MLB Player News

General manager Ross Atkins said Borucki (elbow) is "probably a month away" from joining the Blue Jays' rotation, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Borucki has been sidelined all season with elbow issues, and while he resumed mound work earlier in the month, it doesn't sound like his return is imminent.

Weber will likely start Thursday against the Royals, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

It sounds like the Red Sox will stick with Weber for at least one more turn through the rotation, despite the fact he allowed seven runs on eight hits in four innings against the Indians his last time out. Mike Shawaryn will be available as a long reliever behind Weber in case he struggles again.

Hernandez is a candidate to start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the A's, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Fellow prospect Joe Palumbo appears to be the leading candidate to get the ball, though Hernandez is also in the mix. Through 10 starts with Double-A Frisco this season, Hernandez owns a 5.47 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 56:20 K:BB in 49.1 innings.

Mengden will be deployed as a bulk reliever Wednesday against the Angels.

Mengden will work behind an opener (Joakim Soria) for a second straight appearance. The veteran allowed just one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six in 4.1 innings as a bulk reliever his last time out. Overall, Mengden owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 19:14 K:BB in 20.2 innings this season.

Palumbo is a candidate to start Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Athletics, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports.

Palumbo would presumably head back to the minors after Saturday's spot start, which would also mark his big-league debut. The 24-year-old southpaw has been solid in 10 appearances (nine starts) for Double-A Frisco this season, compiling a 3.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 65:24 K:BB in 50.2 innings for the RoughRiders.

Betances (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch simulated game Wednesday, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Everything went off without a hitch in what was Betances' first session against hitters since suffering a setback in his recovery at the beginning of April. Assuming he checks out OK in the coming days, the right-hander will continue to ramp things up against live batters before likely being cleared for a rehab assignment. At that point, a timetable for his return will hopefully come into focus.

Manager Bob Melvin suggested that Mengden, who is listed as Oakland's starter for Wednesday's game against the Angels, could be deployed behind an opener, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Liam Hendriks previously opened ahead of Mengden for the latter's last turn through the rotation, and the arrangement yielded favorable results. While covering 4.1 innings in relief against this same Angels squad on May 29, Mengden surrendered only one run on four hits and three walks while striking out six. Melvin said Hendriks wouldn't open Wednesday's game after being needed in relief in Tuesday's 4-2 win, leaving fellow right-handers Joakim Soria or Aaron Brooks as the most logical options to work as openers if the Athletics choose to go that route. Regardless of how he's deployed, Mengden will be in line to fill the bulk of the innings and is thus the most likely pitcher to factor into any decision.

Martin, who was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, has a mechanical flaw in his delivery he'll address while in the minors, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "It's frustrating," Martin said after a start Monday. "I know what I'm doing wrong and not fixing it right now. We'll get into it, and it'll come. I know that."

Martin is flying open on his delivery, leaving his right arm behind the lower half of his body and thereby allowing the fastball to leak to his arm side. This has resulted in Martin consistently falling behind batters and digging himself a hole, a disturbing trend most recently illustrated when he threw just 42 of 76 pitches for strikes in each of his last two starts. Those struggles have led to Martin's removal from the big-league rotation for the time being and Framber Valdez being tabbed as his replacement beginning with a start this coming Saturday against the Orioles. "Not even really approach as much as execution," manager AJ Hinch said. "You have to throw the ball in the vicinity where you want and attack the strike zone. He's a strike thrower and always has been in his pro career. It's important for him to do that."

Treinen struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 12th save of the season in a 4-2 win over the Angels.

It was a strong bounce-back effort after Treinen walked three batters without a strikeout over two innings in his last appearance Sunday. The right-hander hasn't been anywhere near as dominant in 2019 as he was last year, posting a 3.26 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB through 30.1 innings. However, he's still been mostly effective as Oakland's closer, converting 12 of his 14 save chances.

Manaea (shoulder) threw a successful 15-pitch batting practice session Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Manaea reportedly came away feeling very satisfied with the live session at High-A Stockton, the latest benchmark in his recovery. The rehabbing southpaw is expected to throw another live batting practice later in the week and up his pitch count in the process.