MLB Player News

Nuno was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.

Nuno was terrible in his most recent stint with the Orioles. He served up eight earned runs on eight hits (three home runs) in just 2.2 innings pitched. Some of it might be a result of nagging injuries, as Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports that his oblique, hip and knee have all been bothering him. Nonetheless, he'll return to the minors to hopefully get some of his stuff back, while Donnie Hart returns to the majors to fill his spot in the big-league bullpen.

Keuchel (neck) played catch Monday for the first time since he was scratched from a start in Kansas City on June 7, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Keuchel did not meet with reporters following the session, but manager A.J. Hinch did. "It's very early in his progress," Hinch said of Keuchel. "Playing catch is playing catch. The next step would be playing catch a little harder and a little further." The more telling test of his progress will come when Keuchel throws off a mound.

Morton (latissimus) threw a bullpen session Monday without any setbacks and is in line to begin a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Fresno on Thursday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Morton is scheduled to pitch two or three innings in his first rehab start for the Grizzlies. The 33-year-old right-hander has posted a 4.06 ERA while striking out a career-high 10.1 batters per nine innings over 10 starts.

Odorizzi allowed three runs on five hits and three walks across seven innings in a no-decision Monday against the Reds. He struck out four.

Odorizzi comfortably cruised through the first four innings, but a solo home run by Scott Schebler in the fifth inning and a two-run shot from Scooter Gennett in the sixth left him behind on the scoreboard when he departed after the seventh. While he was bailed out by the offense, the right-hander could've easily attained a better result as he tried to bounce back from some recent struggles. That said, Odorizzi still delivered his second quality start in the last three outings and holds a respectable 3.78 ERA for the season. One contributor to his middling statistics this season is homer frequency -- he's allowed at least one long ball in 10 straight starts -- so he'll be looking to keep the ball in the yard when he gets back on the mound Saturday against the Orioles.

Bundy (7-6) allowed six runs on six hits and three walks across 4.1 innings in Monday's loss to the Indians. He struck out two.

Bundy fared well until the fourth inning, when he allowed four runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman before escaping the jam. He proceeded to allow a leadoff home run to Jason Kipnis in the fifth inning and was removed after issuing a walk to Edwin Encarnacion, who later came around to score. Bundy struggled to find the strike zone at times, walking three for the second straight start, but he was also tagged for five extra-base hits for the first time this season. His poorest effort of the campaign came on the heels of a mediocre effort against the White Sox last week, and he will take a rising 3.72 ERA into Saturday's start against the Rays.

Kluber (6-2) struck out 11 while allowing three hits and no walks in a complete-game shutout Monday against the Orioles.

Kluber was outstanding in this one, throwing first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 30 hitters he faced while notching a season high in punchouts. He was in the strike zone at 74 percent clip and induced 12 groundball outs while not allowing a single runner past first base. The right-hander endured his share of struggles prior to a month-long injury absence, but he has posted a sharp 1.61 ERA and a stellar 39:4 K:BB to go along with a 3-0 record in four starts since returning to the rotation. Kluber is back in tremendous form, and he'll look to keep it rolling Saturday against the Twins.

Hammel (4-6) allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out four over seven innings in a win Monday against Boston.

Hammel was extra efficient, as he didn't walk a batter and induced nine ground balls en route to using only 91 pitches to get through seven innings. After struggling to find his footing to start the season, Hammel has now delivered four consecutive quality starts in June, lowering his ERA from 6.18 to 4.83.

Groome (back) pitched 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out three, walking one and giving up one hit for Low-A Lowell on Monday in a rain-shortened game, Kevin Dillon of MassLive.com reports. He finished having thrown 38 pitches, 24 for strikes, before the rains came.

The biggest news was Groome coming out of this game in short-season ball healthy after spending two months rehabilitating a back injury suffered during his first start of the season for Single-A Greenville. Another key part of the outing was the left-hander's ability to hit his locations with all three of his pitches, particularly the changeup. The 18-year-old has high upside, but he's at least three years away from reaching the bigs.

McCullers (back) threw a bullpen session Monday in Oakland and felt normal, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers is aiming for a start against Seattle, against whom the Astros begin a three-game series on Friday. He also had a throwing session Saturday with no issues, so McCullers appears to be on pace to return as planned.

Rodriguez (knee) is expected to face live hitters this week before possibly heading out on a rehab assignment, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Rodriguez was able to get through a bullpen session with no issues Sunday, bringing him one step closer to returning to game action. If all goes well this week, he could be cleared to resume a rehab assignment four days after facing live hitters. Barring any setbacks, the Red Sox are hoping to have the southpaw back sometime in early July.