MLB Player News

Means (shoulder) threw three innings and 74 pitches in his rehab outing with Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

This outing was Means' second rehab outing, and he utilized the appearance to increase his pitch count. Means has been out since June 6, though reports suggest he could work up to 90 pitches upon his return to the big-league rotation. He remains on track to be activated at some point during the team's series with the Rays beginning July 19.

Cortes tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Cortes was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday, and general manager Brian Cashman revealed that the southpaw is one of at least three Yankees who have tested positive for the virus. He'll be away from the team for at least 10 days, but it's not yet clear whether his absence could extend beyond that.

Sale (elbow) will likely make his next rehab start at Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Sale made his first rehab start Thursday with the Red Sox's Florida Complex League affiliate, and he tossed 39 pitches and struck out five across three shutout innings. His fastball reached 97 mph during the outing, and manager Alex Cora said Thursday that the southpaw will progress to Double-A if he feels good Friday. Sale is expected to require three or four rehab appearances before he's cleared to rejoin the major-league club.

German won't pitch Thursday against the Red Sox after the game was postponed due to the Yankees' COVID-19 issues, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Yankees are reportedly dealing with positive COVID-19 tests within their organization, so it's not yet clear when the team could take the field next. The club hasn't yet announced its pitching plans going forward.

Rodriguez won't start Thursday against the Yankees after the game was postponed due to the Yankees' COVID-19 issues, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

The Yankees are reportedly dealing with positive COVID-19 tests within the organization, so it's not yet clear when the game could be made up or whether the rest of the series will go on as planned. The Red Sox haven't announced their revised pitching plans, but Rodriguez could be in line to start during the team's next matchup.

Houck will likely start Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Manager Alex Cora said that Houck will be available out of the bullpen for the team's current series against the Yankees, but he'll likely start on the road Wednesday. He'll likely return to the bullpen after the start as the Red Sox plan to utilize him in a versatile role, but the right-hander's availability as a starter certainly boosts his fantasy value going forward.

Canning was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list with a lower back strain Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Canning allowed six runs in two innings during his most recent minor-league start, but his injury may have contributed to his struggles. The severity of the injury isn't known, and it's not yet clear how long the right-hander could be sidelined.

Glasnow (elbow) has resumed playing light catch, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Glasnow was diagnosed with a partial UCL tear and a flexor strain in his right elbow in mid-June, and he was shut down for approximately four weeks while he received treatment. However, the right-hander has been optimistic about his status, and it's encouraging that he's now resumed light throwing after the shutdown. Glasnow doesn't yet have a timetable to return, but a better idea of his status could come into focus once he's able to increase his workout intensity.

Cortes was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Thursday.

Whether Cortes has tested positive for the virus himself or has merely been taken off the roster due to contact tracing is unclear. If it's the latter, it's possible he returns to the team within a few days.

Houck was called up by Boston on Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Houck has made five starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox across last year and the early part of this season, cruising to a 1.98 ERA and a 30.6 percent strikeout rate over 27.1 innings of work. He missed over a month with elbow issues but has been back with Triple-A Worcester since mid-June, though his 5.14 ERA in six starts (none of which have lasted more than four innings) at that level is less than impressive. It's unclear what exactly Houck's role will be during his time with the team, as the Red Sox don't have an obvious hole in their rotation. He could be used as part of a six-man rotation or could pitch in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen.