MLB Player News

McKenzie (shoulder) began a throwing program Friday, MLB.com reports.

Sidelined all season with the right teres major muscle strain he suffered in his final Cactus League start in late March, McKenzie has finally taken the first meaningful step forward in his recovery from the injury. He played catch from approximately 75 feet Friday, and he should gradually stretch out his throwing distance off flat ground over the next couple of weeks before eventually moving on to mound work. The Guardians transferred McKenzie to the 60-day injured list earlier this month, but the team remains optimistic that the lanky right-hander will be ready to return when first eligible for activation May 29.

Quantrill (leg) is listed as the Guardians' probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Rockies at Progressive Field.

Quantrill was lifted after tossing a season-low 83 pitches in his last outing Wednesday against the Tigers when he was struck on the leg by a line drive while recording the final out of the bottom of the sixth inning, but his early exit looks to have been mostly precautionary. While the Guardians haven't formally confirmed that the right-hander completed a between-starts bullpen session without issue, Quantrill's inclusion on the pitching schedule for the series with the Rockies suggests he's good to go. He'll tentatively line up for a two-start week, with his second turn expected to come next Sunday in Boston.

Espino (shoulder) has been shut down from throwing and is planning to visit with a doctor after suffering recent setbacks, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Espino was placed on Double-A Akron's 60-day injured list before the season due to a subscapularis strain and anterior capsule tear in his right shoulder. The right-hander has looked like one of the best pitching prospects in baseball when he's been on the mound, but he's accumulated only 18.1 innings since the start of the 2022 season. The Guardians maintained hoped that Espino would be able to return to game action in the early part of the summer, but that's now in doubt in light of his recent setbacks.

Wilcox has a 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB in 12 innings through three starts for Double-A Montgomery.

The 23-year-old righty skipped over High-A completely, as he pitched in rookie ball and at Single-A after returning last season from September 2021 Tommy John surgery. Wilcox has been dominant in his first exposure to upper-level hitting, as his 28.3 K-BB% is in line with his figures from the lower levels. He will need to be added to the 40-man roster in December, and it's looking like he could be big-league ready sooner than expected.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Rodon (back) was able to play catch Sunday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Boone noted that Rodon is expected to continue his throwing progression this week, with the lefty's next step being advancing to throwing a bullpen session. Rodon has yet to make his Yankees debut while working his way back from a forearm strain and a back injury, and because of his lengthy absence, he'll likely need a multi-start rehab assignment before returning from the 15-day injured list.

Cleveland selected Allen's contract from Triple-A Columbus ahead of his scheduled start Sunday versus the Marlins at Progressive Field, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

The left-handed hurler will be making his MLB debut after impressing over his three appearances for Columbus with a 1.26 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 14.1 frames. The Cleveland rotation is currently without Triston McKenzie (shoulder) and Aaron Civale (oblique), so Allen could have a path to making multiple turns through the rotation if he's able to acquit himself well in Sunday's outing.

Eflin (back) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and will start Sunday against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 29-year-old has been sidelined the past couple weeks with lower-back tightness, but he'll end up requiring only a 15-day stint on the shelf. Eflin had a 3.27 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12:1 K:BB in 11 frames across his first two starts prior to the injury. He could face some workload limitations in his return Sunday since he didn't make any rehab starts.

The Twins recalled Ober from Triple-A St. Paul ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Nationals at Target Field, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

For now, Ober's appointment to the big-league rotation looks to just be a spot start as manager Rocco Baldelli looks to provide each of his five starters with an extra day of rest, but Ober could end up sticking around with the big club if Kenta Maeda (ankle) doesn't feel 100 percent following a bullpen session Monday and requires a brief stint on the injured list. Though Ober is overqualified for Triple-A at this stage, the Twins' impressive starting depth left the 27-year-old right-hander without a rotation spot heading into Opening Day. Ober took the demotion in stride and was stellar through his four starts at Triple-A, turning in a 2.55 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB across 17.2 innings.

Gaddis, who was called up from Triple-A Columbus prior to Saturday's doubleheader with the Marlins, came on in relief in the Guardians' 6-1 loss in Game 1 and struck out one over two perfect innings.

The appearance was Gaddis' fifth of the season with the big club but his first out of the bullpen. He had been included in the Opening Day rotation before being sent out to Columbus after posting a 7.64 and 1.58 WHIP across 17.2 innings through his first four starts. He'll likely be sent back to Columbus to continue making regular starts, but Gaddis doesn't look like he'll be the top choice to rejoin the big-league rotation if Cal Quantrill (leg) is forced to miss his next start.

Maeda (ankle) is expected to throw a bullpen session Monday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

After working just two innings in his most recent start Thursday against the Red Sox before exiting after being struck on the left ankle by a comebacker and suffering a bruise, Maeda was able to do some light throwing Saturday. Though the Twins haven't indicated that Maeda felt any renewed discomfort while throwing again, the upcoming bullpen session will provide a better gauge of his health. Based on how Maeda checks out coming out of the side session, the Twins will decide whether he needs to go on the 15-day injured list or if he'll be able to make his next turn through the rotation. Minnesota is adding Bailey Ober to the rotation for Sunday's game against the Nationals to give each of the other five starters an extra day of rest.