MLB Player News

Means (2-0) earned the win Friday over the Mariners, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out four.

Means got off to a rocky start, allowing a run on three hits in the first inning. However, he'd settle down and hold Seattle to just one additional run over his final five frames in an eventual 9-2 win. It was a nice bounce-back effort from Means after he gave up four runs to Arizona in just 4.2 innings his last time out. The 31-year-old southpaw lowered his ERA to 3.06 with a 0.85 WHIP and 15 strikeouts over 17.2 innings, and he has yet to issue a walk. Means is currently lined up for a road matchup with the Cardinals in his next outing.

Maeda (illness) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Maeda has been dealing with a viral illness that landed him on the IL on May 11. He began throwing off a mound Wednesday and will now progress to a rehab start, putting Maeda in line to return to the rotation May 24 against the Blue Jays. The 36-year-old right-hander is 1-1 in seven starts this season with a 6.75 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB over 30.2 innings.

Whitlock (oblique) reported soreness in his right elbow following his rehab start at Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock looked good during his outing Wednesday, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out five batters, but any trouble with his elbow could cause his return to the Red Sox to be postponed. The 27-year-old righty will be examined by team doctors in Boston on Monday. Whitlock has been on the shelf since mid-April due to a left oblique strain.

Eovaldi (groin) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Friday will mark the first time Eovaldi has thrown off a mound since being diagnosed with a right groin strain May 3. He's eligible to return from the IL on Saturday, but considering the right-hander is just now resuming mound work, he may still be a week or two from returning to Texas' rotation. A clearer timeline for his return should emerge once he progresses to facing live hitters.

Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.

Urquidy (forearm) will make another rehab start after his upcoming outing at Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy is slated for four innings (60-65 pitches) in Saturday's contest, so the Astros will keep him in the minors for an additional rehab appearance to stretch him out further. The 29-year-old righty struggled in his first rehab outing, giving up three earned runs across 2.2 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming his third start in the minors will be his last, Urquidy is in line to pitch again for the Astros in Seattle on May 29.

Rodriguez (back) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After throwing off a mound earlier this week, Rodriguez is set to make his first rehab appearance Tuesday. He made four starts prior to his back flaring up, but with the Blue Jays having indicated they wanted to monitor his workload in 2024, he could shift to the bullpen once he returns.

Bido is making progress in his recovery from a blister on his pitching hand that he developed during a May 8 start against the Rangers, and the Athletics still view him as an option for the big-league rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

After turning in a 2.59 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 31.1 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas, Bido made a spot start in a doubleheader but was pulled midway through the third inning of the second game, and he was returned to Las Vegas two days later. The right-hander hasn't pitched for Las Vegas since, but he could rejoin the big club as soon as Friday, when Oakland will have an opening in its rotation for a series opener in Kansas City. Bido served as the 27th man for the doubleheader last week, so he's eligible to be called back up at any time.

Baz (elbow) struck out three and allowed one earned run on five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings Thursday in the third start of his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham.

After issuing five walks in just 1.2 innings in his second rehab start, Baz demonstrated improved control. Though he still walked two of the 17 batters (11.8 percent) he faced, the right-hander spotted 49 of his 69 pitches for strikes. Baz will likely make at least one more rehab start for Durham before the Rays bring him back from the 15-day injured list.

Estes (1-1) was hit with the loss Thursday against the Astros, allowing eight runs on eight hits and four walks over 3.2 innings while striking out four.

Estes struggled with his command out of the gate and was lucky to get through the first two innings unscathed despite allowing four batters to reach over that span. However, the traffic would finally catch up with the 22-year-old right-hander in the third after he issued a walk to Kyle Tucker to open the frame, which would eventually lead to six runs coming across for Houston in the inning. Estes would surrender another two runs in the fourth and actually allowed the leadoff man to reach in all four innings in which he appeared. It was a disappointing performance after he threw just 61 pitches over five frames in his first outing and did not walk a batter.