MLB Player News

Skenes did not factor into Friday's decision against the Cubs, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out five across five scoreless innings.

Friday was just the third time in 15 starts this season that Skenes failed to make it to the sixth inning. He still managed to keep the Cubs off the board, thanks in large part to an assist from the Pirates' fielders in the fifth inning to throw Ian Happ out at home. Skenes has allowed one earned run or fewer in each of his last seven starts, and his 1.78 ERA and 0.85 WHIP (across 96 innings) are both third best in the National League among qualified starters. He's in line to start against the Tigers on the road next week.

White Sox manager Will Venable said that Civale will start Sunday's game against the Rangers, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The White Sox acquired Civale on Friday, after he requested to be traded from Milwaukee upon being told earlier this week that he would be moved to the bullpen. He'll immediately slot into the starting rotation for his new organization but could be traded again prior to the July 31 deadline, given the White Sox's status as a non-contender in addition to the fact that the right-hander is on an expiring contract. Civale logged a 4.91 ERA over 22 innings with the Brewers and pitched into the sixth inning just once in five starts this season.

Glasnow (shoulder) threw a simulated inning of live batting practice Friday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Glasnow was initially scheduled to throw a regular bullpen session, but he wound up facing batters for the first time since landing on the injured list April 28. The right-hander was briefly set back in his recovery from shoulder inflammation when he experienced general body soreness earlier this month, but he ended up getting back on the mound about a week later. Now that he's faced hitters, a rehab assignment could be around the corner for Glasnow, who has a chance to return from the 60-day injured list before the All-Star break.

Cobb (hip) received an injection in his left hip Friday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Cobb threw two innings in a rehab start Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo, but he was apparently in need of further treatment to address inflammation in his left hip. The Tigers haven't indicated how long Cobb will be held out while he waits for the injection to take effect before resuming his rehab assignment. Through his three outings in the minors thus far between Toledo and High-A West Michigan, Cobb owns a 1.42 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB over 6.1 innings.

Olson (finger) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Olson has been sidelined since May 19 due to right ring finger inflammation, but he's made enough progress with his throwing program to test himself in a game setting. General manager Jeff Greenberg said Sunday that he's "cautiously optimistic" that Olson will return from the injured list "sooner rather than later," though he may require multiple appearances at Triple-A before being cleared to join the big-league rotation.

The second opinion Greene received on his right groin strain Friday reinforced the initial diagnosis, though he also received an epidural for back soreness that surfaced during his last start, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The right-hander landed on the shelf in early June due to the groin strain, and he appears to have avoided a serious injury. Greene will have one more meeting with doctors in Los Angeles to determine a recovery timeline, so he still seems likely to be out for at least another couple of weeks.

Blackburn will step into the rotation and start Wednesday's game against Atlanta in place of Kodai Senga (hamstring), Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Senga was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday, opening a spot in the rotation for Blackburn, who could be in line for multiple starts while the Mets wait for Frankie Montas (lat) and Sean Manaea (oblique) to return from the 60-day IL. After a lengthy IL stint of his own to start 2025, Blackburn has pitched nine innings in his two MLB appearances, allowing three runs on 10 hits and two walks with six strikeouts. He threw 71 pitches in his most recent outing.

Gray (wrist) threw off a mound Thursday and will do so again Sunday, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Gray threw 20 fastballs Thursday. It was his first mound work since suffering a broken wrist in March. Gray is aiming for a return in late July after the All-Star break.

Houck (elbow) is expected to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Houck threw a couple bullpen sessions this week and has been sidelined since throwing 69 pitches across 2.1 innings in a May 12 start against the Tigers. Prior to the injury, Houck (0-3) had been roughed up across nine starts, notching an 8.04 ERA and 32:17 K:BB while surrendering 10 home runs across 43.2 innings of work.

Rodriguez (lat) said Friday that he will throw off a mound next week and believes he'll be able to return sometime in the second half of the season, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Rodriguez added that his elbow and triceps issues are behind him, according to Weyrich, and his focus remains on rehabbing the lat injury. Lat injuries have been Rodriguez's primary concern over the last four years, as this is his third one, and he and the team are trying to determine the root cause of the recurring problem. Rodriguez's mound work next week will be the first time he's thrown off one since suffering his setback in mid-April.