MLB Player News

Montero is expected to start Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

While the Tigers haven't announced anything yet, they are listing Wednesday's starter as TBD and Montero was spotted in the clubhouse at Comerica Park on Tuesday. Mason Englert is expected to be optioned to Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move. Montero, 23, allowed four runs in 4.1 innings in his major-league debut versus the Pirates last month. It would appear Wednesday's appearance will be another spot start for the righty and he'll head back to Toledo after the game.

Senga (shoulder/tricep) is scheduled to throw his next live batting practice session later this week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

While facing hitters Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. for the first time since early May, Senga tossed 22 pitches. He's scheduled to rejoin the Mets in New York this week, and assuming his arm responded well to Sunday's workout, he'll throw another live BP within the next few days. Senga was placed on the injured list coming out of spring training with a shoulder capsule strain and advanced to mound work in late April before having his throwing program shut down when he experienced tricep tightness and nerve inflammation. He's since resumed ramping back up but isn't expected to be ready to make his 2024 debut with the Mets until after the All-Star break.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Verlander (neck) has yet to resume throwing, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander has been shut down for more than a week with neck discomfort and continues to progress more slowly than expected. The veteran right-hander is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list Monday, but it's too early at this point to know whether he will be ready to go on that day. Houston currently has just four members in its rotation, but it will need to add a fifth if Verlander's injury continues to linger.

Clevinger (elbow) covered 4.2 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Charlotte, striking out two while giving up five earned runs on seven hits and one walk.

Making his second rehab start with Charlotte, Clevinger spotted 48 of his 71 pitches for strikes and faced off against 22 hitters. While Clevinger was knocked around a bit by Gwinnett and allowed three extra-base hits, at least from a workload standpoint, he looks ready to return from the 15-day injured list. He could be activated later this week to rejoin the White Sox rotation during their three-game home series versus the Rockies.

Ashcraft is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Louisville to start in place of Nick Lodolo (blister), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft has turned in consecutive quality starts since his demotion to Louisville, yielding a total of four runs with a 12:2 K:BB over 12 innings. He's currently slated to start Wednesday for Louisville, but the Reds don't have a starter listed for that day. Lodolo isn't eligible to return until July 9, so Ashcraft would likely be needed for multiple starts if he's indeed the choice.

The Twins placed Paddack on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right forearm fatigue.

The right-hander labored in his past two outings with eight runs allowed across six innings, and he's given up at least four runs in five of his past six starts. Paddack will be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks but is without a clear timeline for return. Ronny Henriquez was recalled in a corresponding move to provide some bullpen depth for Minnesota.

Rodriguez is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Red Sox in Boston.

Rodriguez built up to four innings and 79 pitches over six rehab appearances with Triple-A Buffalo prior to coming off the 15-day injured list this past Friday, but he wasn't able to improve upon that workload in his return to the big club. He needed 52 pitches to record just four outs and took a loss to the Guardians while giving up five runs (four earned) on two hits and three walks in his first start for Toronto since April 29. Rodriguez's abbreviated outing appears to be performance-related rather than the result of him incurring a setback with his spine, but the Blue Jays could still look to keep his workloads in check compared to their other starters in an effort to increase his effectiveness. Bowden Francis ended up piggybacking Rodriguez for 3.2 innings Friday and could be deployed in tandem with him again Wednesday, if Francis isn't needed in relief before then.

The Reds recalled Zulueta from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

It's the first major-league promotion for Zulueta, who holds a 2.84 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 31.2 innings this season at Louisville. The 26-year-old also posted a 14.5 percent walk rate at Louisville, so he'll have to show he can consistently find the strike zone before the Reds trust him in high-leverage situations.

The Reds placed Lodolo on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a left finger blister.

Lodolo battled the blister issue during his start this past Sunday against the Red Sox, and the Reds have opted to give the left-hander some down time in order to let the finger heal. He had been slated to start Friday in St. Louis, but the Reds will now need a substitute. Graham Ashcraft has pitched well in two starts since being demoted to Triple-A Louisville, so he's a candidate to take Lodolo's spot.

Butto could make a spot start for the Mets prior to the All-Star break, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.

Edwin Diaz's 10-game suspension could force the team to get creative when it comes to keeping the bullpen fresh. One possibility would be to option David Peterson and Tylor Megill down to Triple-A Syracuse after their next starts, replacing them with relief arms. In that scenario, Butto and Christian Scott would be needed to make spot starts when those turns in the rotation come around again. Butto has allowed two runs or less in five of six starts for Syracuse since being sent down in May, posting a 3.06 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 31:12 K:BB through 32.1 innings over that stretch -- ratios that are almost an exact match for those he's generated at the big-league level this season.