MLB Player News

Ragans (groin) threw a "competitive" bullpen session Sunday, MLB.com reports.

Ragans is eligible to return from the 15-day injured list this Sunday, but the Royals haven't officially confirmed that he'll be ready to go by that day. That said, after checking out fine following the bullpen session, Ragans looks to be on track for a minimum-length stay on the shelf. The Royals may want Ragans to complete another bullpen session or possibly a live batting practice session before deciding on his next step. Daniel Lynch will make his second start Tuesday against the Reds but is likely to move back to the bullpen once Ragans is activated.

Cecconi won't start as scheduled Wednesday against the Dodgers due to mild groin tightness, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

It's not believed to be a serious injury, but the Cecconi will be pushed back from making his third start of the season Wednesday. The Guardians could have the right-hander pitch this weekend versus the Angels, but team off days Thursday and Monday would allow Cleveland to simply skip his turn through the rotation to provide Cecconi some extra rest.

The Athletics designated Cusick for assignment Tuesday.

The right-hander has spent the season with Triple-A Las Vegas after missing out on the Opening Day roster, and he's now been jettisoned from the 40-man roster after posting a 6.75 ERA over 14.2 innings with Las Vegas. Cusick is likely to pass through waivers unclaimed and could stick around at the Athletics' highest-level affiliate.

Triple-A Norfolk placed Castillo on its 7-day injured list May 13 due to an unspecified injury.

After being acquired from the Mariners on May 7 and claiming a spot on the Orioles' 40-man roster, Castillo has yet to make his organizational debut. He may have gotten hurt during his final appearance with Triple-A Tacoma on May 3, though any potential injury didn't prevent him from passing a physical before the trade was made official. Once he's healthy, Castillo should occupy a spot in the Norfolk rotation.

Paddack (2-5) took the loss against Tampa Bay on Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings

Paddack allowed just three hits through five scoreless frames but ran into trouble in the sixth, surrendering a single and a double while retiring only one batter. That resulted in the right-hander getting the hook, and he was charged with two runs when both of the runners he left behind scored on a Jonathan Aranda homer off reliever Brock Stewart. Minnesota was unable to come back, resulting in Paddack's fifth loss of the campaign, but this was nonetheless another promising outing by the veteran hurler. After giving up 12 earned runs over his first two starts of the season, Paddack hasn't yielded more than three earned runs in any of his subsequent nine outings. He's posted a 2.34 ERA during that span, bringing his mark down to a respectable 3.92 overall.

Littell (4-5) earned the win over Minnesota on Monday, allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 6.1 innings.

Littell cruised through six scoreless frames, giving up just three hits -- all singles -- during that span. He was lifted after hitting Ty France with a pitch with one out in the seventh despite being at only 72 pitches, and Littell was charged with a run when Carlos Correa brought France home on a two-run long ball off reliever Garrett Cleavinger. Nonetheless, Littell finished with his seventh quality start of the campaign, which is tied for 11th-most in the majors. A few clunkers early in the campaign have kept his ERA at a modest 3.97, but Littell hasn't given up more than three runs in an outing over his past eight starts and has a 2.96 ERA during that span. His next start is projected to be a road matchup against Houston this weekend.

Williams (4-3) took the loss against the Dodgers on Monday, allowing four runs on four hits and six walks while striking out three batters over 4.2 innings.

Williams' outing began ominously when Shohei Ohtani laced his first pitch to right field for a home run. That ended up being the only extra-base hit Williams allowed, but his struggles for the remainder of his time in the game were mostly centered on his control -- he issued a season-high six free passes and needed 109 pitches to get through 4.2 frames, with just 66 of his offerings being strikes. The control issues are nothing new for Williams, as he now leads the majors with 32 free passes allowed on the season. He's offered glimpses of excellence, especially with his 60 punchouts through 52.2 frames, and he racked up an impressive 15 whiffs Monday. However, Williams' WHIP stands at an inflated 1.58 due largely to the control issues, and his 4.27 ERA is well below league-average.

Kochanowicz (3-6) allowed four runs on five hits, two walks and a hit batsman over 6.2 innings to take the loss versus the Yankees on Monday.

Kochanowicz was perfect the first time through the order, but the Yankees sent everyone to the plate in a four-run fourth inning that gave them all the offense they needed. The 24-year-old right-hander has had mixed results in May -- he's had two starts allowing just one run, but he's given up four or more in his other three outings this month. For the season, he's at a 5.07 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 40:29 K:BB across 60.1 innings over 11 starts. His next start is projected to be on the road in Cleveland.

Crochet dropped to 4-4 on the season in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Brewers, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 11 over 6.2 innings.

After surrendering a leadoff home run to Jackson Chourio to begin the game, Crochet righted the ship and turned in yet another quality start. He has now posted six straight starts of allowing two earned runs or fewer, and he has gone no fewer than five frames in any start all season. Crochet owns a 2.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 75 innings in his first season in Boston and looks every bit like the ace the Red Sox had expected him to be when they acquired him over the winter.

Houser logged a no-decision against the Mets on Monday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out six batters over six-plus innings.

The Mets appeared mystified against Houser throughout most of Monday's matchup, as they managed to put just two runners on base over the first six innings. The veteran right-hander bent a bit in the seventh, allowing the first two New York batters to reach base, and was subsequently pulled; however, Chicago's bullpen was able to strand both runners to keep Houser unscored upon through two starts covering 12 frames with the team. It's been an improbable beginning to Houser's White Sox tenure, as he hasn't finished with an ERA below 4.12 in the majors since 2021 and was stuck in the Rangers' minor-league system to begin this year until being released May 15. He's earned a continued spot in Chicago's rotation and is tentatively scheduled to face Baltimore his next time out.