MLB Player News

Mize (1-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Marlins, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk over six innings. He struck out six.

Jazz Chisholm led off the game with a base hit before Bryan De La Cruz smacked a two-run homer off Mize. The right-hander would proceed to blank the Marlins over his subsequent five innings, allowing just one additional hit, though the Tigers' offense couldn't provide any support in an eventual 2-0 defeat. It's the fourth quality start of the season for Mize, who's allowed just three runs on seven hits over 12 innings in his last two outings. He sports a 3.50 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB across eight starts (43.2 innings) this year. Mize is currently in line for a road matchup with the Royals in his next outing.

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

Texas won't immediately replace Leiter in its rotation, but the rookie right-hander will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to right-hander Shaun Anderson, who was called up from Round Rock and will provide some length out of the bullpen in the short term. Leiter's demotion comes one day after he failed to escape the second inning in the Rangers' 7-4 loss to the Guardians. He's labored in each of his first three big-league starts, giving up 17 earned runs on 18 hits and six walks while striking out seven across 9.1 innings.

The Rangers transferred Scherzer (back/arm) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

Scherzer surprisingly avoided the 60-day IL to begin the season after the Rangers were encouraged enough by his recovery from his Dec. 15 back surgery during spring training to keep the door open for him to make his 2024 debut before May 27. Though Scherzer remained on track to meet the Rangers' goal as recently as a few weeks ago, it became clear that his absence would extend into June after he dealt with a thumb issue coming out of his first rehab start April 24 with Triple-A Round Rock. He hasn't been able to do much activity ever since, but he'll play light catch Wednesday while he contends with a nerve issue in addition to ramping back up from his herniated disc surgery. Fortunately for Scherzer, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com relays that the right-hander has had MRIs on his triceps, elbow and neck that all returned clean, so the nerve problem is believed to be something that he'll be able to manage. The Rangers will wait and see how he responds to playing catch Wednesday before mapping out his throwing progression any futher.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against Baltimore, allowing one run on six hits and a walk in 4.1 innings. He struck out nine.

Kikuchi needed 88 pitches to record 11 outs, though he limited Baltimore to one run on Jordan Westburg's lead-off homer in the first while recording nine strikeouts for the third time this season. Kikuchi had gone at least six innings in his previous six starts -- he's 2-3 on the year with a 2.60 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 55:10 K:BB across 52 innings. The left-hander is currently on track to face the White Sox at home in his next start.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Blanco won't appeal his 10-game suspension, which will go into effect beginning with Wednesday's contest versus the Athletics, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Blanco received the 10-game ban earlier Wednesday after he was ejected in the fourth inning of his start in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning win over Oakland for violating the prohibitions on foreign substances. When he spoke to the media after the game, Blanco implied through an interpreter that he would appeal any suspension, but he's since accepted the banishment and won't be eligible to pitch again until May 26. The Astros won't be able to replace Blanco on the 26-man roster and will have to get by with a shorthanded pitching staff for the time being, though Jose Urquidy could soon return from the 15-day injured list to provide reinforcement for the rotation.

Scherzer (back) will attempt to play light catch Wednesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Scherzer is dealing with a nerve problem which has affected his throwing arm. He was given a cortisone injection in his right thumb to combat the issue, but it's something he might just have to learn to pitch through. Scherzer revealed that he underwent MRIs on his triceps, elbow and neck to make sure there wasn't something else going on, and all of those tests came back negative. The righty had begun a rehab assignment last month, but he's been shut down for a couple weeks with the nerve issue. Scherzer initially went on the IL after offseaon back surgery. There's no timetable for his return to the Rangers' rotation.

Bradish did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Blue Jays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out three.

Both runs against Bradish came on a Bo Bichette double in the third inning. The right-hander was pulled after throwing 85 pitches, as the Orioles continue to limit Bradish's pitch count after he missed the first month of the season with a strained UCL. The 27-year-old Bradish sports a 2.63 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB across his first three starts (13.2 innings) this season. He's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Cardinals early next week.

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that Blanco has been suspended 10 games violating the prohibitions on foreign substances, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. He's expected to appeal the suspension.

Blanco was ejected from Tuesday's against the Athletics prior to the fourth inning after umpires examined his glove for a foreign substance. With MLB concurring with the umpires' assessment a day after investigating the matter, an automatic 10-game suspension was triggered for Blanco. The Astros haven't formally deactivated Blanco, so for now, the expectation is that he'll be able to pitch for Houston until the appeal process is completed.

The Athletics placed Wood (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left rotator cuff tendinitis.

The transaction is retroactive to Monday, so Wood will be eligible to come off the IL as soon as May 28. Given Wood's long track record of injuries and history as a slow healer, however, fantasy managers who have been rostering the veteran southpaw should probably prepare for him to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Wood's shoulder issue had been bothering him during his most recent start this past Sunday in Seattle, prompting the Athletics to pull him after just two innings while his fastball velocity was down about two ticks from his season-long average. The Athletics haven't named an immediate replacement in the rotation for Wood, but Kyle Muller tossed four innings in relief of the lefty last Sunday and could be stretched out enough to step into the vacant starting role this weekend in Kansas City.

The Athletics optioned Basso to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Basso was up in the majors for just one day and didn't make an appearance. The left-hander could still be needed in the Athletics rotation at some point given the big club's mounting injury list, but for now he'll report to Las Vegas. Basso was torched for nine earned runs over 2.1 innings in his lone start with Las Vegas this season but has put up a 2.84 ERA and 32:3 K:BB over 25.1 frames with Double-A Midland.