MLB Player News

Rodriguez (0-1) took the loss Wednesday against Kansas City, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out two.

Rodriguez allowed more than one run for the first time in three starts this season and set a season low in strikeouts after tallying six and seven K's in his first two starts, respectively. While Rodriguez is expected to be pushed into a bullpen role upon the return of Alek Manoah (shoulder), he's been a serviceable fill-in rotation piece, owning a 3.86 ERA and a 15:5 K:BB over 11.2 innings.

Means (forearm) struck out five and allowed three earned runs on seven hits and one walk over 4.1 innings in a rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Norfolk.

Means built up to 79 pitches in the rehab start, his fifth overall with Norfolk. The 31-year-old lefty hasn't performed as well as the Orioles had hoped during the rehab assignment -- he holds a 13.89 ERA, 2.41 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB in 11.2 innings -- but with Wednesday's outing arguably being Means' best yet, he could be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list soon. According to Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com, the Orioles haven't ruled out the possibility of Means returning from the IL to start Sunday versus the Athletics, though the club may prefer to have the red-hot Albert Suarez (11.1 scoreless innings through two starts) make another turn through the rotation.

Marsh was removed from his start Wednesday versus Toronto after getting hit by a comebacker, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Marsh took a 94-mph line drive off his right forearm during the fifth inning and looked to be in a considerable amount of pain before leaving the game with trainers. The Royals will take a closer look at him and should offer an update on his status after Wednesday's game. The 25-year-old righty pitched 4.1 innings of shutout ball before exiting.

The Rangers announced that Scherzer (back) will make his first minor-league rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Round Rock.

Texas' decision to place Scherzer on the 15-day injured list rather than the 60-day IL coming out of spring training was the first hint that the veteran righty was making a speedier-than-expected recovery from his Dec. 15 surgery to address a herniated disc in his back, and he appears to have faced no setbacks while advancing through his throwing progression during the first month of the regular season. Scherzer will now move on to the final phase of his ramp-up program by heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, which will likely consist of at least two appearances with Round Rock or another affiliate. According to the Associated Press, manager Bruce Bochy said Scherzer is expected to throw about 50 pitches in Wednesday's outing after he tossed a 40-pitch simulated game this past Friday.

Valdez (elbow) completed a 40-pitch bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch Saturday or Sunday against the Rockies in Mexico City, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander landed on injured list with elbow inflammation April 9, and it appears he'll return after missing little more than the 15-day minimum. Valdez will likely face some workload limitations in his first few starts back given he's built up to only 40 pitches, but it will be a welcome return for a Houston rotation that's now also missing Cristian Javier (neck).

Kelly (undisclosed) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is nearing a return, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

The details on Kelly's injury are still unknown, but it appears his return may be sooner than expected. The southpaw pitcher is currently on the 40-man roster for the Rangers and could be a candidate to be called up once healthy.

Williams felt some discomfort in his right elbow in his most recent simulated game Saturday at the Guardians' spring facility in Arizona and will receive an injection and be shut down for seven days, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The soreness was similar to what he first felt during spring training in a weighted-ball workout. The Guardians are hopeful that Williams can begin a throwing program in a week and ramp back up again, but it's certainly no guarantee that his recovery process will go that smoothly. Even in a best-case scenario, Williams looks set to remain on the 15-day injured list well into May.

Waldichuk (elbow) threw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports. "Waldichuk looked really good and got his velocity up from his last bullpen," said A's manager Mark Kotsay. "He's trending in the right direction."

Waldichuk has now thrown three bullpen sessions over the last eight days alone, certainly an encouraging sign with respect to his surgically repaired elbow's strength. The left-hander is slated to throw additional bullpen sessions during the Athletics' road trip before facing hitters in a simulated game at some point next week, after which he'll head out on a rehab assignment, per Kotsay.

The Red Sox placed Bello on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right lat tightness.

Manager Alex Cora said that Bello felt discomfort following his most recent start Friday, but the team is optimistic the right-hander will be ready to return after the minimum 15 days, per Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe, The Red Sox will move Kutter Crawford up a day in the pitching schedule to start Thursday's series finale in Cleveland on regular rest.

Medina (knee) threw a successful 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

Medina's long recovery from a Grade 2 MCL sprain appears to be picking up steam in earnest. The right-hander is slated for multiple bullpen sessions during the current road trip, and if those go off without setbacks, he'll pitch to hitters in a simulated game at some point next week, per MLB.com.