MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Sale (shoulder) will be limited to around four innings in his return to the rotation Friday versus the Tigers, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Sale has been out since early June due to a stress reaction in his left scapula and threw only 35 and 54 pitches, respectively, in his two rehab starts with Triple-A Worcester. He looked sharp during that stint on the farm, though, tallying 10 strikeouts across 6.1 scoreless frames. The 34-year-old southpaw will have to continue building up on the fly, but he can maybe help Boston attempt to stage a late charge in the AL Wild Card standings.

Olson (2-5) earned the win Thursday, allowing two hits and three walks over six scoreless innings against Minnesota. He struck out eight.

The rookie right-hander turned in the best start of his young career, outdueling opposing starter Kenta Maeda to earn the victory. Olson had been mired in mediocrity in his previous four starts since rejoining Detroit's rotation July 16, going 0-3 with a 6.33 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 21.1 innings during that stretch. The 24-year-old currently lines up for a rematch versus Minnesota next week.

GM Justin Hollander said Tuesday that Gonzales (forearm), who was recently transferred to the 60-day injured list, is running out of time to pitch again in 2023, the team's official site reports.

Per Hollander, the nerve issue that led to Gonzales' initial placement on the IL back on June 3 persists, and that's preventing the left-hander from beginning any type of ramp-up activity. Hollander remarked "the clock is ticking on that" when asked about Gonzales' chances of returning this season, noting the veteran would need an extensive amount of time to build his arm strength back up once he's finally cleared to begin a throwing program.

Rodon (hamstring) threw from flat ground Wednesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Rodon was placed on the IL on Monday due to a low-grade left hamstring strain, but the Yankees indicated at the time that he would continue throwing. That plan has come to fruition, as the left-hander played catch Wednesday in Chicago. The initial indication is that Rodon could need just a minimum stay on the injured list, which would put hit in line to return for a home series against Washington that begins Aug. 22.

The Yankees are expected to recall Vasquez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start Friday in Miami, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The team hasn't announced anything yet, but it has an opening in the rotation Friday and Vasquez is on turn. Vasquez holds a 1.17 ERA in three starts with the Yanks this season, although that's come with a 10:7 K:BB over 15.1 innings. If the 24-year-old pitches well Friday, he would seem to have a good shot to remain in the rotation at the expense of the struggling Luis Severino.

Keuchel is scheduled to start Friday's game in Philadelphia.

The veteran southpaw will get at least one more turn through the Twins rotation while Joe Ryan (groin) remains on the 15-day injured list. In his Twins debut last Sunday versus the Diamondbacks, Keuchel failed to strike out a batter over five innings, but he allowed just one run on eight hits and two walks.

Wells will start for Double-A Bowie on Saturday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Wells was optioned to Bowie in late July as a bit of a reset after getting roughed up in his first three second-half outings. He allowed one run over 3.1 innings in his first start for Bowie this past Saturday and will take the ball for that team again on six days' rest. Cole Irvin is likely starting for the Orioles on Saturday as part of a six-man rotation and it's not a coincidence that he's on the same schedule as Wells, as the hope is the righty will eventually slide back into the big-league rotation. When that could happen, however, remains up in the air.

Marsh will serve as the Royals' bulk reliever behind opener Austin Cox in Thursday's game in Boston, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Since recording a career-high 11 strikeouts in his third MLB start July 15 versus the Rays, Marsh has labored over his last four outings (three starts), compiling an 8.31 ERA and 1.92 WHIP over that stretch while striking out no more than four batters on any occasion. The Royals will have Marsh enter the game behind an opener with the hope that the arrangement delivers better results from the young right-hander. If Marsh struggles again, however, he could be at risk of losing his spot in Kansas City's rotation.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Irvin is "probable" to start Saturday in Seattle as the team moves to a six-man rotation, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The O's have lots of young arms in their rotation, so going to a six-man setup allows the club to ease their foot off the gas a bit with workloads. Irvin isn't guaranteed to be the sixth man for long, as Tyler Wells is slated to start for Double-A Bowie on Saturday, and the hope is that Wells will be ready to rejoin Baltimore's rotation at some point.

Ryu (knee) is listed as the Blue Jays' scheduled starter Sunday versus the Cubs, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

Ryu was forced from his previous outing Monday in Cleveland after being struck on the right knee by a comebacker. X-rays came back clean, however, and he is on track to take the ball for his next turn, provided he gets through a bullpen session Friday with no issues. The left-hander had tossed four scoreless innings against the Guardians before his exit.