MLB Player News

Mahle (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery Monday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Mahle will undergo the reconstructive surgery and miss not just the rest of the 2023 season, but a large portion of the 2024 season. Once healthy, the right-hander should be a rotation option again for the Twins, and the success rate of hurlers who come back from Tommy John surgery does suggest there's still a good chance for long-term success for Mahle.

Maeda (biceps) threw a bullpen session Saturday that went well, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Maeda threw around 25 pitches in the session, and he exclusively used his fastball and change-up. The right-hander is scheduled to throw another bullpen Tuesday, and he'll use all of his pitches in that effort. Maeda will need to throw a few more bullpens before going on a rehab assignment, but he could be back in the Minnesota rotation in the early part of June.

Whitlock (elbow) will be activated off the 15-day injured list for Boston's series next weekend against the Diamondbacks, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock is starting Sunday for Triple-A Worcester to conclude his rehab assignment, and then the right-hander will join the team in Anaheim before being activated against the D-Backs; likely Saturday for a start against Arizona. Whitlock struggled to a 6.19 ERA before being placed on the injured list with elbow ulnar neuritis, but he's had plenty of success in the past, and the 26-year-old offers a chance for fantasy success when he's on the mound.

Rodon (back) threw from 120 feet Friday and is heading to New York to continue his rehab Saturday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Rodon has been slowly approaching a distant return from his back injury, extending from throwing 90 feet to 120 feet this past week. That being said, the chronic back issue has required a cortisone injection already and the left-hander is yet to throw off the mound. All things considered, manager Aaron Boone said that "everything went well" Friday and that the hope is that Rodon is nearing mound work. In the end, the 30-year-old remains without any concrete timetable for a return.

Kaprielian was called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

Kaprielian will replace Drew Rucinski (illness) in the Athletics' rotation after Rucinski was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday. As a result, Kaprielian will draw the start Sunday versus the Astros. To this point in 2023, the right-hander has struggled to a 10.17 ERA and 1.96 WHIP with 25 strikeouts over 23 innings in seven appearances, including four starts, with Oakland.

Rucinski was placed on the 15-day injured list with a stomach illness Saturday.

The move was made retroactive to Wednesday (May 17), so the right-hander is eligible to return June 1, though the A's are off that day. In his absence, James Kaprielian was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas and will start Sunday against the Astros.

McCullers (forearm) is expected to throw a bullpen session before Sunday's contest against the Athletics, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers has slowly been working his way back from the forearm injury he suffered in February, and Sunday's session could be his last before launching a rehab assignment. Once healthy, the 29-year-old will be a welcomed addition to Houston's rotation as Luis Garcia (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Friday.

Brito will toe the rubber Saturday versus the Reds, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

The Yankees officially announced Brito as the starter Saturday, waiting until nearly the last minute to make that decision public. The right-hander earned a win the last time he was on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball while allowing six hits and striking out two batters Monday against the Blue Jays. Since he surrendered seven runs to the Twins on April 13, Brito has produced a respectable 4.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 25.2 frames in six appearances with the Yankees.

Bibee will have his start pushed back a day after the Guardians' contest with the Mets was postponed Saturday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Sunday now as a result of the weather, and Bibee will seemingly toe the rubber for one of the contests. The right-hander went 7.2 innings in his last start, limiting the Angels to one run on two hits while striking out seven batters. The rookie appears likely to stick around Cleveland's rotation moving forward.

Whitlock (elbow) will make a second rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

Whitlock was impressive his first time out for the WooSox, working four innings and throwing 49 pitches. He could be activated in the days following Sunday's start. The Red Sox are currently on the road, and if Whitlock is activated next week, his return to Boston's rotation could come Friday in Arizona.