MLB Player News

Bibee (2-8) took the loss against the Astros on Friday, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Bibee entered the sixth inning with a 3-2 lead before allowing two baserunners and departing at 95 pitches. Unfortunately for Bibee, he was charged with both runs and the loss after Matt Festa allowed a three-run homer in relief. It ended a stretch of three straight quality starts for the 27-year-old Bibee, though he still owns a 2.21 ERA through three June outings. He'll carry a 4.03 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 78:28 K:BB across 89.1 total innings into a road matchup against the White Sox next week.

Imai (4-3) earned the win against the Guardians on Friday, allowing three runs on six hits and no walks with 11 strikeouts over six innings.

Imai allowed three runs in the third inning but was otherwise as good as he's been in an Astros uniform, registering a season-high 11 punchouts while not issuing a walk for just the second time in 10 contests. He leaned heavily on his slider, generating a whopping 17 of his 20 swinging strikes on the pitch while throwing it 57 percent of the time. The 28-year-old still owns an ugly 6.15 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 48:24 K:BB across 41 innings this season and will try to build on this performance in a road matchup against the Tigers next week.

Rodriguez (back) recently underwent an MRI that came back clean, per MLB.com.

The imaging brought promising news for the right-handed hurler, and he was able to play catch June 16. That was just two days after Rodriguez had to depart his start against Tampa Bay after feeling tightness in his back. It's not clear how long Rodriguez will be sidelined, but early indications are that he may not need much more than the minimum 15 days required by his IL stint.

Javier (shoulder) will make another appearance Sunday for Triple-A Sugar Land in what should be his final rehab start, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Javier only made three appearances for Houston before being placed on the injured list April 10. Houston believes this upcoming rehab start should be the 29-year-old's final one, so it seems the right-hander is close to being back with the big-league club after missing over two months of action.

Fried (elbow) will throw a bullpen session this weekend, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Fried has been out of action since mid-May due to a left elbow bone bruise. The southpaw was cleared to throw off a mound about a month later, and he tossed his first bullpen June 16. MLB.com reports that Fried's next bullpen will take place Sunday and that the veteran pitcher is currently asymptomatic. If he continues to progress without any setbacks, Fried could rejoin New York's rotation at some point in July.

Schmidt (elbow) tossed a side session Wednesday and is "a couple of weeks" away from facing live hitters, per MLB.com.

Schmidt is now almost a year out from the internal brace procedure he underwent last July. The veteran hurler began throwing from a mound in early April but has been limited to side sessions so far. If he continues his throwing program and is able to face hitters in late June or early July, Schmidt could be ready for game action at some point in August.

McCullers (shoulder) threw a 25-pitch live batting practice session Friday at Daikin Park, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It was the hurler's first time facing hitters since he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation in mid-May. The next step for McCullers will either be throwing another live batting practice session or going out on a rehab assignment. It seems McCullers could be back before the All-Star break if all goes well, but he still has several boxes to check.

Fedde is slated to serve as the bulk reliever in Friday's game versus the Tigers, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Lefty Brandon Eisert will open for the White Sox before handing things off to the right-handed Fedde. It will be the seventh bulk relief assignment this season for Fedde, who holds a 4.73 ERA and 19:12 K:BB over 26.2 frames in his first seven outings in such situations.

Flaherty (ankle) will throw a bullpen session Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

It appears to be the first time the right-hander has thrown off the mound since he landed on the injured list last week with a left peroneal strain. Flaherty is first eligible to return June 28, and he has a chance to make it back by then or shortly thereafter.

Montero will start Sunday's game against the White Sox in Detroit, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Justin Verlander (hip/hamstring) had been slated to return from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game, but he encountered a setback. Montero made a relief appearance Tuesday versus the Astros, but his other 13 outings this season have been starts. He's collected a 3.67 ERA and 50:17 K:BB over 73.2 frames this season. Verlander is expected to miss multiple weeks, so Montero is likely to get multiple turns in the Detroit rotation.