MLB Player News

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Monday that McCullers (forearm) is no longer throwing off a mound, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. "We have to take it slow with Lance until we know that he's 100 percent. That's where it is right now," Baker said.

McCullers started throwing bullpen sessions in early May, but he wasn't looking overly sharp and was apparently still not feeling totally healthy. The right-hander had been aiming to return from the 15-day injured list around the All-Star break, but his timetable is very much up in the air now.

Waldichuk served as the opener in Sunday's loss to the Astros, allowing an earned run on one hit over an inning while recording two strikeouts.

The left-hander almost escaped his one frame unscathed, but Yordan Alvarez got to him with a two-out solo home run to give the Astros an early lead. Waldichuk threw only 16 pitches (11 strikes), yet he may be set to work in an opener or reliever role for the time being now that Paul Blackburn (finger) is being activated from the injured list and Hogan Harris is up from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Cease did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on four hits and four walks over four frames during a 6-5 loss against the Tigers in 10 innings. He struck out eight.

Cease has given up a home run in seven of his past eight appearances and sports a 6.47 ERA and 1.59 WHIP during that stretch. The right-hander started the season strong, allowing just three runs over his first 16.1 innings with 24 strikeouts during that stretch, but he's struggled to find any consistency recently. Cease's eight strikeouts through four innings is encouraging, but he likely needs to make a few more adjustments to get back to where he was last year when he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting.

Gaddis did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out three.

Gaddis allowed three solo home runs to the Cardinals but was let off the hook thanks to a walk-off, two-run double by Jose Ramirez. The right-hander sports a 5.72 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB across six starts (28.1 innings), but he's likely transitioning to a relief role or heading back to Triple-A Columbus soon, as Aaron Civale (oblique) and Triston McKenzie (shoulder) are both nearing a return to MLB.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Wentz will "most likely" start Wednesday versus the Rangers, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

The Tigers are holding off on officially tapping Wentz to start Wednesday, perhaps because they're considering him as a bulk reliever instead as they look to get him back on track. Wentz holds an ugly 14.54 ERA over his last three starts.

Dunning (paternity) will start Wednesday against the Tigers.

Dunning witnessed the birth of his son over the weekend, and while he still remains on the paternity list, he'll rejoin the team in Detroit and will get back on the mound for the series finale with the Tigers. He'll get a soft re-entry into the rotation, facing off against a Tigers squad that ranks 28th in OPS (.664) and 27th in runs scored per game (3.82).

Boston manager Alex Cora said Crawford (ankle) will be available for Tuesday's series opener against the Reds, MLB.com reports.

Crawford sustained an ankle contusion on a comebacker during Saturday's win over the Diamondbacks. He was able to recover and made an athletic play to get the runner at first base before the right-hander was removed from the game. Crawford was unavailable Sunday.

McKenzie (shoulder) is scheduled to make a third rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Guardians manager Terry Francona said he's hoping for McKenzie to get stretched out to around 85 pitches Tuesday in what would likely be the right-hander's final rehab start before he makes his return from the 60-day injured list. McKenzie, who has been on the shelf since suffering a right teres major muscle strain during his final start of spring training March 26, covered 4.1 innings and 68 pitches in his most recent rehab start with Columbus this past Thursday, striking out six while allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks. With both McKenzie and Aaron Civale (oblique) seemingly due to return from the IL within the next week or two, the Guardians may have to move one of Logan Allen or Tanner Bibee to the bullpen or back to the minors to clear up two spots in the rotation.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Rodon (back/forearm) is slated to throw a bullpen session Monday in Seattle, Max Goodman of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

For the first time since late April, Rodon threw a bullpen session Friday and is reportedly "doing well" following the workout, according to Boone. The southpaw was initially placed on the 15-day injured list coming out of spring training due to a forearm strain, but he seems to have made a full recovery from that injury and now looks to be working back from a back issue that cropped up in April and eventually required an injection. The fact that Rodon is traveling with the Yankees on their six-game road trip this week can be taken as a positive sign, though it's unclear if he'll be able to advance to facing hitters before the team returns to New York next Monday. Rodon remains without an official timeline to make his 2023 debut, but he still looks to be at least two or three weeks away even if he avoids any further setbacks in his rehab program.

Berrios (5-4) got the win Sunday over the Twins, allowing no runs on four hits and five walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings.

Berrios was able to work around five walks and keep the Twins off the scoreboard while tossing 94 pitches. Berrios got knocked around for 12 runs over his first two starts but has given up two runs or less in seven of his nine outings since. He's also exceeded five innings in eight consecutive starts and has provided the Jays with great length thus far. The 29-year-old is down to a 3.86 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 62:19 K:BB over 65.1 innings and is set up for a road matchup against the Mets next weekend.