MLB Player News

Merritt (arm) will embark on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Friday.

Merritt was able to compete in a few extended spring training games but this will be the first time the 26-year-old is back on the mound in a live minor-league game since experiencing a "tired arm" in late March. It seems likely that Merritt will require multiple outings with Columbus before returning to Cleveland, so don't expect to see him back in the majors until mid-May at the earliest.

Andriese (0-1) allowed an earned run on two hits over an inning-plus in an extra-innings loss to the Tigers on Wednesday. He recorded two strikeouts.

Andriese got through the 11th inning without a hitch before immediately running into trouble in the 12th. The right-hander allowed a leadoff triple to JaCoby Jones, which was followed by a John Hicks bunt single that plated the winning run. Andriese had generated three consecutive scoreless outings prior to Wednesday's stumble, but he's now allowed a total of nine earned runs over nine appearances this season.

Mayza was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and will serve as the Blue Jays' 26th man for the first game of Toronto's doubleheader Thursday in Cleveland, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Since both games of the doubleheader were added to the Blue Jays' and Indians' schedules after back-to-back postponements April 14 and 15, the two teams will be allowed to roster 26 players for both the front and back end of the twin bill. Mayza will be available out of the bullpen for Game 1 before likely being optioned back to Buffalo, thereby making room for Triple-A teammate Joe Biagini, who will start Game 2 as the Blue Jays' designated 26th man.

Bukauskas has been placed on the 7-day disabled list with an undisclosed injury, the Quad-City Times reports.

Bukauskas, the Astros' first-round pick in 2017, is 0-2 with a 7.94 ERA in two starts for Low-A Quad Cities.

Pomeranz (1-1) picked up the win Wednesday against the Royals, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks across six innings while striking out three.

While it wasn't the prettiest performance, Wednesday was a nice step forward for Pomeranz, who notched his first win and quality start of the season after allowing seven runs across 8.2 innings in his first two starts. The southpaw struggled early on in this one, allowing all three runs in the first two innings, but he was able to settle in and blank the Royals over the next four frames. He now owns a 6.14 ERA and 1.70 WHIP through 14.2 innings. Pomeranz will look to build off Wednesday's quality effort in his next start, which is set for Tuesday against the Yankees.

Kimbrel struck out the side to pick up his eighth save of the season Wednesday against the Royals.

It was a nice bounce-back performance from Kimbrel after he allowed a game-tying homer to Alex Gordon on Tuesday en route to his first blown save of the season. The 29-year-old needed just 17 pitches -- 11 of which were strikes -- to put down the Royals in order. He now owns an impressive 1.32 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 13.2 innings this season

Moore (1-4) allowed 10 runs on 11 hits and two walks while striking out one over four innings in Wednesday's 12-4 loss to the Indians.

For the fifth time in six starts, Moore failed to reach five innings. The left-hander was around the zone, throwing strikes on 64 of his 92 pitches and first-pitch strikes to 19 of 25 batters, but he couldn't put hitters away. The Indians went 4-for-8 when the count reached 0-and-2. Maybe it was the eight days of rest between starts, but that only explains Wednesday's start. He has five other starts contributing to his 7.67 ERA. While pitchers have been removed from rotations for less, the Rangers may be stuck with him. Fellow starter Martin Perez (elbow) was placed on the disabled list, so shuffling Moore to the bullpen is easier said than done. And the organization has little in the way of depth options in the minors. For now, Moore is next scheduled to pitch Monday at home against Detroit.

Barria will start Thursday against the Orioles, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

With Shohei Ohtani's start being pushed back to the weekend due to a minor ankle injury, Barria will rejoin the Angels to make his third big-league start this season. The 21-year-old lasted just two innings in his previous start, but he still owns a serviceable 3.86 ERA through seven innings. He could stick in the rotation for another start if he pitches well Thursday, as Nick Tropeano (shoulder) is expected to miss at least one turn in the rotation while on the DL.

Fulmer pitched six innings and struck out five while allowing a pair of runs on six hits and two walks in Wednesday's no-decision versus the Rays.

Fulmer's day got off to a rocky start with a bases-loaded jam in the first and a couple of baserunners in the second, but he escaped relatively unscathed and settled down the rest of the way. Partially due to the taxing opening frames, he needed 109 pitches just to get through six innings -- the first time he's exceeded the 100-pitch threshold this season. The end result was a third straight quality start, and he's mostly recovered from his one bad start (nine runs, six earned) against Cleveland. Fulmer will carry a 2.80 ERA when he takes on the Rangers on Monday.

Pearson (oblique) will take the hill for Wednesday's extended spring training game, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Pearson has been sidelined with an oblique strain for the past few weeks but is finally ready to get back on the mound for live game action down in Florida. The right-hander could partake in a second extended spring outing before returning to the High-A level.