MLB Player News

Williams (10-4) earned the win Thursday against the Twins, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out 11.

Williams emptied the tank Thursday, matching a season high with 103 pitches, though a Royce Lewis solo homer in the seventh inning put a slight damper on an otherwise dominant performance. A rough stretch since the start of June may have cost the 26-year-old right-hander his first All-Star appearance, but he still has four double-digit strikeout efforts under his belt to go with six starts of at least seven innings. Through 113.1 frames, Williams sports a 3.81 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 134:37 K:BB.

The Nationals placed Lord on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left side tightness.

Lord last pitched Sunday, when he was rocked for five runs over 1.1 innings. His absence could end up being around the 15-day minimum if he is indeed only dealing with tightness, but the Nationals may need to send Lord for imaging to see if he has a strain.

The Brewers optioned Stallings to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Stallings struck out four batters across three shutout innings during his two appearances with the big club, but he'll end up as the odd man out of Milwaukee's pitching staff following Logan Henderson's (back) return from the injured list. Stallings owns a 3.36 ERA and 1.24 WHIP through 67 innings in the minors, and his strong first impression in the majors figures to increase his chances of returning to the Brewers' bullpen later in the year.

Blackburn took a no-decision Thursday against the Rays, allowing one run on two hits and no walks in two innings. He struck out three.

Blackburn served as opener of a bullpen game Thursday, serving up a solo home run to the red-hot Junior Caminero in the first inning. However, the three punchouts were a season best for the 30-year-old right-hander, who has made 29 relief appearances as opposed to a pair of brief starts this year. Blackburn hasn't offered much fantasy viability but has been an effective member of New York's pitching staff, posting a 2.31 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 35:15 K:BB over 46.2 innings.

Yelich is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in St. Louis.

Yelich started the previous eight games -- including both legs of a doubleheader Tuesday -- so he will get some rest in the series finale. Jake Bauers will occupy the designated hitter slot Thursday, and Andrew Vaughn will get a start at first base.

Rasmussen (7-5) took the loss Thursday against the Yankees, allowing six runs on seven hits and no walks in 2.1 innings. He struck out two.

The third inning was a disastrous one for Rasmussen, who managed just one out and was touched up for each of his season-worst six runs in the frame. The seven hits allowed matched a season high, and the 30-year-old right-hander came away with his shortest outing of the campaign, as well. Rasmussen, who has coughed up 11 runs in his two July starts after yielding only three across five June appearances, seems to be heading into the All-Star break at the right time, holding what's still a strong 3.26 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 98:17 K:BB over 99.1 innings.

The Brewers reinstated Henderson (back) from the injured list ahead of his start Thursday against the Cardinals, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Henderson has been out of action since late May due to a strained back, but he was given the green light to return to the majors Thursday after giving up two runs while striking out 11 batters in 6.1 innings across two rehab outings at Triple-A Nashville. He built up to just 68 pitches during his final appearance in the minors, so he'll likely have a workload restriction in place during his first start back with the Brewers, but he still offers plenty of upside after posting a 2.74 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 23 frames during his first five starts of the year. Garrett Stallings was optioned to Nashville in a corresponding move.

Dingler (thumb) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Dingler had to exit Wednesday's game after a foul tip caught him in the right thumb. X-rays came back clean, and Dingler said Thursday that he's feeling "10 times better" a day after the injury, per Logan Reever of Detroit SportsNet. Dingler will avoid the 10-day injured list and is considered day-to-day as he waits for the swelling in his thumb to subside. Jake Rogers is catching for the Tigers on Thursday, and Eduardo Valencia has been called up for depth behind the plate.

Diaz isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.

Diaz will retreat to the bench Thursday after going 2-for-7 with a pair of strikeouts through the first two games of the series. Kyle Higashioka will replace him as the Rangers' backstop and bat seventh.

Jung (knee) will start at third base and bat fourth Thursday against the Angels.

Knee discomfort has kept Jung out of the starting nine for Texas' last three games, but the issue appears to have subsided ahead of Thursday's series finale. The 28-year-old will aim to finish the first half strong after going 10-for-28 (.357) with a homer, three RBI and four runs scored in his last seven games before getting hurt.