MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Bieber (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game in Miami, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Bieber will be making his first start for the Blue Jays and his first at the major-league level since April 2024, as the right-hander has finally completed a long rehab from Tommy John surgery. The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner has looked sharp during his rehab assignment, posting a 1.86 ERA and 37:3 K:BB over 29 innings covering seven starts. Bieber went seven scoreless frames and threw 90 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo this past Friday, so he should be ready to handle a fairly typical starter's workload in his Toronto debut.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson said Monday that Miller (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday in Philadelphia, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander permitted two runs with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings in his most recent rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma last Wednesday, getting his pitch count up to 76. Miller -- who is returning from right elbow inflammation -- has bounced back well from that outing, officially clearing the way for him to rejoin the Mariners rotation. He will likely be limited to around 85-to-90 pitches against the Phillies.

France (shoulder) struck out seven and allowed three earned runs on four hits and four walks across four innings in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

The right-hander has now made five rehab starts across stops with three different affiliates and has been gradually increasing his workload. He built up to 77 pitches Thursday and probably needs just one more rehab outing to get himself stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload, but France likely hasn't performed well enough to garner serious consideration for a spot in Houston's rotation once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. After undergoing shoulder surgery last July, France has struggled to regain his control thus far during his rehab assignment, as he's posted a 15:13 K:BB while hitting two batters and uncorking a wild pitch over 13 innings. France has a minor-league option remaining, so the Astros could have him remain with Sugar Land once his 30-day rehab window comes to a close.

Perez will start Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Perez is taking the rotation spot vacated by Sean Burke, who was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. Aaron Civale had been scheduled to take the ball Wednesday but has been pushed back in the schedule to start Friday versus the Twins. Perez made one relief appearance last Wednesday after returning from a lengthy absence due to a flexor strain, tossing 3.1 innings of one-run ball in a 1-0 loss to Detroit. He threw 66 pitches in that appearance, which is more than he threw in either of his two rehab outings before being activated from the 60-day injured list. With that in mind, Perez likely won't be ready to handle a full workload Wednesday.

The Astros announced Monday that Walter has shut down from throwing following a recurrence of left elbow inflammation, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Walter initially went on the 15-day injured list July 25, and after he resumed playing catch earlier this month, he encountered a setback. It's not clear at this point how long he might be shut down, but at this stage of the season, Walter's availability down the stretch is in question. He's been excellent for Houston in 2025, collecting a 3.35 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 52:4 K:BB in 53.2 innings.

The Red Sox announced Monday that Houck (elbow) underwent a successful hybrid reconstruction of his right UCL with a flexor tendon repair, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The operation officially ends a disappointing season for Houck, who held a an 8.09 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 43.2 innings with the Red Sox before going down with an elbow issue in mid-May and eventually having a setback that required surgery. Houck is hoping to return to action for the Red Sox toward the end of the 2026 season, but that's far from a guarantee.

The White Sox optioned Burke to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Burke has posted a disappointing 4.28 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 117.2 innings this season and had failed to go five frames in four of his last five outings. The White Sox remain hopeful that Burke will be a long-term fixture in their rotation, but the righty will attempt to work on his issues in a less pressurized environment for now. Martin Perez will likely slide into Chicago's rotation in Burke's place.

Cunningham (undisclosed) walked three batters over 1.1 scoreless innings in his start Wednesday for High-A Hudson Valley after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.

Cunningham didn't require a rehab assignment at a lower level of the minors prior to being activated, but because he hadn't pitched for Hudson Valley since June 4 due to an unspecified injury, he was on a limited workload Wednesday. The right-hander was able to escape the outing with any damage, but his control was far from on point, as he spotted just 15 of his 30 pitches for strikes. For the season, Cunningham owns a 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 47:14 K:BB over 48 innings for Hudson Valley.

The Orioles announced that Eflin underwent a lumbar microdiscectomy surgery Monday in Florida, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Eflin's surgery appears to have gone off without any complications, and the right-hander is optimistic that he'll have a normal offseason after about 12 weeks and rest and rehab. In total, Eflin will face an estimated recovery timeline of 4-to-8 months, so he could be at risk of missing spring training and the start of the 2026 season if he veers toward the latter end of that range. Eflin, who went 6-5 with a 5.93 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 50:13 K:BB across 71.1 innings in his 14 starts with the Orioles before landing on the injured list July 31, is set to become a free agent this winter.

Garcia (elbow) struck out six and allowed one earned run on six hits and one walk over 4.2 innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land.

Garcia has been built up slowly during his rehab assignment, which began July 7 in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and has included seven starts over four affiliates in total. The right-hander looks to be rapidly closing in on a return from the 60-day injured list, as he's looked sharp over his three outings since moving his assignment to Sugar Land. Over those starts, Garcia has turned in a 3.18 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 15:3 K:BB in 11.1 innings. After Garcia got stretched out to 77 pitches in Wednesday's start, Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that the 28-year-old will likely require just one more appearance in the minors before coming off the IL, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Brown added that Lance McCullers (finger) is on track to beat Garcia back from the IL, but the Astros could have starting spots available for both pitchers if they elect to move Jason Alexander or Spencer Arrighetti to the bullpen and expand the rotation to six men. Garcia last pitched in the big leagues May 1, 2023, as he underwent Tommy John surgery later that month and then hit some snags in the recovery process that have further delayed him.