MLB Player News

Wicks was diagnosed Saturday with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Manager Craig Counsell didn't offer much of a timeline for Wicks' recovery, mentioning only that Wicks was "going to miss some time." However, a Grade 2 sprain likely indicates that Wicks will be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days, leaving his rotation spot to Kyle Hendricks for the foreseeable future. Wicks sustained the injury Friday during his first start since April after spending a month on the 15-day injured list due to a forearm injury. The Cubs placed him on the IL prior to Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Scherzer (back) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday against Tacoma.

Scherzer will be back on the mound for the second start of his rehab assignment after tossing four scoreless innings while striking out five Sunday against Triple-A Oklahoma City. The right-hander has yet to make his season debut as he's been recovering from offseason back surgery and then a subsequent thumb injury he suffered in April. If all goes well against Tacoma, it's possible that it will be Scherzer's final rehab outing.

Senga (shoulder/triceps) threw a two-inning bullpen session Saturday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Senga was able to throw more than 30 pitches in the session and he's expected to throw a shorter one next week. The right-hander has been slowly working his way back from a posterior right capsule strain and then a subsequent triceps injury, and he's yet to make his season debut. Senga has already been ruled out for the first half of the season, but if he can build on Saturday's session next week, he'll remain on track to return relatively soon following the All-Star break.

Ober and the Twins won't play Saturday against the Athletics after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Ober will now have his start pushed back a day after Saturday's contest was rained out. He'll toe the rubber for one of the games during the team's Father's Day split doubleheader with Oakland on Sunday.

Estes and the Athletics won't play Saturday against the Twins after the game was postponed due to inclement weather,, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Estes will now draw the start in one of the two games during Sunday's split doubleheader. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in three consecutive outings.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's loss to the Cardinals that Hendricks is likely to take Jordan Wicks' (oblique) spot in the rotation, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Hendricks came on in relief for the injured Wicks in the second inning Friday and tossed 4.1 scoreless frames. The veteran right-hander has been disastrous on the whole this season with an 8.20 ERA, but he hasn't been scored upon over his last 8.2 innings out of the bullpen. Hendricks would tentatively be lined up to start Wednesday at home versus the Giants.

The Cubs placed Wicks on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor reports.

Wicks had to be pulled from Friday's start against the Cardinals in the second inning due to the injury. It's unclear what grade the strain is, so it's difficult to project a return date. Typically, even low-grade oblique strains result in absences beyond the minimum 15 days. Kyle Hendricks will slide into Wicks' rotation spot.

The Orioles placed Bradish (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right UCL sprain.

Bradish pitched five frames in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Phillies before leaving the contest with right elbow discomfort. Upon further examination, the 27-year-old was diagnosed with a UCL sprain, the same injury that kept him out for the first month of the season. Bradish avoided surgery the first time around, but a procedure could become a more distinct possibility if the rest and rehab isn't deemed a viable treatment plan after his latest setback. Even if Bradish receives a more favorable prognosis in the coming days, fantasy managers should still prepare for Bradish to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Left-hander Nick Vespi was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday to replace Bradish on Baltimore's major-league roster in a corresponding move.

Henry is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Scott McGough in Saturday's game against the White Sox, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

After being called up from Triple-A Reno last Sunday, Henry worked behind McGough and picked up a win against the Padres, despite giving up two earned runs over three hits and two walks over 2.1 innings. Henry hasn't been used since that relief outing, so he should be able to give Arizona plenty of length once McGough exits Saturday's contest.

Verlander was scratched from his start Saturday versus the Tigers due to neck discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander was geared up to face his former team Saturday, but he'll now likely have to have his turn in the rotation skipped completely as a result of the neck issue. With Sunday's scheduled starter Spencer Arrighetti now pushed up to toe the rubber Saturday, Houston will likely have to look outside the major-league roster for a fill-in starter Sunday. Left-hander Eric Lauer is with Triple-A Sugar Land and could be an option to be called up. It's unclear whether or not Verlander's injury will require a stint on the injured list, but for now the 41-year-old's next opportunity to return to the mound appears to be next weekend in Baltimore at the earliest.