MLB Player News

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.

Cano threw two perfect innings of relief Thursday against the Marlins. He did not strike out any batters.

Cade Povich (forearm) left early Thursday, but Cano did his part to keep the Orioles in the game. After posting a 5.12 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 65 regular-season appearances in 2025, Cano is enjoying a bounce-back campaign thus far in 2026. The right-hander boasts a 1.29 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and 11:1 K:BB with two holds over 14 innings.

Anderson is expected to be called up from Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Anderson will join the major-league roster for the second time this season, having produced a 3.38 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with six strikeouts over eight innings in three appearances with Boston earlier this season. The right-hander pitched multiple innings in all three of his previous outings with the Red Sox, reaching 52 pitches in his longest appearance April 14 versus the Twins.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Nationals, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in 4.1 innings. He struck out two.

Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz in particular had Woods Richardson's number, plating three runs on a pair of doubles versus the hurler. It's been a struggle in 2026 so far for Woods Richardson, who has surrendered at least four runs in five of his last six starts while fanning three or fewer each time out during that period. Still winless on the campaign, the right-hander will bring a ghastly 6.92 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 19:16 K:BB over 39 innings into his next scheduled outing versus Miami.

Jax allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while striking out three over four innings in a no-decision versus the Red Sox on Thursday.

Jax stretched out to four innings and 59 pitches (38 strikes) as he continues to build up to being a rotation option. This was his first time allowing runs in an appearance he's started this year, and he's added a 7:3 K:BB across nine innings over his three starts. Jax has a 5.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB across 14 appearances spanning 18 innings overall. The right-hander is still at least two outings away from approaching a full starter's workload, and it could be longer if the Rays are cautious with him. Jax is tentatively projected for a road start versus the Blue Jays his next time out.

VanWey is expected to be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

VanWey will join the Astros in Cincinnati ahead of the team's three-game series against the Reds. The right-hander has compiled a 5.74 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 19 strikeouts over 15.2 innings in 15 appearances with Sugar Land so far this season. VanWey will replace Jason Alexander on the major-league roster after Alexander was sent down to Triple-A on Wednesday.

Ragans was diagnosed with valgus extension overload in his left elbow Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ragans' elbow forced him to make an early exit from his start Wednesday after three innings. The Royals are going to allow the 28-year-old lefty to rest for a few days and see how he feels before determining next steps. Ragans said Thursday that he has already begun to feel better since leaving Wednesday's game, per Rogers, which bodes well for his chances of avoiding a trip to the IL.