MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Montas (shoulder) may be ready to begin a throwing program soon, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Boone didn't specify when exactly Montas might resume long toss, but the skipper's comments can at least be viewed as positive news for the right-hander, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his labrum in late February. The Yankees likely won't have a timeline for Montas to make his season debut until he's at least reached the point in his throwing program where he's facing hitters.

Paxton (hamstring) will make another rehab appearance with Triple-A Worcester before the Red Sox make a decision about activating him from the 15-day injured list, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Although he's struggled overall on his rehab assignment, Paxton was terrific in his most recent outing Sunday, striking out eight over 5.1 scoreless frames while getting his pitch count up to 90. Paxton has only ever started in the majors, but the Red Sox to this point have not committed to what role he would have with the big club. The big left-hander has made just six starts at the major-league level since 2020 -- none in 2022 -- due to various arm issues and is currently on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. Paxton's pitching schedule currently aligns with 23-year-old right-hander Brayan Bello's, so the Red Sox could easily swap Paxton into the rotation for Bello if the team brass determines that the veteran is a better option.

Miller will be called up from Double-A Arkansas to make his major-league debut Tuesday against the Athletics, Joe Doyle of FutureStarsSeries.com reports.

Miller has struggled overall this season with Arkansas in posting a 6.41 ERA over his first four starts. His last outing was his best, though, as he allowed just one hit and one run while fanning five over five innings. Miller had a breakout 2022 campaign, which saw him hold a 3.16 ERA and 163:46 K:BB over 133.2 innings. It's unclear whether this will be just a spot start or if he could stick around a while, but there should theoretically be an opening with Robbie Ray (elbow) done for the season. He's worthy of an add in fantasy leagues with such a favorable first outing on tap.

Manager Aaron Boone said Monday in an interview with the Talkin' Yanks podcast that Severino (lat) will rejoin the Yankees' rotation within the next 2-to-3 weeks.

Severino will begin a rehab assignment either Wednesday or Thursday with High-A Tampa. Based on Boone's timetable, the right-hander is expected to make at least two rehab starts before rejoining the big club, assuming Severino experiences no setbacks. Severino has been on the 15-day injured list all season with a strained right lat.

Bello (finger) is listed as the Red Sox's starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays at Fenway Park.

Bello's inclusion on the pitching schedule for the Red Sox's four-game series with Toronto confirms that the blister he developed on his right index finger in his last outing Saturday versus Cleveland isn't expected to be an issue moving forward. Before picking up the abrasion on his finger, Bello was in the midst of his best start of the season, as he limited the Guardians to one run on five hits and two walks while striking out six in five innings.

Varland is tentatively scheduled to start Wednesday for Triple-A St. Paul, but he could instead be called up from the minors that day to start for the Twins in Chicago against the White Sox, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

With Kenta Maeda (triceps) landing on the injured list Saturday and Tyler Mahle (elbow) likely to be deactivated no later than Tuesday, the Twins have two openings in their five-man rotation. Bailey Ober was already summoned from Triple-A to fill in for Maeda this past Saturday, and Varland looks like the next man up to replace Mahle. As Park notes, Varland's pitching schedule is synchronized with Mahle, so the Twins wouldn't have to alter their rotation order to swap Varland in. The 25-year-old right-hander previously impressed in his lone spot start with the big club April 14 against the Yankees (eight strikeouts, three earned runs allowed in six innings), and he's continued to perform well at St. Paul, with whom he's logged a 4.20 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 25:4 K:BB across 15 frames on the season.

Urquidy is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday after he exited Sunday's 4-3 win over the Phillies with a sore right shoulder, Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston reports.

Urquidy captured the win and struck out three while allowing two earned runs on three hits and one walk across 5.1 innings before being lifted from the contest after experiencing pain in the back of his right shoulder. Though the right-hander did some range-of-motion work without issue after exiting the start, the MRI will shed more light on the extent of his injury. Houston has an off day on tap Thursday, so if Urquidy's injury isn't too significant but he still needs more time off between starts, the team could get by with a four-man rotation until a fifth starter is needed again May 9.

Rasmussen allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out three over five innings against the White Sox on Sunday. He did not walk a batter nor did he factor into the decision.

The White Sox got to Rasmussen in the opening frame with a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly. He faced little resistance through the order until the sixth inning, during which he allowed a leadoff base hit before Yasmani Grandal sent one over the wall in center to put the Sox ahead 3-2. Rasmussen's day would conclude abruptly following the home run ball. It was just the second homer he's allowed this year, but he's been knocked around quite a bit, allowing at least eight hits in three of his last four outings while failing to surpass five innings. The 27-year-old has been hit or miss in six starts this season and now owns a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 34:9 K:BB over 32 innings. He's lined up to take the mound in a divisional clash with the Yankees next weekend.

Clevinger allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out eight over five innings against the Rays on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Clevinger delivered one of his better performances of the early season Sunday after he was knocked around for six runs his last time out. The 32-year-old was taken deep on back-to-back at-bats from Taylor Walls and Luke Raley in the fourth but otherwise did not face much pressure on the bases and tied a season high with eight strikeouts. Clevinger has now given up five home runs over this last three starts after not allowing any in his three outings of the year and has managed to complete six innings just once. He now holds a 4.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 26:15 K:BB over 29.1 innings and lines up to face the Reds in Cincinnati next weekend.

Perez (4-1) got the win over the Yankees on Sunday, allowing one run on six hits and a walk while striking out two over six innings.

It was an efficient outing for Perez, who needed only 70 pitches to navigate through six innings. He undoubtedly could have kept going, but there was no need to risk a possible injury with the Rangers up 14-1 by the end of the sixth. The 32-year-old induced plenty of weak contact, and his only blemish on the day came in the third, when a single, a double and a groundout plated a run for the Yankees. Perez continues to find ways to get the job done despite his velocity being down a tick (91.4 mph vs. 92.7 last season) and while giving up more fly balls than last year in the early going. He sits at a 2.41 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 26:9 K:BB over 33.2 innings and tentatively lines up to face the Angels on the road next weekend.