MLB Player News

Wacha, who notched his first hold in a win over the Royals on Friday, has been used in a multi-inning relief role in his first two appearances since returning from the injured list.

Wacha followed up a dominant Grapefruit League stint with a so-so six-start stretch to open the season (1-1, 4.76 ERA) before going on the injured list with a hamstring strain. In his absence, both Shane McClanahan and Josh Fleming have solidified spots in the Rays' rotation, leaving Wacha in a long relief role out of the bullpen for the time being.

Keuchel won't pitch as scheduled Friday against the Orioles after the game was postponed due to inclement weather.

Friday's contest will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday. Keuchel will start the opener of the twin bill while Lance Lynn takes the mound during the nightcap, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Urena (forearm) could miss his next scheduled start, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Urena's next turn through the rotation tentatively lines up for Monday, but he was removed from Wednesday's start against Cleveland due to right forearm cramping. Manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Urena is feeling better and wants to pitch Monday, but he's leaning toward using another pitcher to start against the Brewers. However, Hinch also said Friday that Urena and the Tigers will come to a collective agreement in the next 24 hours.

Valdez (finger) was activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's start against the Padres, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Valdez will make his season debut against San Diego after he suffered a fractured ring finger in spring training. He'll take the rotation spot of Lance McCullers (shoulder), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Suarez was recalled by the Angels on Friday.

Suarez was sent to Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday, and he made a minor-league start Tuesday. During that outing, he allowed two hits and a walk in two scoreless innings. The southpaw will now return to the major-league bullpen after right-hander Aaron Slegers was sent down in a corresponding move.

Kopech (hamstring/personal) won't start either half of Monday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Kopech is dealing with a sore left hamstring, though he's currently away from the team while on the bereavement list rather than the injured list. It's unclear which issue is the one that will keep him from returning Monday.

Rodriguez will be promoted and make his next start for Double-A Bowie.

Rodriguez has dominated at High-A Aberdeen with a 1.54 ERA, 0.69 WHIP and 40:5 K:BB across five starts this season. The right-hander will move up and look to keep up the success at Bowie in the next step of his development.

Cease (3-1) beat the Orioles on Thursday, giving up one run on four hits and two walks while striking out 10 over six innings.

Cease used all he had to get the win, throwing 111 pitches, including 29 swings-and-misses. That swing-and-miss total matched the Mets' Jacob deGrom for the most in the majors this season. As evidenced by the pitch count, it wasn't easy for Cease, who pitched out of jams in the first and sixth innings. The right-hander told Scott Merkin of MLB.com that he was motivated by his performance in his previous start, when the Yankees knocked him around for his first loss of the season. "A game like that is kind of like a slap to the face," said Cease. "It's like all right, you've got to make sure you get ahead in the count. You don't want to give them anything unnecessary so if you fall behind, it's a lot easier to hit." Cease's next turn in the rotation comes around Monday on the road against Cleveland.

Severino (elbow) threw a live bullpen session Wednesday and is close to going on a rehab assignment, Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated reports.

The right-hander has now completed multiple successful bullpen sessions as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. Though manager Aaron Boone didn't specify when Severino would begin a rehab assignment, he did indicate that the pitcher "is getting close to that point." Assuming Severino doesn't encounter any setbacks, he could make his return to the big leagues sometime in July.

Allard (1-1) took the loss Thursday against Seattle, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk with four strikeouts in a 5-0 defeat.

Making a spot start for the injured Kyle Gibson, Allard made two mistakes in surrendering back-to-back solo home runs to Tom Murphy and Jacob Nottingham but pitched well otherwise. He'd only seen relief work prior to Thursday and the four innings were his most of any appearance this season. Allard's current 3.38 ERA would be the best of his four-year career if it holds.