MLB Player News

Bradish (elbow) will make his next rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bradish made his first rehab appearance Tuesday with Double-A Bowie. He threw 44 pitches and allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings while striking out four. Bradish will now move up to Triple-A Norfolk, as the right-hander continues his rehab from a partial UCL tear that kept him from pitching in spring training.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Valdez (elbow) played catch Friday and could throw off a mound as soon as Saturday or Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The left-hander quickly resumed throwing after landing on the injured list April 9 with elbow inflammation, and his return to mound work will be another encouraging step. Valdez won't be ready to return from the injured list when first eligible next week, but given his current progression he could seemingly be back with the Astros sometime in early May.

Hancock and the Mariners will not play Friday after their contest against the Rockies was postponed due to inclement weather, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday. Hancock and Dakota Hudson had been slated to start Friday but will be pushed back at least one day to Saturday.

Verlander (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and is starting Friday against the Nationals.

Verlander missed the first few weeks of the season rehabbing from a shoulder issue but will make his 2024 debut Friday in Washington. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said the Astros plan to limit the veteran right-hander to around 80-85 pitches, which would be a minor increase on the 77 pitches Verlander threw in his final rehab start.

The Rangers optioned Leiter to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

The right-hander surrendered seven runs over 3.2 frames in his major-league debut Thursday versus the Tigers. Michael Lorenzen (neck) recently made his season debut to fill out the Rangers' rotation, but Leiter seems likely to receive another look with the big club later in the year.

Cannon will start Monday in Minnesota, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Cannon had a solid major-league debut Wednesday against the Royals, tossing five innings of one-run ball in a no-decision. He'll be awarded at least one additional start in the majors, though he could head back to Triple-A Charlotte once Mike Clevinger is ready to make his season debut.

Nastrini is scheduled to start Sunday's game in Philadelphia.

The rookie right-hander will receive another turn through the White Sox rotation after he acquitted himself well in his MLB debut Monday, striking out five and allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks over five innings in a no-decision against the Royals. Though Nastrini was able to pound the zone effectively Monday, fantasy managers may want to tread cautiously with him, given the control issues he's displayed for much of his minor-league career. Between stops at the Triple-A and Double-A levels within the White Sox and Dodgers organizations in 2023, Nastrini posted a 10.8 percent walk rate over 114.2 innings.

Carrasco (1-1) earned the win Thursday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

Carrasco's gotten off to a solid start in his second stint with Cleveland -- the veteran right-hander hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his first four starts. He lowered his ERA to 3.44 and also has a 1.53 WHIP and 16:12 K:BB across 18.1 innings after struggling to a 6.80 ERA in 20 starts with the Mets last season. While Carrasco isn't likely to warrant fantasy consideration at this stage in his career, he's likely locked in as the Guardians' fifth starter with Shane Bieber (elbow) out for the year.

Maeda did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Rangers, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 2.2 innings. He struck out two.

It was a tough day for Maeda against a potent Texas offense -- the right-hander gave up five runs, including three homers, before departing in the third inning. Maeda's ERA is up to 7.64 while allowing an AL-worst seven home runs across his first four starts (17.2 innings). He'll look to get on track in his next outing, currently slated for early next week in Tampa Bay.

Leiter did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Tigers. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three in 3.2 innings.

After a clean first inning, the Tigers tagged Leiter for four runs in the second before tacking on three more with two outs in the fourth, making for a tough debut for the second overall pick in 2021. Leiter struggled to a 5.19 ERA in the minors last year, though he'd gotten off to a promising start this season, posting a 3.77 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 14.1 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. With Michael Lorenzen (neck) making his Rangers debut this weekend, Leiter could be headed back to the minors.