MLB Player News

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (thumb) threw another bullpen session Wednesday that went "fairly well," Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Schneider said that Scherzer is "definitely making progress," adding that "the feedback has been a lot better" during the 40-year-old's last two bullpen sessions. Scherzer will throw off a mound again Thursday or Friday and, if that goes well, he could begin a more structured ramp-up schedule as he eyes a return to the Toronto rotation.

Lauer is slated to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Yariel Rodriguez in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Though he won't be deployed in a traditional starting role while he makes his first big-league appearance since 2023, Lauer is built up to handle 90 pitches and should have a better chance at qualifying for a win while working out of the bullpen. With Max Scherzer's (thumb) return from the injured list not yet imminent, Lauer could end up taking over as the fifth member of the Toronto rotation if he performs well in his team debut. The 29-year-old southpaw supplied a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB in 24 innings with Triple-A Buffalo prior to his call-up Wednesday.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Morton will work out of the bullpen moving forward, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

In lieu of re-signing Corbin Burnes or bringing aboard another frontline starter via trade or free agency this offseason, the Orioles brought Morton aboard on a one-year, $15 million deal with the hope that he would serve as a stable contributor in the middle of the rotation. That gambit has backfired, as Father Time appears to have finally caught up with Morton in his age-41 season. The Orioles deployed Morton in bulk relief in his last two appearances with the hope that the arrangement would yield better results, but the right-hander gave up four earned runs on six hits and six walks over six innings between those outings and now owns a 9.45 ERA and 2.17 WHIP for the season. Hyde hasn't closed the door on Morton starting again at some point down the road, but the veteran may need to turn in a few quality low-leverage appearances out of the bullpen before the Orioles insert him back into the rotation.

The Red Sox activated Giolito (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Giolito is set to make his Red Sox debut Wednesday in Toronto after missing last season following an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and getting a late start to the 2025 campaign because of a left hamstring strain. The right-hander held a 5.19 ERA and 17:13 K:BB over 17.1 innings across five rehab starts. Giolito threw 85 pitches during his final rehab outing, so he should be able to handle a relatively normal workload versus the Blue Jays.

The Athletics selected Duran's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Acquired earlier this month from the Dodgers in the trade that sent outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Los Angeles, Duran has posted a 6.75 ERA and 18:12 K:BB over 16 frames at the Triple-A level this season. He'll provide the Athletics with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen while he's up with the big club.

The Blue Jays selected Lauer's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.

Lauer is on track to either start or serve as the primary pitcher out of bullpen Wednesday against the Red Sox in what will be his Toronto debut. The 29-year-old lefty finished last season in the Korea Baseball Organization before returning stateside and signing a minor-league deal with Toronto in December. Though he failed to win a spot on the Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Lauer performed adequately over his first five starts of the season at Buffalo, logging a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB across 24 innings. With a decent showing Wednesday, Lauer could end up sticking around as the fifth member of the Toronto rotation until Max Scherzer (thumb) is back from the injured list.

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.