MLB Player News

The Royals recalled Kolek from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

The right-hander was demoted to Omaha on Wednesday but will quickly rejoin the major-league club with Cole Ragans (elbow) landing on the injured list. Kolek made a spot start in place of Noah Cameron (back) earlier this week and could now get a few turns through the rotation with Ragans sidelined. Kolek delivered a quality start in his first MLB appearance of 2026, striking out three and giving up three runs on four hits over six innings while picking up a win versus Cleveland.

The Royals recalled Cruz from Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

The right-hander spent some time in the majors in early April but was sent back to Omaha after giving up eight runs across five appearances. Cruz will rejoin the Royals a month later and should fill a low-leverage relief role.

The Royals placed Ragans on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 7, due to a left elbow impingement.

The left-hander departed his start against the Guardians on Wednesday due to a valgus extension overload in his left elbow -- also known as pitcher's elbow -- and he was initially expected to rest for a few days before the next steps of his recovery program were determined. Ragans said Thursday that he was already feeling much better than when he left Wednesday's contest, but he'll still spend at least the next couple of weeks on the IL after being diagnosed with the impingement. Stephen Kolek was called up from Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move Friday and is a candidate to fill Ragans' spot in the starting rotation.

The Red Sox recalled Anderson from Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

Anderson permitted three runs with a 6:2 K:BB over eight innings in an earlier stint with Boston. The 26-year-old is capable of logging multiple innings during his appearances, so he'll offer the bullpen some length.

The Guardians designated Brogdon for assignment Friday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Brogdon had a 1.11 WHIP and 14:3 K:BB for the Guardians, but his ERA was a bloated 5.28 due to his usual home run issues as he's served up five in only 15.1 innings. He'll likely clear waivers, and if that happens the reliever would have the ability to become a free agent.

The Rays reinstated Englert (forearm) from the 15-day injured list, and he's expected to pitch in bulk relief Friday against the Red Sox, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.

The right-hander has been sidelined nearly three weeks due to forearm tightness but is ready to rejoin the Rays this weekend in Boston. Englert has primarily been used as a reliever this season but is now set to stretch out as a starter. He covered 2.1 frames in his last outing before landing on the injured list and has topped out at 48 pitches this season, so he'll need at least a few outings to get fully stretched out.

The Astros selected VanWey's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.

VanWey holds a 5.74 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 19 strikeouts over 15.2 innings with Sugar Land this season. The right-hander will provide the Astros with a fresh bullpen arm.

Crochet (shoulder) has resumed playing catch from 60 feet and is making progress in his strengthening program, but the southpaw is unlikely to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible next Tuesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. "We're still strengthening, we're still throwing and we're increasing intensity as he goes," Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said Thursday. "So we're just going to continue that track until we feel the strength numbers are where they're supposed to be, he feels good and he can ramp up more."

Shortly after being placed on the IL on April 29 due to left shoulder inflammation, Crochet indicated that he wouldn't be shut down from throwing and expressed confidence that he would be ready to return in the minimum 15 days. While he hasn't run into any setbacks, the Red Sox are taking a cautious approach in building their ace back up. Tracy didn't rule out the possibility of Crochet requiring a rehab assignment prior to being activated from the IL, though that may not prove to be necessary if he's able to throw off a mound and face hitters within the next week or two.

Scholtens is listed as the Rays' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Scholtens piggybacked Griffin Jax his last time out, but the Rays have elected to separate the two pitchers during this turn through the rotation. Even with Steven Matz (elbow) going on the injured list, it's unclear if Jax or Scholtens will be in line for long looks as starters. Mason Englert (forearm) will be stretched out now that he's off the IL, and Joe Boyle (elbow) could reclaim a starting gig once he's activated, which is expected to happen later this month.

Bigge (1-0) was credited with the win Thursday against the Red Sox, striking out one in two perfect innings of relief.

Bigge is bouncing back nicely from a scary injury in 2025, which occurred when he was struck in the face by a foul ball and carted off the field. Nine of his 11 appearances have been scoreless to begin 2026, with the 27-year-old right-hander logging a 2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB with four holds across 13 innings.