MLB Player News

Valdez (calf) will start Friday in Oakland, Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez had to exit his last outing with a cramp in his left calf, but he got through his normal between-starts bullpen session Wednesday with no issues. The left-hander has posted a 2.76 ERA in 18 starts this season, and his 27.4 percent strikeout rate would be a career best.

Bielak (5-5) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one hit and three walks over 5.2 scoreless innings against the Rockies. He struck out four.

Bielak held the Rockies to one hit in the winning effort, though he ultimately fell an out short of logging a quality start after walking a pair in the sixth inning. Bielak has impressed since returning from Triple-A in early July, going 2-1 with a 1.02 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across three starts (17.2 innings). Overall, the 27-year-old right-hander's ERA is down to 3.46 with a 1.40 WHIP and 50:26 K:BB through 65 innings this season. Bielak should have a safe role in Houston's rotation, at least until Jose Urquidy (shoulder) is ready to return from the IL. The former is lined up for a tough home matchup with the Rangers early next week.

Cortes (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

It's not clear which affiliate he'll be assigned to, but the left-hander will finally be ready for game action this weekend. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he expects Cortes to require three rehab outings, likely setting the pitcher up to return when first eligible on Aug. 3 if all goes well. Cortes has been out since late May with a strained rotator cuff.

Gray said Wednesday that he expects to make his next scheduled start after X-rays on his bruised left shin came back negative, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Gray was struck on the leg by a comebacker off the bat of the Rays' Yandy Diaz in the fifth inning of Wednesday's game and had to be removed. He's managed to escape with merely a contusion, though, and doesn't expect taking the ball early next week in Houston to be a problem.

Lynch was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a left shoulder strain.

It's the same injury which cost him the first two months of the season. Lynch had authored three quality starts in four tries prior to struggling Tuesday versus the Tigers (although he did get the win) and it appears he might have been pitching compromised. It's unclear at this point how long he might be on the shelf.

Keuchel has the ability to opt out of his minor-league contract with the Twins on Friday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Keuchel has collected a 0.90 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 20 innings since joining the Twins' Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul. The Twins have not yet offered any hints as to whether he could be promoted soon, though. Keuchel, 35, holds a 6.35 ERA at the major-league level over the previous two seasons.

Gausman (side) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is on track to make a start this weekend in Seattle, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The exact date of Gausman's next start has not been determined, but the good news is he appears to be over the left side issue which caused him to be scratched from his last outing. It was July 8 the last time the right-hander pitched, so he will be well rested.

X-rays turned up clean on Gray's left leg following his early exit from Wednesday's game against the Rays, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Gray was lifted from his afternoon start versus Tampa Bay when he got struck by a Yandy Diaz comebacker in the top of the fifth inning, but he escaped with only a bruised left shin. It sounds like the 31-year-old right-hander will be able to stay on turn and take the ball again for the Rangers early next week in Houston. He scattered eight hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless frames Wednesday while striking out four. Texas led 1-0 at the time of his departure.

Gray was removed from his start Wednesday against the Rays after getting struck on his left leg by a comebacker, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Gray took a Yandy Diaz sinking liner off his lower left leg in the top of the fifth inning and looked to be hobbling quite a bit. He then walked off the field under his own power following a chat with Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and a member of the team's training staff. Gray had allowed eight hits and a walk -- but no runs -- through 4.1 innings prior to his departure. He struck out four.

Sale (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session this weekend, Mike Monaco of ESPN reports.

He threw a bullpen session Tuesday, his first since down with a stress reaction in his left scapula. Sale will likely need two live batting practices after that before eventually progressing to a rehab assignment. The veteran left-hander is tracking toward a return to the Red Sox rotation by early August, although he still has some hurdles to clear in order for that to happen.