MLB Player News

White Sox general manager Chris Getz said Tuesday that he does not anticipate Taylor being used as a starting pitcher this season, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Director of pitching Brian Bannister said earlier Tuesday during an appearance on the Mully & Haugh Show that Taylor could continue to be stretched out if he is used more as an opener. However, Getz offered more clarity in reiterating that Taylor will not be used in the rotation this season. The goal is for the righty to stretch out to around 100 innings in 2026 before transitioning back to a starting pitcher role in 2027. Taylor has been lights out in a bullpen role so far this season, posting a 1.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 8.1 innings.

Hader (biceps) is throwing live batting practice Tuesday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The veteran left-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions for a while and has finally been cleared to face live batters after sitting out all of spring training due to biceps inflammation. Making his season debut for the Astros before the end of April still appears to be in play. However, early May seems more realistic for Hader given that he's likely to require a handful of rehab outings in the minors before being fully cleared.

Akin (groin) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Akin has been shelved all season with a left groin strain but has been cleared to try things out in game action. The lefty suffered the injury late in spring training and doesn't need to rebuild much stamina as a reliever, so Akin could require only a couple rehab appearances if he looks and feels good.

The Angels optioned Farris to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

The left-hander was called up by the Halos last week and had a decent showing in three appearances, allowing just one run with a 3:2 K:BB over 4.1 innings. Farris will return to Salt Lake -- where he opened the season as a starter -- but could rejoin the big club later in the campaign.

The Red Sox optioned Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The left-hander was called up by Boston last week and delivered three scoreless appearances with a 4:3 K:BB in three outings, but he'll be the odd man out of the bullpen with Jack Anderson being promoted Tuesday. Samaniego spent most of last season at the Double-A level and had a 3.38 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB across 26.1 innings. He seems likely to get another look in Boston this season after pitching well in his first taste of the big leagues.

White Sox director of pitching Brian Bannister said Tuesday during an appearance on the Mully & Haugh Show that Taylor will continue to get more stretched out with each appearance if he continues to be deployed as an opener.

Taylor has started in four of his last five outings, working 1.1 innings Thursday and two innings Sunday after logging exactly one inning in his first five appearances. The 27 pitches he tossed Sunday are the most he's thrown this season, so he's still not close to being built up enough to go five-plus innings. That said, it's easy to get excited about Taylor's potential if he ends up being used like a true starting pitcher. Taylor has a 1.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 8.1 innings this season.

Scholtens is slated to start Wednesday's game against the White Sox in Chicago.

The 32-year-old righty will be making his first start in the majors since 2023, facing off against the team with whom he initially broke into the big leagues. He'll be taking over the rotation spot that previously belonged to Joe Boyle (elbow), who was placed on the injured list last week. Scholtens' lone prior appearance with Tampa Bay came against the Cubs last Wednesday, when he struck out four over 4.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Royals president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo said Tuesday on 96.5 The Fan that he's hopeful Estevez (foot) will be ready to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Omaha within the next five days.

Working his way back from a left foot contusion, Estevez resumed throwing off a mound last week, and it appears he could be ready to pitch in rehab games before the end of this week. The Royals want Estevez to be healthy but also to rediscover some lost velocity, so the reliever might stay on a rehab assignment until he gets into a groove. Lucas Erceg has gone 5-for-5 in save chances for the Royals and could keep the closer job even after Estevez returns.

Woods Richardson (illness) is listed as the Twins' probable starter for Wednesday's game versus the Red Sox at Target Field.

Prior to his most recent start Friday in Toronto, Woods Richardson was feeling ill but fought through the ailment and took a loss while yielding five earned runs on six hits and one walk over four innings. The Twins never indicated that Woods Richardson was at risk of missing his next start, and he'll presumably be in better physical condition when he takes the hill for the fourth time this season Wednesday.

Doval gave up two runs on two hits while striking out one batter over 1.1 innings in relief against the Angels on Monday.

Doval entered with two out, a runner on third base and the score tied 8-8 in the seventh inning. He got out of the jam by getting Logan O'Hoppe to fly out. However, he gave up a leadoff single in the following frame, and two batters later, Mike Trout tagged him for a monstrous 445-foot, two-run homer. That put Doval in line for the loss, but the Yankees were able to take him off the hook with a late comeback. The veteran reliever continues to work in high leverage, but he has just one hold along with a blown save so far this season. He's held the opponent scoreless in six of his nine outings, but in the other three he's given up two runs apiece. Overall, Doval has an unsavory 7.36 ERA along with a 1.23 WHIP and 7:1 K:BB through 7.1 frames.