MLB Player News

Lively (undisclosed) is listed as the Guardians' probable starting pitcher for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Lively experienced some unspecified tightness during his most recent start in Miami on Saturday, when he tossed five shutout innings prior to being lifted. The issue won't result in Lively's turn being skipped, but he'll be pushed back in the schedule and given a full week off before stepping back into the rotation. After joining the Guardians this offseason on a modest one-year, $750,000 contract, Lively has been a valuable piece of the Cleveland rotation in 2024, going 6-2 with a 2.59 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over 55.2 innings across 10 starts.

Lopez (6-6) earned the win Wednesday over Colorado, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out five.

It was an encouraging outing for Lopez after he allowed seven runs and six walks in a loss to the Yankees in his last start. The right-hander notably didn't allow a free pass Wednesday. Overall, it's been an inconsistent first quarter of the season for Lopez -- his ERA sits at 5.33 with a 1.21 WHIP and 84:17 K:BB across 14 starts (76 innings). The 28-year-old Lopez is currently lined up to face the Rays at home early next week in his next outing.

Cole (elbow) will make a third rehab a start Friday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

The right-hander threw 57 pitches over 4.2 innings during his second rehab outing Sunday, and he'll move up to the Triple-A level as he continues building up his workload. Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday, "we'll see" when asked if it will be Cole's final rehab start, so it's possible he's cleared to make his season debut for the Yankees next week.

Mariners general manager Justin Hollander said Wednesday that the MRI on Woo's arm "was perfectly clean," and the right-hander could be reinserted into the rotation as early as next week, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The 24-year-old was scratched ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday against the White Sox due to what the team labeled as a "right forearm issue," but he doesn't appear to be dealing with anything too serious. It's unclear when exactly Woo will make his next start, though it seems the Mariners will attempt to avoid putting him on the injured list.

Gray will start Wednesday against the Dodgers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers had held off on officially naming Gray their starter for Wednesday's game since he pitched 2.1 innings in relief in Saturday's loss to the Giants. He's evidently bounced back fine from that appearance and will pitch on short rest versus the Dodgers. It will be Gray's first start since he had to exit an outing more than three weeks ago with a right groin strain.

Flaherty (back) said he's feeling better after receiving a pain-killing injection Tuesday and has been cleared to start Saturday's game against the Astros in Houston, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Flaherty was scheduled to play catch Wednesday and will throw a bullpen session Thursday, but unless the Tigers indicate that his back is still aching coming out of either of those activities, he shouldn't face any restrictions while he slots back into the rotation this weekend. The right-hander has delivered excellent returns on the Tigers' one-year, $14 million investment on him this offseason, as he'll head into Saturday's outing with a 3-4 record, 3.22 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 94:10 K:BB across 72.2 innings through his first 12 starts with Detroit.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that the club is considering activating Rodriguez (back) from the 15-day injured list to start either Saturday versus the Guardians, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Rodriguez was terrific in his latest and likely final rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, striking out 10 over four shutout innings while scattering three hits and one walk. He would be starting on short rest if he's brought back Saturday, but the club is considering it because it prefers giving Jose Berrios an extra day of rest before his next outing, which would fall Sunday. If Rodriguez is in fact tabbed to fill the opening in the rotation Saturday, he could be deployed as part of a tandem with Bowden Francis, who had been occupying the No. 5 spot in the rotation following Alek Manoah's (elbow) move to the IL.

The Twins optioned Varland to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Varland made a successful spot start Tuesday against the Rockies, spinning five scoreless frames while taking a no-decision in Minnesota's 5-4 loss. The Twins will use his roster spot for a fresh relief arm, with Jay Jackson coming up from Triple-A to join the bullpen.

Dunning (4-5) took the loss Tuesday against the Dodgers, allowing six runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two over 3.2 innings.

Dunning dug the Rangers an early 3-0 hole after surrendering a three-run homer to Will Smith in the first inning. He kept the Dodgers off the board the next two frames but loaded up the bases in the fourth before being replaced by Jonathan Hernandez with two outs. Hernandez gave up a double to Mookie Betts, which plated two runs that were charged to Dunning. He's now given up 14 runs (12 earned) over his last 17 innings and hasn't pitched more than five frames since April 28. The 29-year-old owns a 4.80 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 59:26 K:BB in 54.1 innings and will look to get back on track in a weekend start against Seattle.

Blanco (6-2) got the win over the Giants on Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits and a walk while striking out eight over six innings.

Blanco matched his season high with eight strikeouts. His lone blemish on the night was allowing a solo home run to Brett Wisely in the third inning. It was an encouraging bounceback effort from the 30-year-old after allowing eight runs and combining to strike out eight over his prior two starts coming into Tuesday's game. Blanco now owns a 2.67 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 67:28 K:BB in 70.2 innings and lines up for an enticing matchup against the White Sox early next week.