MLB Player News

The Angels made a surprise move before Wednesday's game against the Astros, calling up starting pitcher Andrew Heaney from Triple-A Salt Lake and announcing he would start against the Astros.

Heaney's arrival meant Matt Shoemaker was bumped back to Friday against the Mariners.

Heaney, who is considered a top-100 prospect by Baseball America and MLB.com, went 6-2 with a 4.71 ERA in 14 starts for Salt Lake. He posted 74 strikeouts in 78 1/3 innings.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander will not be able to make Wednesday's start because of back stiffness, reports Mlive.com.

"We thought it might go away, just kind of soreness from pitching again after having not pitched much in a while," manager Brad Ausmus said. "We're going to be cautious. He could probably go out there, but we're just going to be cautious to make sure he's healthy."

The Tigers will call up Buck Farmer to replace Verlander during Wednesday’s start.

"Right now, we're just looking at Buck pitching this one start and then we have the ability to push Verlander back up to five days," Ausmus said. "And if for some reason it doesn't go away, we'll make a decision then. But right now we're expecting him to make a start. We just don't know when because we've got to make sure he feels all right."

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi is expected to be back with the ball club following the All-Star break, according to MLB.com. 

Odorizzi threw a bullpen session on Monday and will still need to participate in at least a couple of rehab starts before re-joining the team. 

"We're not committed to putting a timetable on him yet because he's just thrown one bullpen," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He's got to get out there and see some hitters and then we'll factor that in where he is."

The Reds have been contacted by multiple teams regarding starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, starting pitcher Mike Leake and closer Aroldis Chapman, according to Fox Sports. However, the Reds have been reluctant to engage in serious trade talks.

The Royals are one team that have contacted the Reds about Cueto and Leake, according to Fox Sports.

Red Sox right-hander Justin Masterson is active again, but has been moved to a rather unfamiliar place. He has been sent to the bullpen. He has pitched just 12 games in relief since 2009.

Masterson is off the disabled list after missing six weeks with a shoulder injury, per the Boston Globe. But his miserable performance before going down has motivated John Farrell to kick him out of the starting rotation.

The sidearmer returns with a 2-2 record and 6.37 ERA. Most concerning is that he has walked 88 batters over the last 164 innings going back to 2014.

Trade discussions with the intent of trading Phillies veteran starter Cole Hamels to the Rangers are ongoing, according to Fox Sports, which is further reporting that Texas is not one of the teams for which he has a no-trade clause.

There are 20 teams in that group, per CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman, who has stated that Toronto is one of them and that Hamels would not allow a trade to that team.

Texas will eventually have Martin Perez, Derek Holland and Matt Harrison off the disabled list and in the rotation, but the surprising contender would like to land a potential ace such as Hamels.

The 31-year-old Hamels has been as effective as ever this season with 2.96 ERA and 74 hits allowed in 94 1/3 innings. He has fanned 103, putting him at the best strikeout-to-innings pitched pace since his rookie season.

Despite allowing 10 hits during Monday's start, Twins pitcher Tommy Milone received his fourth win of the season during the 13-2 win over the White Sox.

The 10 hits only led to two runs over six innings of work for Milone. He also struck out two and walked two. Milone is now 4-1 with a 3.59 ERA.

Milone has surrendered a total to five combined runs in his last three starts. His next expected start is scheduled for Sunday at Milwaukee.

Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi felt fine after throwing 40 pitches during a bullpen session Monday, reports MLB.com.

"Everything felt good," Odorizzi said. "I was a little rusty at first from not being on the mound, but I got the mechanical issues sorted out about 10-15 pitches in, and it was all good after that."

Odorizzi is on the disabled list with a left oblique strain and is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Wednesday. If all goes well, he would begin a rehab assignment Saturday.

"There's going to be a buildup process," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I'm not going to sit here and say it's going to be a five-rehab-start buildup, but he's going to have to build back up. He's taken multiple weeks off now of really throwing with high intensity."

Rangers pitcher Martin Perez allowed one run on two hits over three innings of work during a rehab assignment Monday for the team's Triple-A affiliate. He also struck out four batters and walked one.

Martin has not pitched this season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. He also recently suffered a groin injury during a previous rehab game.

Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said pitcher James Paxton has not begun a throwing program, according to MLB.com. 

Paxton, dealing with a strained middle finger, hasn't seen a specialist yet either. Paxton's injury has been slow to heal. On the disabled list, Paxton hasn't pitched since May 28.