MLB Player News

Blubaugh (0-1) was charged with the loss Wednesday against the Tigers after giving up seven runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander gave up a single run in each of the first two innings, and an error from shortstop Jeremy Pena preceded five unearned runs in the third, though that's a fortunate fact for Blubaugh given that he surrendered a grand slam. Besides the unearned runs, the 24-year-old's final line actually looks decent, though it won't help him stick in the majors since Lance McCullers (forearm) is coming off the injured list this weekend. According to Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston, Blubaugh is expected to be optioned back to Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of Friday's series opener versus the White Sox.

Buchanan signed with the Fubon Guardians of the Chinese Professional Baseball League on Wednesday.

Buchanan failed to make the Rangers out of spring training and will now take his talents overseas. The 35-year-old righty made six starts at Triple-A Round Rock this season, turning in a 5.28 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across 29 innings.

The Rangers designated Dunning for assignment Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dunning made one appearance after being selected to the active roster Monday, allowing two runs over three innings. He'll now be stripped of his 40-man spot to make room for Tucker Barnhart, who was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. With a poor MLB track record and a 5.40 ERA in the minors this year, it's likely Dunning passes through waivers unclaimed.

Cavalli (elbow) will skip his next rehab start with Triple-A Rochester after exiting his last outing Tuesday with fatigue, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Cavalli will throw a pair of bullpen sessions in between starts instead, and the Nationals are not viewing this as a significant setback. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Cavalli has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB across 11 innings covering three rehab starts.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Scherzer (thumb) threw another bullpen session Wednesday that went "fairly well," Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Schneider said that Scherzer is "definitely making progress," adding that "the feedback has been a lot better" during the 40-year-old's last two bullpen sessions. Scherzer will throw off a mound again Thursday or Friday and, if that goes well, he could begin a more structured ramp-up schedule as he eyes a return to the Toronto rotation.

Jones (elbow) began a throwing program Wednesday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Jones had been shut down since mid-March following a diagnosis of a UCL sprain in his right elbow. It's the beginning of what will be a lengthy throwing progression for the young right-hander, as he will be building back up from scratch. A timetable for Jones' return to the Pirates' rotation likely won't be available for several weeks, even if all goes well.

Dollander was removed in the sixth inning of his start Wednesday against Atlanta due to an apparent blister on his pitching hand, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

If the Colorado bullpen can put the clamps on Atlanta, Dollander will be in line for his second win after departing with a 2-1 lead. Before developing the blister and getting pulled from the game, Dollander had been cruising through his fifth career start, limiting Atlanta to one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out four in 5.2 innings. Dollander tentatively lines up to make his next start during next week's series with the Tigers, though with an off day looming Monday, the Rockies could push him to the back of their pitching schedule if he needs more time for the blister to heal.

Lauer is slated to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Yariel Rodriguez in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Though he won't be deployed in a traditional starting role while he makes his first big-league appearance since 2023, Lauer is built up to handle 90 pitches and should have a better chance at qualifying for a win while working out of the bullpen. With Max Scherzer's (thumb) return from the injured list not yet imminent, Lauer could end up taking over as the fifth member of the Toronto rotation if he performs well in his team debut. The 29-year-old southpaw supplied a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB in 24 innings with Triple-A Buffalo prior to his call-up Wednesday.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Morton will work out of the bullpen moving forward, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

In lieu of re-signing Corbin Burnes or bringing aboard another frontline starter via trade or free agency this offseason, the Orioles brought Morton aboard on a one-year, $15 million deal with the hope that he would serve as a stable contributor in the middle of the rotation. That gambit has backfired, as Father Time appears to have finally caught up with Morton in his age-41 season. The Orioles deployed Morton in bulk relief in his last two appearances with the hope that the arrangement would yield better results, but the right-hander gave up four earned runs on six hits and six walks over six innings between those outings and now owns a 9.45 ERA and 2.17 WHIP for the season. Hyde hasn't closed the door on Morton starting again at some point down the road, but the veteran may need to turn in a few quality low-leverage appearances out of the bullpen before the Orioles insert him back into the rotation.

The Cubs selected Flexen's contract from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Flexen altered his arm slot before posting a 1.16 ERA and 21:8 K:BB over 23.1 frames covering five starts with Iowa. The righty will work as a long reliever for now, but making starts at some point this year is possible if he pitches well.