MLB Player News

McClanahan allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five in Sunday's victory over Oakland. He did not factor into the decision.

As in his previous two outings, McClanahan struck out five over four innings, and he did so Sunday while allowing three runs. The lefty threw 50 of 80 pitches for strikes and tossed first-pitch strikes to 13 of 18 batters. He has now allowed five earned runs over his first 12 big-league innings while registering a 15:4 K:BB. The rookie's vast array of pitches and high velocity should keep him in the conversation for staying in the Rays' rotation.

Greinke yielded four runs on nine hits over four innings in Sunday's win over the Blue Jays. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.

Greinke worked around a handful of hits through four scoreless innings before the Blue Jays finally jumped him in the fifth. He allowed a leadoff homer to Rowdy Tellez followed by four straight base hits before he was lifted from the contest. The 37-year-old righty has gone four innings in three straight starts, allowing 11 runs and three homers during that span. Greinke will carry a 4.23 ERA into his projected start next weekend at home against the Rangers.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wacha (hamstring) will throw a light bullpen session Tuesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

The side session will represent the first test for Wacha as he aims to move past the hamstring injury that resulted in his placement on the 10-day injured list May 4. Before getting shut down with the injury, Wacha worked in a tandem start with Rich Hill, so it's unclear if he'll have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's reinstated. Wacha will likely need to face hitters in a simulated game or minor-league rehab assignment before being activated, so the Rays probably still have a week or longer to decide what kind of role he'll fill moving forward.

The Angels recalled Suarez from Triple-A Salt Lake ahead of Sunday's game against the Dodgers.

According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News, Angels manager Joe Maddon said Suarez is "here to help" out of the bullpen in Sunday's series finale, but look for the skipper to stay away from the lefty if starter Jose Quintana isn't chased from the game early. With Alex Cobb (finger) moving to the 10-day injured list Saturday, the Angels will have an opening in the rotation for Monday's game in Houston. Suarez, who had been stretched out for starting duty at Triple-A, would make for a logical choice to get the nod Monday if he isn't needed in relief Sunday.

The Rangers placed Arihara on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a right middle finger injury, Sam Blum of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Arihara had experienced discomfort in the finger following his April 30 outing against the Red Sox, resulting in the Rangers skipping him for one turn through the rotation. The rookie demonstrated enough progress to gain clearance to start Saturday against the Mariners, but he wasn't in top form, as he was shelled for five runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. Manager Chris Woodward noted that Arihara disclosed following the poor start that the sore finger was still affecting him, so the Rangers will shut him down for the next week and a half with the hope that extended rest resolves the issue. Hyeon-Jong Yang, Kolby Allard and Wes Benjamin are the most likely candidates to step in as the Rangers' fifth starter while Arihara is on the shelf.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Valdez (finger) could be available to return from the injured list in June, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. "Hopefully he'll be ready sometime to come back, which is a miracle, sometime in June. Hopefully," Baker said.

Houston initially feared Valdez might have to miss most of the 2021 season after he fractured the ring finger on his (left) pitching hand in early March, but the southpaw was able to avoid surgery and seems to be progressing faster than expected. After completing a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday, Valdez should gradually ramp up over the next few weeks before eventually heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. Valdez's return -- whenever it may come -- will be a huge boon to the Houston rotation after he broke out in the abbreviated 2020 campaign with a 3.57 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 over his 11 outings (10 starts).

Boyd and the Tigers won't face the Twins on Sunday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Detroit, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The two teams will make up the game as part of a split doubleheader July 16. The Tigers will be off until Tuesday, when they continue their homestand with a three-game set against the Royals. Expect manager A.J. Hinch to bump each of his rotation members back due to the postponement, which would allow Boyd to start the series opener versus Kansas City.

Maeda and the Twins won't face the Tigers on Sunday after the game was postponed due to rainy weather in Detroit, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

The two teams plan to make up the game as part of a split doubleheader July 16. Minnesota has yet to announce how the postponement may affect its pitching schedule, but Maeda will presumably just have his start bumped to the Twins' next game Tuesday in Chicago versus the White Sox. Maeda would line up for a second start later that weekend at home against the Athletics.

As expected, Boyd (knee) will start Sunday's series finale against the Twins.

Boyd's bout with left knee tendinitis forced him to miss his previous turn through the rotation earlier in the week, but the Tigers' decision not to place him on the injured list was an indication that the club wasn't expecting him to miss any further starts. The lefty apparently came out of his pre-start bullpen session without issue, so he shouldn't face any limitations Sunday as he picks up his first start of May.

The Red Sox announced Sunday that Houck has been temporarily shut down with a sore flexor muscle, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Houck picked up the injury in his first outing for Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, when he worked three innings in a loss to Buffalo. The Red Sox believe the injury is only a short-term concern for Houck, who would be the next man up for a spot in the big-league rotation if Boston loses one of its five starters.