MLB Player News

Verlander will start Thursday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Jake Odorizzi (lower leg) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's matchup against Kansas City, and the Astros plan to utilize a six-man rotation this week. Verlander has tossed 97.1 innings over 15 starts this season, and manager Dusty Baker said that the right-hander is being pushed back a few days to help manage his workload and preserve his long-term health.

Odorizzi (lower leg) will start Monday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros will utilize a six-man rotation this week with Odorizzi returning to action, while Justin Verlander will be pushed back to start Thursday to manage his workload. Odorizzi recently made a pair of rehab starts and posted a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP while striking out 10 in eight innings.

Valdez didn't factor into the decision during Sunday's 4-2 victory over the Angels, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks with 13 strikeouts.

Valdez brought his strikeout stuff Sunday, though that led to control issues as the 13 strikeouts and five walks were both season highs. At one point, the 28-year-old recorded 12 straight outs via strikeout during an erratic span that also featured all five walks and both runs on his ledger. The impressive performance continues a string of 13 consecutive quality starts, and Valdez now sits alone atop the MLB leaderboard with 14. He lines up to take the mound again next weekend on the road against Oakland.

Montas was removed one inning into his start Sunday against the Mariners for an unspecified reason, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. He gave up one run on two hits and struck out one prior to departing.

According to Gallegos, Montas' fastball velocity over his 13 pitches was significantly lower than his 96 mile-per-hour season average heading into the start, so his removal appears to be linked to an injury rather than due to an imminent trade. In any case, the Athletics should provide an update on Montas' status later in the contest or after it concludes. Austin Pruitt came on in relief and is expected to cover multiple innings in the wake of Montas' departure.

The Red Sox called Seabold up from Triple-A Worcester and will have him start Sunday's series finale in Chicago versus the Cubs, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Despite getting roughed up for seven earned runs over 4.2 innings Monday in Toronto in his 2022 MLB debut, Seabold will get another turn through the rotation due in large part to the Red Sox's lack of healthy starting depth. Even against a non-contending Cubs squad, Seabold likely won't make for an appealing streaming option in most fantasy leagues.

Springs (personal) will rejoin the Rays and start Tuesday against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Springs ended up staying home during the team's trip to Toronto to deal with a family medical matter. While Springs allowed three home runs his last time out, he's been fantastic overall this season in his hybrid starter/reliever role, posting a 2.25 ERA and 1.00 WHIP over 60 innings. There's little reason to think his workload will be significantly limited in his return.

Sears was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes/Barre on Sunday.

Sears was optioned less than a week ago, but the Yankees are allowed to bring him back since they are placing a player on the injured list (Ron Marinaccio) in the corresponding move. The 26-year-old Sears hasn't pitched at any level since his June 28 outing against Oakland, so he will be available for multiple innings behind Jordan Montgomery on Sunday. Sears has impressed with a spotless ERA and eight strikeouts against four walks in his first four major-league appearances (12.2 innings).

Manning (biceps/shoulder) was transferred from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.

Manning has already spent 77 days on the 10-day IL, so the transaction doesn't have any affect on his timeline to rejoin the big club and merely clears a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Garrett Hill, who is slated to start one half of Monday's doubleheader with the Guardians. Of the five Detroit starting pitchers currently residing on the IL, Manning may be the closest to returning. He threw a bullpen session Saturday and could be cleared to come off the IL shortly after the All-Star break if he hits no further snags in his recovery from shoulder inflammation and biceps tendinitis.

Paxton (elbow) threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Paxton has thrown a string of bullpens since early in June, and the left-hander hopes to face live batters at some point around the All-Star break. He added a mid-August return is his goal.

Boston manager Alex Cora confirmed Whitlock (hip) will pitch out of the bullpen when he's activated off the injured list, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Cora said earlier that the club was considering having Whitlock -- who has been in the starting rotation since April 23 -- move to the bullpen and confirmed that decision Saturday. The manager added that Whitlock will be used much as he was in 2021, when the right-hander pitched in a multi-inning relief role in a variety of situations. Whitlock threw a bullpen session Saturday and could face batters this coming week and begin a rehabilitation assignment. The rehab should be shorter now that Whitlock does not need to be built up to a starter's workload. Cora added that Rich Hill's knee injury, which landed him on the injured list, will not change the team's plans for Whitlock. Boston will use a combination of Josh Winckowski, Connor Seabold and Kutter Crawford to plug any rotation holes, plus the Red Sox hope to get Nathan Eovaldi (hip) and Chris Sale (rib) back in the next week or two. The organization still views Whitlock as a starter long term, but the plan is to use him in the bullpen for the remainder of 2022.