier for the righty after McCullers went six innings in each of his last two outings. McCullers hadn't pitched in the majors since 2022 due to various injuries before rejoining Houston's rotation in early May.

Bubic is not listed among the Royals' probable pitchers for this weekend's series against the White Sox, as the team plans to give him extra rest before his next start, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic appears lined up to start Tuesday at home versus the Yankees, which would mean more than a week in between outings after he last took the ball this past Sunday against the Tigers. It will result in a much more difficult matchup for the lefty, but it makes sense for the Royals to manage Bubic's workload after he totaled less than 90 innings between the majors and minors over the previous two seasons, including the playoffs.

Holmes did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 11-10 loss to the Diamondbacks, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

Holmes faced the minimum through three innings but fell apart in the fourth, allowing three runs before being pulled at just 64 pitches. He generated nine whiffs but also surrendered five hard-hit balls in his shortest outing since making his season debut in a one-inning relief appearance March 27. The 29-year-old had completed at least five frames in nine straight starts, so this may have simply been a quick hook during a tough frame. He'll carry a 3.99 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 68:29 K:BB across 67.2 innings into a road matchup with the Brewers next week.

Pfaadt did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 11-10 win over Atlanta, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts over three innings.

Pfaadt endured a five-run third inning highlighted by three consecutive Atlanta doubles. The 26-year-old has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his seven starts since the calendar flipped to May, including 13 over his past two outings. Those back-to-back rough starts have inflated the righty's ERA from 3.90 to 5.51, and he now owns a 1.36 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 65.1 innings. He'll try to get back on track in a home matchup with the Mariners next week.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Stroman (knee) threw another live batting practice session Thursday and could begin a rehab assignment soon, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Boone also noted that Stroman is being built up as a starting pitcher rather than being shifted to relief. That suggests Stroman's rehab assignment could be a lengthy one, given that he hasn't pitched in a game since mid-April. There's no guarantee Stroman will join the Yankees' rotation once activated, but the club wants to keep its options open.

Imanaga (hamstring) threw a 39-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Imanaga faced hitters for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list in early May due to a strained left hamstring. Whether Imanaga will require a rehab assignment is not yet clear, but he still has some stamina to rebuild before being considered for a return to the Cubs rotation.