MLB Player News

Rocker (5-11) picked up the loss Friday against the Rays, allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits over five innings. He struck out three without a walk.

Rocker came on in the third inning after Trevor Williams and Robby Ahlstrom both recorded scoreless frames. Rocker quickly served up solo shots to Jonathan Aranda and Richie Palacios before allowing four more unanswered runs in the fifth. The 26-year-old has now recorded seven straight outings without a quality start. The right-hander has posted a 4.61 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 127:55 K:BB over 134.2 innings this season. Rocker is lined up to make his next appearance either as a starter or bulk reliever Thursday against Seattle.

Williams did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-6 loss to Tampa Bay, registering a perfect inning while striking out two.

Williams was called on to start his first game of the season in his second outing with the Rangers on Friday. The 34-year-old struck out both Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero en route to a clean first inning before handing the ball off to the bullpen. The right-hander now owns a 3.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:7 K:BB over 19.1 innings between the Rays and Nationals this season.

Palacios went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Friday's 7-6 win over the Rangers.

Palacios recorded his second homer in the past three games when he launched a solo shot off Kumar Rocker in the fourth inning. The 29-year-old's seven homers this season are a new career high, breaking his previous record of six in 2023 with St. Louis. This year, Palacios is batting .225/.320/.348 with 42 RBI and 11 stolen bases.

Aranda went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, an RBI double, two runs scored and two strikeouts during Friday's 7-6 win over Texas.

Aranda knotted the score at 1-1 in the third inning after launching a solo shot off Kumar Rocker. The 28-year-old Aranda then laced an RBI double to extend Tampa Bay's lead in the fifth. This was the first time Aranda scored multiple runs in a game since Aug. 3. On the season, Aranda is slashing .277/.361/.424 with 18 homers and 82 RBI in 596 plate appearances.

Wells registered a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his sixth save of the season in a 7-6 win over Texas.

Wells recorded his sixth straight appearance without an earned run allowed, and his 15th in his last 16 outings. The right-hander was called on with no outs and two runners on in the ninth after Bryan Baker (illness) failed to record an out. In 11 games with Tampa Bay, Wells owns a 1.93 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 13:4 K:BB and two saves over 14 innings.

Martinez (14-4) earned the win Friday over Texas, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out four.

Martinez made his 27th start Friday, the most he has ever registered in a single season. The 36-year-old recorded his third straight quality start in a win over the Rangers, continuing a career year. The right-hander now owns a 3.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 95:24 K:BB in 160 innings this season. Martinez is lined up to make his next start Thursday against Atlanta.

Houck (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Houck has been throwing at the Red Sox's training facility in Florida, and after throwing a two-inning simulated game Friday without issue, he looks ready to move on to the next step in his long recovery from the hybrid UCL reconstruction procedure he underwent last August. The Red Sox plans to use the right-hander in a relief role once he makes it back from the 60-day injured list.

Crochet (shoulder) threw a 16-pitch bullpen session Friday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Crochet threw exclusively fastballs in what marked his first time pitching off a mound in over three months. He's scheduled for anther bullpen session Tuesday before potentially facing hitters soon thereafter. The Red Sox still envision Crochet serving as a starter in the long run, but he'll be used as a reliever if he makes it back from the 60-day injured list later this season.

Scarborough recently suffered a right elbow strain and will be shut down for the next 4-to-6 weeks, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Scarborough was in the team's pitching lab to work on mechanical tweaks but did not respond well. A scan revealed the elbow strain, and the team decided to shut down the right-hander. "We don't think that it's a major issue at this point," Texas general manager Ross Fenstermaker said. "I think we caught it early, but it's something that we want to give him the proper amount of rest and give him an opportunity to recover." Plans for autumn baseball have been put on hold for now.

Higashioka (forearm) served as the designated hitter and went 1-for-5 for Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Higashioka began a rehab assignment with the Express, and per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Rangers plan to have him hit only for the time being. When/if he returns to the team, Higashioka will serve as a bench bat.