MLB Player News

Cole (elbow) could make his first rehab start Tuesday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cole threw live batting practice Thursday, and his next step will likely be a lengthy rehab assignment. It's unclear which affiliate he'll begin the assignment with, though it will be a significant step toward his return regardless of exactly where it occurs.

Poteet (finger) will be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to start Saturday's game against the Giants, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Poteet has been dealing with a blister and is currently on the Triple-A club's 7-day injured list, but he'll be healthy and ready to join the big club to make a start in place of Clarke Schmidt (lat). Poteet threw four innings in his last outing May 19 and has worked in a regular starting role with Scranton/Wilkes Barre this season, so he should be able to handle a normal workload. The Yankees haven't formally announced their plans beyond Saturday, but Poteet should have the chance to stick in the rotation until Gerrit Cole (elbow) is back from the 60-day injured list.

Schmidt (lat) will be shut down for 4-to-6 weeks, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Schmidt landed on the injured list Thursday, and he'll be in line for a lengthy absence. He'll be sidelined until the All-Star break, leaving the Yankees shorthanded in the rotation until Gerrit Cole (elbow) can return.

Paddack did not factor into the decision Thursday against Kansas City, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

Paddack got off to a rocky start, allowing a two-run homer to Vinnie Pasquantino in the first inning before allowing two more runs in the third and fourth. However, the Twins would rally back from a 4-0 hole to spare him the loss in an eventual 7-6 victory. Paddack had been sharp coming into Thursday's outing, allowing just four runs over 13 innings across his previous two starts. Overall, he's 4-2 on the season with a 4.57 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 54:12 K:BB across 61 innings. Paddack's currently in line for a tough road matchup with the Yankees in his next start.

The Yankees placed Schmidt on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right lat strain.

Schmidt gave up two runs (one earned) in five innings during Sunday's loss to the Padres, and he appears to have injured his lat in the process. His move to the IL is backdated to Monday, so the 28-year-old right-hander will be able to return beginning June 11. In the meantime, Cody Morris will come up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to fill the opening on New York's roster.

Whitlock (elbow) will undergo internal brace surgery Thursday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox haven't laid out an official timeline for Whitlock's return, but the 27-year-old righty has expressed optimism that he will be able to return for the start of the 2025 season. He will close the book on 2024 with a 1.96 ERA and 1.15 WHIP alongside a 17:7 K:BB through 18.1 innings over four starts.

Blackburn (foot) remains in a walking boot and will likely be reevaluated when the Athletics return to begin their next homestand Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

The right-hander appears to still be some time away from returning if this latest report is any indication, considering he'll need to presumably go through at least a throwing progression that includes multiple bullpen sessions before being considered for activation. Blackburn's placement on the injured list is retroactive to May 11, but at this point, he appears to be tracking for a mid-June return at the earliest.

Boyle (back) started Triple-A Las Vegas' loss to Sugar Land on Wednesday and fired 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing a hit and two walks while recording three strikeouts.

To label Boyle's start Wednesday an exponential improvement over his rehab debut last Thursday would be an understatement, considering the young right-hander didn't even record an out in that encounter with Triple-A Tacoma. Boyle was downright cruising in that context Wednesday, firing 25 of his 43 pitches for strikes -- and averaging 100.1 mph with his four-seamer per MLB.com -- during a much-needed confidence-building effort. Manager Mark Kotsay noted after the outing that Boyle felt as if he'd "turned a corner" with his back injury, but it remains to be seen if he'll get one more rehab outing before being activated.

Manager Kevin Cash said that Eflin (back) will throw a light bullpen session Thursday and a "ramped-up bullpen session" Sunday before the Rays decide his next steps, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Cash noted that the Rays will wait and see how Eflin feels following Sunday's session, but if his lower-back injury isn't providing any complications, he could be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list next week. When Eflin was placed on the IL on May 20, Cash estimated that the right-hander would need 2-to-4 weeks to make a full recovery, and Eflin currently looks to be tracking toward the short end of that timeline.

Singer has been scratched from Thursday's scheduled start against the Twins due to illness.

Daniel Lynch was recalled from Triple-A Omaha and will start Thursday in Singer's place. It's possible Singer will be ready to make a start in the coming days, though it will depend on how he bounces back from the illness. Consider him day-to-day for the time being.