MLB Player News

Cole (elbow) played catch Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Cole played catch for the second time since being placed on the 60-day injured list March 28 with nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the ace hurler's session Thursday "went well," though it's not yet clear when Cole will next throw. The right-hander isn't eligible to come off the injured list until late May, and the organization isn't expected to push him to be ready by then, so he'll likely progress slowly through his throwing program.

Bradish (elbow) said Sunday that he's set to begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie around the middle of the week, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports. "Kind of treating [the rehab assignment] as my spring training, just working on some different mechanical things," Bradish said.

Bradish said he experienced no setbacks with his right elbow nor noticed any downturn in his velocity while throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters in a live batting practice session this past week, so he'll move on to the final phase of his recovery program for his UCL sprain. Because he didn't pitch at all in spring training after he was diagnosed with the injury in mid-February, Bradish will presumably need at least three rehab outings or simulated games to get stretched back out. He should be ready to return from the 15-day injured list to make his 2024 debut with the Orioles in the first or second week of May.

Valdez (elbow) said he's scheduled to play catch Tuesday and hopes to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The quick return to throwing bodes well for the left-hander after he landed on the injured list with elbow inflammation, though that hardly guarantees a quick return from the IL. The Astros should provide more clarity on Valdez's outlook after he throws Tuesday.

The Guardians plan to reinstate Lively (illness) from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Boston, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The season-ending injury to Shane Bieber (elbow), along with a doubleheader with the Yankees on Saturday, opened up two spots in Cleveland's temporary six-man rotation, and Xzavion Curry (illness) -- who will be activated from the IL to start Monday -- and Lively will be called upon to fill the voids. The Guardians are expected to condense their rotation to five men by the end of the week, however, so how Curry and Lively perform against the Red Sox will likely determine which of the two remains in a starting role moving forward. Lively wrapped up his two-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Columbus by covering 5.1 innings and 55 pitches this past Tuesday, so he should face only light workload restrictions in Boston for what will be his season debut with the big club.

Arrighetti will start Monday's game against Atlanta at Minute Maid Park, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Arrighetti will get a chance to redeem himself after getting roughed up in his big-league debut in Kansas City on Wednesday, when the Royals pummeled him for seven earned runs on seven hits and three walks. Even if Arrighetti fares better in a tough matchup versus Atlanta, he may be headed back to Triple-A Sugar Land following the start. Manager Joe Espada suggested earlier Sunday that Justin Verlander (shoulder) could return from the 15-day injured list to start this Friday in Washington, with Arrighetti being the pitcher most likely to lose his rotation spot in such a scenario.

The Rangers recalled Winn from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Winn will give the Rangers a fresh arm in the bullpen for Sunday's series finale in Houston, but he may not stick around in the big leagues for long. He was added to the 26-man active roster as a replacement for Cody Bradford (back), who was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. The Rangers will replace Bradford in the rotation in the series opener in Detroit on Monday, when Michael Lorenzen (neck) will be brought back from the IL. Texas could end up sending Winn back to Round Rock to make room on the active roster for Lorenzen.

Manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Verlander (shoulder) could return from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Friday against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Espada noted that he has yet to check in with Verlander since the veteran right-hander made his second minor-league rehab start Saturday with Double-A Corpus Christi. He covered four innings and tossed 77 pitches in that outing while allowing five earned runs on seven hits and one walk, but as long as Verlander informs the Houston coaching staff that he's feeling fine physically, the 41-year-old should get the green light to make his next start with the big club. Verlander hasn't pitched particularly well in his two rehab starts while allowing 11 earned runs, but the Astros may not want to delay his return any longer given their early season rotation issues.

Lorenzen (neck) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his Rangers debut Monday against the Tigers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander made his third rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday and allowed four runs across 4.2 innings, and he'll join the big-league rotation Monday with Cody Bradford (back) headed to the injured list. Lorenzen's role appeared in question with Bradford securing a longer-term rotation spot due to his performance, but Lorenzen will now have at least a couple weeks to stake his claim to a starting spot.

Texas placed Bradford on the 15-day injured list Sunday with lower back soreness, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.comreports.

Bradford earned a longer look in Texas' starting rotation after he began the season 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB over 19.1 innings, but he'll now be unavailable due to the back issue. Michael Lorenzen will take the open spot in the rotation, and he will be starting Monday at Detroit.

The Twins returned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

As expected, Woods Richardson's stay with the Twins was only a temporary one, as he was summoned from St. Paul to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Tigers. He started the second game of the twin bill, earning the win while limiting Detroit to one run on two hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings. Woods Richardson should be the Twins' top choice the next time the big club is in need of a spot starter.