MLB Player News

Hendriks (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday consisting of about 15 fastballs, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Hendriks was back on the mound for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last August and was upbeat following the workout. The veteran reliever believes he can make it back from the 60-day injured list by the end of August, but he's not far along enough in the rehab process yet for the Red Sox to put a definitive target date on his return. The Red Sox signed Hendriks to a two-year deal in February with the understanding that anything the right-hander gave the club in 2024 would be a bonus, so the team likely doesn't have any visions of the three-time All-Star supplanting Kenley Jansen as the team's closer when he eventually returns.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Winckowski will start Sunday's game against the Padres in Boston, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Due to off days Thursday and next Monday, the Red Sox didn't need to add a fifth starter to the rotation until July 6, but Cora is electing to bring Winckowski into the rotation early. Brayan Bello had been lined up to start Sunday's game, but he'll instead get pushed back to next Wednesday in Miami and have extra time to regroup after he was lit up for seven earned runs over 2.1 innings in a loss to Toronto on Wednesday. While coming on in relief of Bello on Tuesday, Winckowski struck out eight and allowed two earned runs in six innings, so he looks to be fully stretched out enough to head into Sunday's start without any restrictions with his pitch count. Winckowski has previously made three starts with the big club this season, posting a 1.69 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over 10.2 innings.

Santos (lat) is set to throw another live batting practice Friday in Seattle and could begin a rehab assignment shortly thereafter, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander put together a very encouraging live BP on Saturday in Miami before that day's game against the Marlins, using his sinker/slider combo with great effectiveness and impressive velocity against Ryan Bliss and Tyler Locklear in a 10-pitch session. If Santos encounters similar success Friday, it appears he'll be ticketed for what should be a fairly lengthy rehab assignment, given he's been sidelined since spring training.

Daniel will be recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake to start Thursday's game against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Other than a one-day stay with the Halos in mid-May in which he didn't make an appearance, Daniel has spent the entire season at Salt Lake, posting an ugly 5.33 ERA but a more promising 82:25 K:BB across 76 innings covering 14 starts. The 27-year-old right-hander appeared in three games out of the Angels bullpen in 2023, allowing three runs with a 9:9 K:BB over 12.1 frames. With Patrick Sandoval (elbow) out for the season and Jose Soriano (abdomen) still on the injured list, Daniel could get a chance to take multiple turns through the rotation.

The Yankees transferred Effross's (back) rehab assignment from Single-A Tampa to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday.

Effross turned in a pair of clean rehab outings for Tampa, covering three shutout innings while striking out four. He'll likely be in store for a more extended stay at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre that could extend the full length of his 30-day rehab window, which began June 19. The right-hander missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from October 2022 Tommy John surgery and has been on the Yankees' injured list for the entirety of the current season while he works his way back from December back surgery.

The Rangers transferred Winn (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

Winn was placed on the 15-day IL earlier this week with what was referred to as right shoulder discomfort, but the Rangers are now classifying the injury as a sprained shoulder capsule. The expectation is that he will be sidelined for eight weeks, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News.

Muller (shoulder) fired a scoreless inning in his rehab outing with Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, allowing one hit and recording a strikeout.

Muller kicked off his rehab assignment in solid fashion, successfully working around a single and getting through his one frame on 10 pitches. The left-hander is due to make multiple appearances for the Aviators before activation is considered, although he may not need more than a couple of more outings considering he won't need to build up much as a result of his relief role.

The Tigers optioned Lucas to Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.

Lucas' stay with the big club lasted just one day, and he went unused out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Phillies. He'll be replaced on the 26-man active roster by right-hander Keider Montero, who was called up from Toledo to serve as a bulk reliever in Wednesday's series finale versus Philadelphia.

Holton will serve as the Tigers' opening pitcher in Wednesday's game versus the Phillies, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

With left-handed sluggers Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the top three of the batting order, the Phillies are targets for southpaw openers. Holton will be followed by Keider Montero, who will be called up from Triple-A Toledo and will be deployed as a bulk reliever.

Hendriks (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Red Sox pitching coach Andrew Bailey said Hendriks has been throwing "half-mound" sessions, but Wednesday's activity marks the reliever's first session throwing on the top of the mound since undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery last August. If Wednesday's workout goes well, a normal progression would have Hendriks throwing two bullpen sessions per week before ramping up to face hitters.