MLB Player News

Verlander (pectoral) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Verlander completed a 65-pitch simulated game last Wednesday and a bullpen session Saturday, clearing the way for his return to the Giants rotation. He will be skipping a rehab assignment and will likely be looking at a maximum of around 80 pitches Wednesday versus Cleveland. Verlander has posted a 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 41:21 K:BB across 52 innings this season and is still looking for his first win.

Gusto will move up a day to start Monday against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Gusto's next turn had been scheduled for Tuesday in the second game of the series in Sacramento, but he'll take the ball a day earlier as a replacement for the injured Lance McCullers (foot). The right-handed Gusto last pitched Wednesday, so he will be starting on a normal four days' rest and is set for a second start later this week versus the Angels.

The Astros placed McCullers on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right foot sprain, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

McCullers' move to the IL was unexpected, as the Astros had listed the right-hander as their starter for Monday's series opener in Sacramento before he presumably sustained the injury at some point during or shortly after his most recent outing last Tuesday versus the White Sox. Astros manager Joe Espada will likely provide more details on the severity of McCullers' injury later Monday. Ryan Gusto will be moved up a day in the pitching schedule to take the hill for the series opener against the Athletics in place of McCullers, while Jason Alexander was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land and could be needed to make a spot start Tuesday.

The Orioles placed Povich on the 15-day injured list Monday with left hip inflammation.

Povich registered a win in bulk relief Sunday against the Angels but evidently came out of the appearance with a hip injury. The Orioles have not announced who will be taking Povich's spot in the rotation, but Trevor Rogers is a logical choice.

The Marlins promoted White from High-A Beloit to Double-A Pensacola on Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

White missed some time at Beloit with a finger injury but has been excellent when healthy, posting a 2.83 ERA and 53:17 K:BB over 35 innings covering nine starts. He's been especially sharp since returning in late May following a brief stint on the 7-day injured list, turning in a 16:1 K:BB over 10 frames in three outings. White is one of the better left-handed pitching prospects in baseball and has now reached the Double-A level at 20 years of age.

Triple-A Buffalo placed Lucas on its 7-day injured list Tuesday due to an unspecified injury.

Lucas' placement on the IL came a few days after he surrendered three earned runs on two hits and one walk over 1.2 innings in his first appearance with Buffalo since being demoted June 1. The southpaw previously made four starts with the big club earlier this season, but he's unlikely to receive another look with the Blue Jays anytime soon now that he's dealing with an injury and with Max Scherzer (thumb) tracking toward a return from the 60-day injured list next week.

Macko (knee) has allowed four earned runs on four hits and seven walks while striking out eight over seven innings in two starts since being reinstated from Triple-A Buffalo's 7-day injured list June 7.

The 24-year-old southpaw began the season on the IL while completing his recovery from knee surgery, but Macko still has plenty of rust to work off. He's issued at least three free passes in both his starts for Buffalo, and while he's currently on the same pitching schedule as the struggling Bowden Francis, Macko doesn't yet seem like a viable option for the big-league rotation.

Wright (shoulder) struck out six and allowed two hits and one walk over four scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Omaha.

Making his seventh start in the minors overall this season and the fifth of his current rehab assignment, Wright delivered his sharpest performance to date. He recorded 12 outs on 65 pitches (41 strikes) in Sunday's outing, inducing five swings and misses along the way. Wright's 30-day rehab window will come to a close June 24, so he'll presumably make one more start in the minors before being activated from the 60-day injured list. Though Cole Ragans (shoulder) is likely to remain on the shelf through the All-Star break, rookie Noah Cameron has thrived while replacing him in the rotation, so Kansas City may not have a starting role available for Wright upon his return.

DeSclafani allowed two earned runs on three hits and struck out two over 2.1 innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 8-2 loss to San Diego.

DeSclafani was put to work immediately after signing a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks on Sunday. Although he worked as a starter in the Yankees organization before being granted his release last week, DeSclafani is expected to work in long relief for Arizona for the time being. He could be the next man up to join the rotation, however, if the Diamondbacks lose one of their five starters to an injury at any point.

Walter didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Twins, allowing one run on six hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over 6.2 innings.

Walter is temporarily serving as the sixth man in a six-person rotation for the short-handed Astros, but the 28-year-old has performed more like an ace in limited action this season. Sunday's outing was his third MLB start of the campaign, and his second time allowing no runs. His nine strikeouts marked a career high and bumped his K:BB to 19:1 across 17.2 innings. While he likely won't retain a spot in the big-league rotation once the Astros get healthier, he could stick around for one or two more trips through the rotation. He's in line to start during a three-game set against the Angels next weekend.