MLB Player News

Bradford could make a spot start Saturday against the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will likely turn to Bradford or Dane Dunning for the start, or they could deploy the two in a piggyback arrangement if neither is needed in relief during Friday's game. Bradford returned from a long stint on the injured list earlier this week and was roughed up for five earned runs in two innings in a relief outing Tuesday.

Dunning is an option to make a spot start Saturday versus the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

McFarland lists Dunning and Cody Bradford as the most logical options to make the start and the decision could hinge on whether either of them are needed in relief Friday. Whoever makes the start is likely to return to the bullpen after, as Tyler Mahle (elbow) is due to return next week. Dunning has made two relief appearances since returning from a shoulder injury last week, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that King won't make his scheduled start Sunday against the Rockies due to a lingering left calf soreness after being hit by a comebacker in his last start this past Saturday in Baltimore, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

Shildt suggested that King just needs a couple extra days of rest and will be ready to take the hill early next week, but the Padres are still discussing their options to fill in for him Sunday. Carl Edwards has been stretched out as a starter at Triple-A El Paso since he signed a minor-league deal last month and last pitched Sunday, so he could be a possibility for a spot start. Edwards would need to be added to the 40-man roster, however.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Verlander (neck) will throw a bullpen session in the next few days before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Espada said Verlander faced hitters for "between 27 and 30 pitches" Tuesday in Houston, with the right-hander's fastball velocity peaking around 94 miles per hour. Verlander looks poised to throw again Friday or Saturday, and if all goes well, he'll likely report to an affiliate shortly thereafter. The 41-year-old has been on the injured list since June 18 with neck stiffness, but he may need just one start in the minors before Houston is comfortable reinserting him into its rotation.

Pepiot (knee) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Pepiot has thrown a pair of bullpen sessions since landing on the injured list July 21 following a brief hospitalization due to a right knee infection, which is believed to have stemmed from a spider bite. The right-hander experienced significant swelling to his knee as a result of the infection, but he was cleared to resume throwing last week once the inflammation subsided. Pepiot is now in the process of building back up, and if Friday's side session goes well, he could be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice. Given the brevity of his stay on the IL thus far, Pepiot could get the green light to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation as soon as next week without the need of a rehab assignment.

Bradford (rib/back) gave up five earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Bradford had started in each of his first three appearances of the season with the Rangers before he landed on the injured list in mid-April with a stress fracture in his rib as well as a lower-back strain. With the Rangers set to get some reinforcements to their rotation in August with the expected returns of Tyler Mahle (elbow) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) from the IL, Bradford prepared for a relief role during his rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day IL on Monday. The Rangers turned to Bradford out of the bullpen a day later, and he had an outing to forget versus the Cardinals, with Tommy Pham's grand slam representing most of the damage against the right-hander. After Jon Gray's (groin) surprise placement on the IL on Monday, the Rangers will have an opening in the rotation this weekend in Boston, but Bradford's poor showing out of the bullpen Tuesday was enough to take him out of consideration. Jose Urena will instead be called upon to make a start Friday.

The Phillies remain hopeful that Suarez (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to make a start during the club's four-game series in Arizona that begins next Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Suarez is first eligible to come off the IL next Wednesday after he was deactivated July 27 due to lower-back soreness. The Phillies seemingly placed Suarez on the IL as a matter of precaution more than anything else, given that he had already been dealing with spasms on the right side of his back heading into the All-Star break. The lefty hasn't been shut down from throwing, so assuming he's able to complete a bullpen session and/or face hitters without issue this weekend or early next week, he should be cleared to rejoin the rotation in Arizona.

Walker (finger) surrendered three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out three over 2.2 innings in his rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Reading. He also hit a batter with a pitch.

Overall, Walker did a decent job of finding the zone with 31 strikes on 41 pitches, but he induced only four swings and misses on the day. He was able to avoid hard contact for the most part, with a double representing the only extra-base knock among the four hits he allowed. According to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Walker is scheduled to move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for another start Tuesday, after which he could be activated from the 15-day injured list. Walker has been on the shelf since June 23 with right index finger inflammation.

Woo (hamstring) is scheduled to start Friday against the Phillies at T-Mobile Park.

Woo's status for the weekend series with the Phillies had been in question after he departed his latest start this past Saturday in Chicago due to a right hamstring discomfort. Even though Woo spent time on the injured list earlier in July with an injury to the same hamstring, the Mariners were apparently encouraged enough with how he checked out during his post-start throwing sessions to clear him for the Philadelphia series. Woo has had two separate stints on the IL this season, has been scratched from a start and has exited early in three starts, but he's been excellent overall during his time on the mound, posting a 2.35 ERA and 0.89 WHIP across 53.2 innings.

Boyd (elbow) struck out five over 3.2 innings and gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits and no walks in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Columbus.

Boyd's innings total represented a step back from his last two rehab outings, when he covered four and five innings over his starts July 21 and 26, respectively, with Double-A Akron. Even so, he pushed up his pitch count to 63 in the fourth start overall of his rehab assignment and featured a fastball that maxed out at 93.5 miles per hour, a couple ticks above his average from the 2023 season. Boyd continues to look good as he works his way back from last June's Tommy John surgery, and he may require just one more rehab start before he becomes an option for the Cleveland rotation. Boyd and Alex Cobb (hip) both seem to be on similar timelines for returning from the injured list, but the Guardians could have room in the rotation for both pitchers if they opt to move the struggling Carlos Carrasco to the bullpen, or perhaps even off the roster.