MLB Player News

The Blue Jays will call up Lauer from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Lauer is likely to either start Wednesday's contest or be used in a bulk-relief role. The left-hander has made five starts with Buffalo this season, putting up a 4.50 ERA and 21:6 K:BB over 24 innings. If Lauer does indeed pitch Wednesday, it will be his first appearance at the big-league level since 2023.

Wesneski isn't expected to make his next start until the Astros' three-game series in Milwaukee early next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Manager Joe Espada relayed Tuesday that Wesneski isn't dealing with an injury, but the Astros are eager to build in some extra rest for the right-hander after he lacked his usual efficiency in his most recent start Friday, when he recorded a season-low one strikeout and threw 51 of his 80 pitches for strikes in a 2-0 loss to the Royals. With Wesneski not scheduled to pitch this week, the Astros called up AJ Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land to start Wednesday against the Tigers, and a sixth starter will be added to the mix against the White Sox on Sunday, when Lance McCullers (forearm) is scheduled to come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 debut with Houston.

McCullers (forearm) will return from the 15-day injured list Sunday and will start in the Astros' series finale against the White Sox in Chicago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers will be taking the hill for the Astros for the first time since the 2022 World Series, after a prolonged recovery from June 2023 flexor tendon surgery kept him out of action for the entirety of the past two seasons. The right-hander was cleared to resume facing hitters in late February and steadily ramped up to close out spring training before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment March 30. Across four starts between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, McCullers logged a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 12.2 frames, including a five-inning scoreless appearance in his final outing Saturday. He built up to 71 pitches in that start, so McCullers could be operating with a slight workload restriction in his 2025 Astros debut. Houston may also be keen on building extra rest for McCullers between starts, so it wouldn't be surprising if the team expanded its rotation to six men for the next few weeks.

Kirby (shoulder) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Kirby threw a live batting practice session Monday and described it as "nasty," adding that he "felt great." He will throw again Sunday, and it will be determined soon whether that will be in an official game setting. Kirby has been slow-played as he works his way back from right shoulder inflammation but has been checking every box along the way.

Miller revealed after Tuesday's start versus the Angels that his back "locked up" on him pregame, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Miller did not sit down in between innings to avoid making the back issue worse. He successfully navigated through five scoreless frames in the outing, although he issued a season-high five walks. Miller also noted that he dealt with some arm soreness earlier this month, saying that it's been "one thing after another that hasn't been major, but just been nagging." The right-hander is scheduled to face the Athletics on Monday and it does not appear at this point that he's in any danger of missing that start.

Batista was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow Sunday and is expected to be sidelined 2-to-3 months, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander landed on the shelf at High-A Winston-Salem in early April and will be sidelined for at least the next couple months. Batista had a 3.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 87:33 K:BB across 84.2 innings at the Single-A level last year and made just one start this season before suffering the injury.

The Astros selected Blubaugh's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Tigers in Houston.

Blubaugh will be making his MLB debut Wednesday, but with Lance McCullers (forearm) seemingly on track to return from the 15-day injured list next week, the 24-year-old is likely headed back to Sugar Land regardless of how he performs versus Detroit. The young right-hander has struck out 28 batters and has allowed just one home run over 21 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this season, but walks have been an issue (10.8 BB%).

The Royals recalled Cameron from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Cameron is set to make his major-league debut Wednesday with a start against the Rays, filling in for the injured Cole Ragans (groin). The left-handed Cameron has posted a 3.22 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB in 22.1 innings through his five starts with Omaha this season. Kansas City expects Ragans to be ready for his next turn, so as things stand right now it's likely to be just a spot start for Cameron before he returns to Omaha.

Cecconi (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Cecconi got a late start to the season due to a left oblique strain suffered back in mid-March, but he is finally ready to pitch in games. The right-hander could eventually push for a spot in the Cleveland rotation, but he'll need time in the minors to get ramped back up.

Soto was placed on the 7-day injured list at High-A Cedar Rapids due to soreness in his right triceps, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Soto was off to a promising start at Cedar Rapids with a 1.38 ERA and 15:5 K:BB in 13 innings. The Twins will be hoping it's not a significant setback for the 2024 first-round pick out of high school.