MLB Player News

Scherzer (thumb) confirmed that he'll be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Cleveland, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. "My stuff is fine," Scherzer said Sunday. "I'm trying everything I can to manage this [thumb] and make sure I can recover...There's no knowing, just have to get out there."

Even though Scherzer is poised to make his first start since March 29, his right thumb seems like it may be an issue that he'll have to continue to manage. After striking out eight batters in 4.1 shutout innings in his second rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo this past Wednesday, the 40-year-old was still dealing with some lingering soreness in his thumb afterward. Even so, Scherzer was able to temporarily quell concerns about his health by completing a bullpen session Sunday, prompting the Blue Jays to clear him to rejoin the rotation. He built up to 75 pitches during his last rehab start and shouldn't be under any major restrictions Wednesday, though the Blue Jays will presumably keep a careful watch on his workload and his effectiveness should he last deeper into the game.

Prielipp (blister) returned from the 7-day injured list and gave up two earned runs over 2.1 innings with two strikeouts and no walks Saturday for Double-A Wichita.

He was shut down for two weeks with a blister issue, as the Twins aim to monitor his workload this season. Prielipp has a lengthy injury history that includes a Tommy John surgery in 2021 and an internal brace surgery in 2023. The Twins have him on an innings limit this season, and he's unlikely to go more than five innings in any start.

Festa won't start Sunday's game against the Brewers but could pitch behind opening pitcher Danny Coulombe, Audra Martin of Fanduel Sports Network North reports.

Festa was initially penciled in to start Sunday and hasn't been reported to be dealing with an injury, so he's the likely candidate to work in a bulk-relief role. The right-hander has worked as a traditional starter in his six previous MLB outings this season and has posted a 4.78 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 29:12 K:BB across 26.1 innings.

Wright (shoulder) allowed four earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three batters over three innings in his rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Omaha.

Wright made his eighth rehab appearance Saturday, and his sixth since resuming activity following a pause due to shoulder fatigue. After tossing four scoreless innings in his previous outing with Omaha last Sunday, the right-hander struggled this time out, battling command issues and surrendering a home run. With his 30-day rehab window set to expire Tuesday, Kansas City will have to activate him soon. However, Wright hasn't pitched in the majors since 2023 with Atlanta, lacks a clear path to a rotation spot and hasn't thrown more than four innings in any rehab outing, all of which suggests that he's ticketed for a long-relief role with the Royals if he isn't optioned to Triple-A once he's reinstated from the 15-day injured list.

Houser (personal) was activated from the paternity list and will start Sunday against the Blue Jays.

The right-hander landed on the paternity list Thursday while he welcomed a new addition to his family, but he's back with Chicago to make his next turn through the rotation. Houser has pitched well through his first five MLB starts of 2025 with a 2.15 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 22:10 K:BB across 29.1 innings.

Stroman (knee) struck out four and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and one walk across 3.1 innings in his second rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Somerset.

Stroman built up to 55 pitches in Wednesday's outing and may need just one more start in the minors before making his return from the 15-day injured list. His next rehab outing is scheduled to take place Tuesday, and he's slated to throw approximately 70 pitches in that appearance, per MLB.com. Despite logging an 11.57 ERA and 2.04 WHIP over 9.1 innings in his three starts with the Yankees before landing on the shelf April 12 due to left knee inflammation, Stroman could have a spot in the big-league rotation waiting for him once he's activated. Ryan Yarbrough had been performing well as the Yankees' No. 5 starter in recent weeks, but he was placed on the IL on Sunday due to an oblique strain and is unlikely to be activated before Stroman.

The Yankees recalled Sandridge from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday.

New York optioned Sandridge to Triple-A after Thursday's 7-3 win over the Angels, but he'll be eligible to rejoin the big club just three days later since the Yankees placed lefty Ryan Yarbrough (oblique) on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Sandridge will work out of the bullpen and is expected to be utilized mainly in lower-leverage spots.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Winans will be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start Monday's game against the Reds in Cincinnati, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Monday's scheduled starter Ryan Yarbrough (oblique) landed on the injured list, and Winans will step in to start for New York. The right-hander has been dominant at Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes-Barre this season with a 0.90 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 59:13 K:BB over 50 innings. Monday's outing will likely be just a spot start for Winans since Marcus Stroman (knee) is nearing his return from the IL.

Single-A Lakeland placed Massey (undisclosed) on its full-season injured list Thursday.

Lakeland initially placed Massey on its 7-day IL coming out of spring training before transferring him to the 60-day IL on April 24. The 22-year-old righty evidently wasn't progressing as quickly as the Tigers had hoped, as he's now been shut down for the season. Massey has yet to make his professional debut since being selected out of Wake Forest in the fourth round of the 2024 First-Year Player Draft.

The Yankees placed Yarbrough on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a right oblique strain.

Per Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, manager Aaron Boone said that Yarbrough's oblique began bothering him two weeks ago, but he still pitched effectively over his last two starts, allowing three earned runs in 10 innings between those outings. Yarbrough had been penciled in to start Monday in Cincinnati, but Boone confirmed that Allan Winans will instead be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to take the mound for the Yankees. According to Max Goodman of NJ.com, Boone noted that Yarbrough's oblique injury is considered a low-grade strain, but the 33-year-old will still be shut down from throwing until his symptoms dissipate. With Marcus Stroman (knee) in the midst of a rehab assignment and seemingly on pace to beat Yarbrough back from the IL, the latter could end up shifting to the bullpen once he's reinstated.