MLB Player News

Rodriguez (back) allowed an unearned run on one hit and one walk while retiring one batter in his rehab appearance for Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.

Rodriguez tossed 16 pitches in the outing, his first at any level since the Blue Jays placed him on the 15-day injured list April 30 with thoracic spine inflammation. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, Rodriguez is scheduled to cover two innings and toss around 30-to-35 pitches in his next rehab appearance later this week, which could be his last before he makes his return from the IL.

Anderson (5-4) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over eight innings in a 2-1 victory over the Astros. He struck out four.

The veteran southpaw needed 95 pitches (65 strikes) to deliver his third straight quality start and seventh of the season, and Anderson's eight frames marked his longest outing of the season. He'll take an impressive 2.52 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 44:23 K:BB through 64.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Yankees.

Whitlock is scheduled to visit Dr. Jeff Dugas in Birmingham, Ala. on May 30, at which point a decision will be made whether he'll require surgery to address his right elbow sprain, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Whitlock was originally placed on the 15-day injured list April 17 with a left oblique strain, but the health of his pitching elbow is now the Red Sox's chief concern after he sustained the injury in his lone rehab start for Triple-A Worcester last Wednesday. He's reportedly dealing with damage to his UCL, so while the early expectation is that he'll need some kind of procedure to address the injury, he'll first consult with Dr. Dugas to see if rest and rehab is a viable treatment plan. Even if Whitlock is able to avoid surgery, he's still likely looking at an extended absence and likely won't be ready to rejoin the Red Sox until the second half of the season even in a best-case scenario.

Means was removed from Wednesday's start against the Cardinals due to left elbow discomfort and will undergo medical testing, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

The injury wasn't immediately reported as the left-hander's departure after three innings coincided with a rain delay. Means entered the contest with an average fastball velocity of 90.9 mph this season, but he sat two ticks below that Wednesday. The 31-year-old missed most of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and a back injury, so another elbow issue could be a significant concern.

McKenzie did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Mets, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out five.

McKenzie didn't appear to have his best stuff Wednesday, as he'd allow three solo homers before departing with a 3-0 deficit in the sixth inning. However, the Guardians would rally for six unanswered runs in an eventual victory, sparing McKenzie the loss. Still, it's the first time in seven starts that McKenzie's allowed more than two earned runs -- he came into the day with a 2.10 ERA over his prior six outings. Overall, the 26-year-old right-hander sports a 3.44 ERA with a 1.34 WHIP and 45:31 K:BB over 10 starts (52.1 innings) this season. McKenzie's next start is currently lined up for early next week against the Rockies in Colorado.

The Rangers activated Dunning (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday ahead of his scheduled start against the Phillies.

The right-hander has missed most of this month with a right rotator cuff strain and didn't make a rehab start prior to being activated, so he could be subject to a relatively limited pitch count in his first start since May 4. Dunning enters Wednesday's contest with a 3-2 record, 4.10 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 37.1 innings on the season.

Woods Richardson allowed three hits and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Nationals on Wednesday. He struck out one.

Woods Richardson didn't have his best stuff Wednesday, though he still managed to hold Washington scoreless before he was pulled with two outs in the fifth inning after throwing 77 pitches. While he came an out shy of qualifying for a win, it was another solid effort overall for the 23-year-old right-hander -- Woods Richardson has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his seven outings this season. Overall, he's 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB across 35 innings this year. Woods Richardson is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Royals in his next start.

The White Sox recalled Nastrini from Triple-A Charlotte prior to his start Wednesday in Toronto.

Nastrini could get an opportunity to make multiple starts for the White Sox after the club opened up a spot in the rotation for him by recently designating Brad Keller for assignment. The young right-hander had one solid start and one poor one last month with Chicago, ultimately allowing eight runs (seven earned) over eight innings.

Maeda (illness) could return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday or Sunday versus the Blue Jays, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Petzold notes that Maeda is lined up to pitch this weekend, but the Tigers haven't yet divulged any official plans on that front. The right-hander has been on the shelf since mid-May with a viral illness but made a three-inning rehab start this past weekend for Triple-A Toledo and got through a bullpen session Wednesday with no concerns. Matt Manning is slated to make another start for Detroit on Friday but could be sent back down after that to make room for Maeda in the rotation.

Irvin appeared out of the bullpen in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Mariners, collecting his first hold of the season while working around one hit and allowing no walks in two scoreless innings.

Despite posting a 2.90 ERA while starting in his first seven appearances of the season, Irvin was moved to the bullpen over the weekend while the Orioles were able to get by with a shortened rotation due to off days last Tuesday and Thursday. According to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun, manager Brandon Hyde suggested that Irvin won't be a regular member of the bullpen moving forward, as the Orioles plan to move back to a six-man rotation while they're now in the midst of a stretch of 30 games in 31 days. Per Jake Rill of MLB.com, Irvin isn't scheduled to start any of the Orioles' remaining five games this week, but the southpaw could re-enter the rotation next week or the week after.