MLB Player News

Houck had his contract selected and was added to the 28-man roster by the Red Sox on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 24-year-old is set to make his major-league debut Tuesday in Miami, and he's now officially on the active roster. Houck won't face any limitations and is expected to throw about 100 pitches, depending on his effectiveness. The right-hander made his way to Triple-A last season and posted a 3.24 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 27:14 K:BB across 25 innings, though he mostly worked as a reliever.

Verlander (forearm) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Verlander is slated to throw 3-to-4 innings against live hitters at Minute Maid Park on Wednesday. If all goes well, he should be nearing his return to game action. The right-hander is expected to serve as a starter once he returns to the Astros' pitching staff, but it's unclear how many pitches he'll be able to throw if he pitches again during the regular season.

Allard will work out of the Rangers' bullpen moving forward, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Allard struggled mightily in his last start as he earned his sixth loss of the season. He failed to pick up any wins while working out of the rotation, and he'll transition to a bullpen role for the remainder of the year. Wes Benjamin will take over his spot in the starting rotation in the immediate future.

The Athletics optioned Kaprielian to their alternate training site Tuesday.

Kaprielian was the Athletics' 29th man for Monday's doubleheader versus the Mariners, but he went unused out of the bullpen in both halves of the twin bill.

Gonzales (6-2) picked up the win during a 6-5 victory over the A's in the first game of Monday's doubleheader, giving up five runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out seven.

He was engaged in what seemed like it was going to be a pitchers' duel with Jesus Luzardo through three innings before serving up homers to Sean Murphy and Marcus Semien in the fourth, but Gonzales persevered and was rewarded when the M's staged a comeback in the fifth and sixth frames. The veteran southpaw has won four straight starts, and he'll carry a stellar 3.49 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 53:5 K:BB through 56.2 innings into his next outing Sept. 21, at home against the Astros.

Luzardo didn't factor into the decision during a 6-5 loss to the Mariners in the first game of Monday's doubleheader, giving up four runs on seven hits -- including three home runs -- over 4.2 innings. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

The young southpaw blanked Seattle for three innings, but a Luis Torrens solo shot in the fourth set the stage for a rally in the fifth that chased Luzardo from the game. He's now served up five homers in his last two starts, inflating his ERA to 4.32, but his 52:14 K:BB through 50 innings on the year remains strong. Luzardo will look to rebound in his next outing Sunday, at home against the Giants.

Berrios gave up one run on six hits and a walk and struck out two over five innings in a no-decision versus the White Sox on Monday.

The only run against Berrios came on a Nick Madrigal single in the second inning. It's the third time in his last five starts Berrios has allowed one run or fewer. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 4.15 with a 1.37 WHIP and 57 strikeouts across 52 innings this year. Berrios is expected to make his next start this weekend versus the Cubs.

Cease allowed a run on five hits and five walks and struck out four over 4.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Twins on Monday.

Cease allowed just an RBI single to Jorge Polanco in the fifth despite the high baserunner count. Monday was the third time in 10 starts Cease has issued five or more walks. The 24-year-old has a 3.20 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 34:25 K:BB across 50.2 innings this season. His next start is expected to be Saturday in Cincinnati.

Odorizzi (abdomen) is expected to return from the 10-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the White Sox, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Out since Aug. 21 after taking a line drive off the chest in a start versus the Royals, Odorizzi looks ready to go after completing two simulated outings at the Twins' alternate training site in St. Paul. Considering he tossed 81 pitches in his most recent sim game, Odorizzi looks to be relatively built up for a starter's workload as he prepares for a return. Odorizzi has been limited to just three starts for Minnesota this season, as he opened the abbreviated campaign on the IL due to a strained intercostal muscle.

The Rangers optioned Farrell to their alternate training site Sunday.

Farrell was dropped from the active roster after joining the Rangers as the 29th man for their doubleheader Saturday with the Athletics. The 29-year-old appeared out of the bullpen in the second game of the twin bill, striking out two over two scoreless, no-hit innings.