MLB Player News

Kikuchi came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Red Sox, giving up three runs on eight hits and five walks over five-plus innings. He struck out five.

The left-hander tossed only 56 of 99 pitches for strikes in a shaky outing, but Kikuchi had limited the damage until running out of gas in the sixth inning, when he began the frame with two free passes sandwiched around a two-run homer by Ceddanne Rafaela before getting the hook. Kikuchi has walked at least four batters in four straight starts, but Rafaela's long ball was the first homer he's served up during that stretch, allowing him to escape with a 2.11 ERA in 21.1 innings despite a worrisome 20:18 K:BB. Kikuchi will try to tighten things up in his next trip the mound, which lines up to come at home early next week against the A's.

Barger went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 8-3 loss to the Phillies.

The 25-year-old continues to pummel the baseball, crushing a Max Lazar fastball over the right-field fence in the eighth inning. Barger has gone deep in four straight games and hit safely in six straight, and since a breakout three-double performance May 9, he's produced a .325/.385/.639 slash line with eight two-baggers, six homers, 14 runs and 16 RBI in 91 plate appearances. With Andres Gimenez returning to the lineup Tuesday, Barger shifted to right field against southpaw Cristopher Sanchez and hit fifth in the order, but he has entrenched himself as an everyday player for the Blue Jays, either at third base or in right.

Schneemann went 1-for-1 with an RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees.

Schneemann entered as a pinch hitter for Will Wilson in the ninth inning and singled in a run. He then put himself in scoring position with his third steal of the season and second in three contests. Schneemann's been a sub-.200 hitter for the last three weeks, going 10-for-56 (.179) with two home runs, five RBI and six runs scored over 19 games.

Bieber (elbow) will have his rehab start for Double-A Akron pushed back a day to Friday, MLB.com reports.

Bieber's next rehab start was originally slated for Thursday, per Zach Meisel of The Athletic, but Meisel followed up with a note indicating the start will now come Friday, which confirms the MLB.com report. Bieber's first rehab start was in the Arizona Complex League where he tossed 2.1 scoreless frames for the ACL Guardians.

Schneider went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Phillies.

Schneider was able to get the Blue Jays on the board with a solo home run off Cristopher Sanchez in the fifth inning. Schneider began the season going 1-for-15 at the plate while striking out eight times before he was demoted April 17. He's now tallied three hits in six at-bats since being recalled Sunday from Triple-A Buffalo.

Francis (2-7) took the loss Tuesday against the Phillies, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out two in 1.2 innings.

The Phillies plated six runs in the first against Francis, which included back-to-back home runs from Trea Turner and Bryce Harper among the six hits they had in the inning. Francis has given up 17 home runs, the most in baseball. He's allowed seven hits or more in four starts and has allowed multiple homers five times. He'll aim to rebound on the road against Minnesota this weekend.

Chisholm went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Guardians.

In his first big-league game action since April 29, Chisholm broke a 1-1 tie by depositing a Tanner Bibee fastball into the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning. It was the eighth homer of the season in only 31 games for the 27-year-old infielder, and while Chisholm's .194 batting average is disappointing, it's due for positive regression -- his .210 BABIP is nearly 100 points below his career .303 mark.

Williams gave up a run on two hits while striking out one in the ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 3-2 win over the Guardians.

With Luke Weaver (hamstring) on the shelf, Williams is being given another crack at the closer role, but he once again struggled to get the job done. The right-hander served up a one-out double to Carlos Santana before pinch hitter Daniel Schneemann pulled a changeup into right field for an RBI single, and Williams ultimately needed 30 pitches (22 strikes) to escape the frame. He has been pitching better of late, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over the 10 innings prior to Tuesday's appearance, but the Yankees do have options like Mark Leiter and Fernando Cruz available if Williams' April issues return.

Rodon (8-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Guardians, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out eight.

The veteran southpaw was locked in a pitchers' duel with Tanner Bibee most of the way, but back-to-back solo shots by Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe to lead off the bottom of the seventh broke open a 1-1 tie. Rodon has won seven straight decisions, with his last loss coming back on April 13, and during his undefeated stretch he's rattled off seven quality starts in nine trips to the mound with a 1.27 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 70:15 K:BB in 56.2 innings. He'll look for his eighth straight win in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home this weekend against the Red Sox.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to the Yankees.

It's the first time since May 12 that Ramirez has pilfered multiple bags in a game. He's been scorching hot at the plate of late, rapping out multiple hits in nine of his last 12 games while slashing .449/.491/.673 with two homers, four steals, six RBI and 12 runs.