MLB Player News

McHugh (elbow) visited with team doctors Friday and the Astros are expected to provide an update Saturday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The next step for McHugh depends on what the doctors saw in Friday's evaluation. It certainly looks like the right-hander will miss all of April. In the meantime, the Astros will roll with Joe Musgrove and Mike Fiers in the starting rotation. If McHugh's prognosis indicates he'll be out a while, the team is likely to consider trading for a proven major league starter. The Astros were the most prominent team to pop up in trade rumors during the offseason for the White Sox's Jose Quintana.

Chavez (1-0) struck out six and allowed just one run across 5.2 innings in a win over the Mariners on Friday, yielding four hits and one walk.

Chavez worked efficiently in his Angels debut, allowing just two men to reach through five innings before running out of gas with two outs in the sixth, when three men reached to plate the only run for the visitors. He threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of 22 batters, pounding the zone at a 66 percent clip, and his six punchouts were his most since his last MLB start in September of 2015. Chavez's conversion back to a starting role looks to be off to a smooth start, and he'll look to build on a fine season debut Tuesday against the Rangers.

Zych (biceps) will start and pitch one inning for Triple-A Tacoma on Friday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Zych required biceps tendon transfer surgery at the end of last season and had his spring training debut pushed back as a result. He's nearing major-league readiness, and if he shows well in his rehab appearances, he could join the major-league club shortly.

Fulmer allowed no runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings, but didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Red Sox.

Fulmer left the contest with a 4-0 lead and fully deserved the win, but the bullpen imploded in the eighth inning. He looked fantastic in his season debut after posting a 3.06 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP last year as a rookie, and he's picking up right where he left off in year two. He'll make his next start Wednesday against the Twins.

McHugh exited his rehab start Thursday because of tightness in his elbow and bicep, the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan reports.

It seemed ominous when McHugh went out for the start of the second inning in his rehab start for Triple-A Fresno but then called for the trainer and exited. He is back in Houston on Friday visiting with team doctors. At this point an extended absence seems likely, so those in shallower formats without DL spots may want to cut bait. Mike Fiers will continue to occupy the fifth spot in the rotation in the meantime.

Honeywell struck out 12 over six innings while allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in his first start of the season for Double-A Montgomery on Thursday.

While he may be a little overqualified to be at Double-A, there is a bit of a logjam in the Triple-A rotation, so Honeywell should continue to cruise in the Southern League for now. One of the top pitching prospects in the game, Honeywell has excellent command for a 22-year-old, and an extremely deep repertoire, highlighted by a plus screwball. It would not be surprising if he is a big-time FAAB prize following a potential midsummer promotion to the big-league rotation.

Castro, who was traded to the Orioles on Friday, was optioned to Double-A Bowie, Brittany Ghiroli of MLB.com reports.

Prior to being traded to the Orioles, Castro split time last season between the Triple-A and big-league levels with the Rockies. However, it appears the Orioles plan to slow things down a bit for the 22-year-old right-hander by assigning him to Double-A Bowie.

Castro was traded to the Orioles on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later or cash.

Castro was the third piece the Rockies received in the deal that sent Troy Tulowitzki to Toronto at the trade deadline in 2015, but shoulder woes limited him to just 49.1 innings in the Rockies' system prior to him getting designated for assignment on April 2. If he can build up strength in his shoulder, the Orioles will look to salvage his electric arm, which once profiled nicely in a high-leverage role, but it's possible we won't see him back in game action anytime soon. Joe Gunkel was designated for assignment as a corresponding move.

Farquhar fired a scoreless inning in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays, surrendering two hits.

The veteran reliever put together his second consecutive scoreless outing to open the season, an encouraging development for a Rays bullpen that came into 2017 on somewhat uncertain ground due to Brad Boxberger's (back) injury issues and the presence of newcomers Jumbo Diaz and Tommy Hunter. Farquhar is a key holdover from last season and part of a relief corps that has generated an 0.88 ERA and allowed just one run across 10.2 innings over the season's first four games.

Pressly has tossed two scoreless innings in the regular season after the club revamped his mechanics, LaVelle E. Neal III of the Star Tribune reports.

Pressly endured a rough final spring appearance (four runs allowed on two hits and two walks), so the Twins tweaked his delivery and fastball approach. The alterations seem to be paying off. Though he worked in the sixth inning Thursday, the right-hander could eventually become the backup closer to Brandon Kintzler for as long as Glen Perkins (shoulder) is sidelined.