MLB Player News

The Astros reinstated Javier (neck) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Javier landed on the IL on April 21 due to neck discomfort. He made one rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on May 4, throwing 68 pitches while allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. To make room on the 40-man roster for Javier, Houston designated right-hander Brandon Bielak for assignment. Javier will start Saturday against the Tigers, though the Astros could limit his workload to ease the right-hander back into the rotation.

Cole (elbow) threw 29 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Cole noted that he had a "pretty good" bullpen session, with 13 of his 29 pitches being breaking balls and his velocity topping at 89 mph. He is set to stay in Tampa Bay and throw another bullpen early in the coming week.

Whitlock (oblique) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list April 17 after sustaining a left oblique strain the day before against the Guardians. Before landing on the IL, Whitlock was 1-0 over four starts with a 1.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 18.1 innings. How he fares during and after his rehab start Wednesday will determine whether the 27-year-old right-hander will require more than one outing in the minors to prepare for his return.

Scherzer (back) revealed Friday that he received a cortisone injection in his right thumb after undergoing additional tests Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The exam revealed that Scherzer's thumb issue is more nerve-related than skeletal, and the right-hander noticed significant improvement following the injection. Scherzer noted that he passed multiple strength tests that would have indicated a ligament issue, and his rehab plan has changed accordingly. The 39-year-old was on the field Friday playing catch for the first time since having his program delayed due to issues with his right thumb and forearm.

Houck (3-4) took the loss Friday as the Red Sox fell 5-1 to the Nationals, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander pitched well and gave Boston another quality start, Houck's fifth straight and seventh in eight outings this season, but his offense let him down. Houck will carry a 2.24 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 50:8 K:BB through 52.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Rays.

Kikuchi (2-3) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays were downed 3-2 by the Twins, giving up two runs on four hits over eight innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The left-hander pounded the strike zone, firing 68 of 97 pitches for strikes in his fifth quality start of the year, and he generated plenty of weak contact -- even Carlos Santana's solo homer in the fifth inning had a sub-100 mph exit velocity and barely made it over the fence down the right-field line. It was the longest outing of Kikuchi's Toronto tenure, and his longest MLB start since he gave the Mariners a shutout win in August 2019, which coincidentally was against the Jays. Kikuchi will take a 2.64 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 46:9 K:BB through 47.2 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Baltimore.

Ryan (2-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on six hits over seven innings in a 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

A solo shot by Isiah Kiner-Falefa accounted for the only blemish on Ryan's line. The right-hander fired 75 of 104 pitches for strikes in his longest outing of the season, as he produced his fourth straight quality start and sixth of the year. Ryan will take a 3.21 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 53:6 K:BB through 47.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Yankees.

Irvin (4-1) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in a 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. He struck out six.

The southpaw was sharp and had given up only a solo shot to Ketel Marte heading into the sixth inning, but Irvin got the hook after 95 pitches (62 strikes) with runners on first and second and two outs. Albert Suarez then promptly gave up a single to let one of the inherited runners score, but the O's bullpen took care of business the rest of the way. Irvin generated 30 called or swinging strikes as he won his fourth straight start, and after a bumpy beginning to the season he's posted a 1.19 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 21:3 K:BB in 30.1 innings over his last five outings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Blue Jays.

Woo said after Friday's 8-1 win over the Athletics that he has been dealing with tightness in his forearm, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Woo acknowledged that he experienced forearm tightness during his recent minor-league rehab outings, but the issue didn't prevent the Mariners from activating him from the 15-day injured list Friday ahead of his 2024 MLB debut. The right-hander struck out three and allowed just one hit and one walk over 4.1 innings Friday, but he ended up being pulled as a precaution after the forearm tightness cropped up again. Mariners manager Scott Servais said he expects Woo to be fine, and for now, the expectation is that the 24-year-old will make his next start, which is expected to come Wednesday against Kansas City.

Marsh did not factor into the decision Friday against the Angels, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.

Marsh (elbow) looked sharp in his return from the injured list, tossing 85 pitches (59 strikes). The Kansas City right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.53 with the effort, maintaining his momentum after he tossed 10 shutout innings in his last two outings before the injured list stint. Marsh is scheduled to make his next start against the Mariners on the road.