MLB Player News

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.

Hoglund (hip) is undergoing surgery Friday and is expected to miss the rest of the 2025 season, Hoglund's agent announced.

Hoglund was placed on the 15-day injured list June 2 due to a left hip impingement, and the injury will require surgery. The procedure is expected to end his 2025 season, but the expectation is that he'll make a full recovery for the 2026 campaign. In six starts with the A's this season, Hoglund logged a 6.40 ERA and a 23:11 K:BB across 32.1 innings. His long-term absence should mean more starting opportunities for Mitch Spence or Jacob Lopez.

The Mets placed Senga (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Friday.

Senga left his start Thursday in the sixth inning after straining his right hamstring. Reliever Max Kranick was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Senga will be eligible to return June 28, but it's unclear if he'll need more than the minimum 15 days to recover.

Cannon (back) is expected to go on a rehab assignment soon, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Cannon has been on the shelf since June 13 due to a back strain but is ready to begin ramping things up. It's unclear how many rehab outings he will need before being activated from the 15-day IL, but a late June return seems plausible.

Montero is slated to handle a bulk relief role Friday versus the Reds, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Brant Hurter will open for the Tigers before handing things off to Montero. Montero is not unfamiliar with bulk relief, having pitched in that role in three of his last five outings. He has not pitched well following an opener this season, however, posting a 7.36 ERA.

Sykora dazzled for High-A Wilmington on Thursday, striking out 10 without walking a batter over five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits.

The Nationals' top pitching prospect sat through a brief rain delay before the game began, but Sykora didn't bat an eye -- he struck out the side in the first inning and didn't allow a baserunner to get past second base over 79 pitches (55 strikes) before leaving the mound. The 21-year-old righty sports a 1.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP and stunning 32:2 K:BB over 18 innings since his promotion to High-A, and Washington may have little choice but to bump him up another level to Double-A in the near future just to try and find a challenge for him.

The White Sox acquired Civale from the Brewers on Friday in exchange for first baseman Andrew Vaughn, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Civale requested a trade after being told earlier this week that he would be demoted to the bullpen, and Milwaukee has quickly accommodated the request. The veteran right-hander last pitched Monday, so he could join Chicago's rotation as soon as Saturday against the Rangers. Civale held a 4.91 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB in 22 innings over his five starts with Milwaukee this season.