MLB Player News

Pruitt (elbow) has been shut down from throwing, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

This is an ominous sign for a pitcher who was diagnosed with elbow inflammation a couple weeks ago. Given the shortened season, it's quite possible Pruitt won't be heard from at all in 2020. The Astros are very shorthanded in the pitching department, as Justin Verlander, Ryan Pressly and Chris Devenski have all been diagnosed with arm injuries in the last 48 hours.

Devenski is battling arm soreness, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

He gave up three runs on three hits and one walk in one inning during Sunday's game. Ryan Pressly is also down with elbow soreness, so the Astros will have to lean heavily on their young relievers. Devenski is without a timeline to return to game action.

Pressly has elbow soreness and is day-to-day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

This explains why we haven't seen Pressly pitch in a game this season. His elbow apparently started barking when he was warming up during Sunday's game. While manager Dusty Baker says Pressly is day-to-day, the team will likely run tests on his elbow and provide a more substantial diagnosis in the coming days. In the meantime, it would seem that Roberto Osuna is the clear closer.

The Blue Jays confirmed the report that Pearson will start Wednesday's game in Washington, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

This had been reported previously, but it was a scoop from one reporter. Manager Charlie Montoyo confirmed the report after Monday's game. Pearson has been one of the Blue Jays' best, most deserving starters all offseason, spring and summer, but the team will manipulate his service time by delaying his debut seven days. He has a 70-grade fastball, plus breaking ball and improving changeup and could hit the ground running in pro ball. While this is technically a "home" game for the Blue Jays, the game will be in the Nationals' home park.

Bass gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Monday to record his first save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Nationals.

The right-hander is the Jays' closer for now after Ken Giles (elbow) landed on the IL, and Bass had little difficulty converting his first chance. He has yet to give up a run over three appearances and 3.1 innings to begin 2020, but his 2:0 K:BB is an accurate reflection of his lack of dominance. Still, as long as he doesn't implode, he should see the bulk of the work in the ninth inning for Toronto until Giles is healthy.

Borucki (1-0) gave up a hit and a walk over 1.1 scoreless innings Monday to pick up the win in a 4-1 victory over the Nationals. He struck out two.

The southpaw was added to the 30-man roster earlier in the day and Borucki was put to work quickly, entering the game to begin the sixth inning and getting credited with the win by the official scorer. After a lost 2019 due to elbow issues, he'll look to regain the form that saw him post a 3.87 ERA over 97.2 innings in 2018.

Thornton didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 4-1 win over the Nationals, giving up one run on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.

The right-hander needed 74 pitches (48 strikes) to record 12 outs, as a veteran Nats lineup made Thornton work and hit him hard when he did come into the strike zone. Fortunately for him, his defense turned four double plays behind him, limiting the damage to his ERA. Thornton is coming off a promising rookie season in 2019, but he'll need to be more efficient if he's going to become a consistent fantasy asset.

Palumbo, who entered Sunday's game after starter Corey Kluber was removed due to a shoulder injury, will remain in the Rangers' bullpen, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The Rangers have Palumbo and Koby Allard as starting depth, but manager Chris Woodward opted for Allard. Texas general manager Jon Daniels said Palumbo would serve the team better in the immediate future in the bullpen.

Giles was diagnosed with a forearm strain Monday, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.

Giles' MRI results have not yet been released, so a clearer picture of his return timeline is not yet available. He was initially diagnosed with elbow soreness upon leaving Sunday's game against the Rays. Anthony Bass is expected to be the top option for saves while he remains sidelined.

Borucki was called up by the Blue Jays on Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Borucki could be used in a piggyback role behind starter Trent Thornton in Monday's game against Nationals. Borucki recorded a 3.87 ERA in his 17-start debut back in 2018 but made just two poor starts last year while missing most of the season due to elbow issues.