MLB Player News

McCullers was removed from his start Wednesday against the Dodgers in the top of the third inning after he appeared to be contending with a blister on his pitching hand, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. He was charged with six earned runs on four hits and three walks over 2.2 innings prior to his departure.

McCullers was visited on the mound by manager Joe Espada and a team trainer at one point during his start, and though he was able to stay in the game, he continued to struggle with his control before the Astros pulled him from the contest. In addition to issuing three free passes, McCullers threw three wild pitches and found the strike zone on just 39 of his 70 pitches overall. Even if McCullers checks out fine on the health front and is ready to make his next start, the Astros may have to begin to consider moving him out of the rotation. After the disastrous outing Wednesday, McCullers's ERA now sits at 7.41 over 34 innings on the season.

Glasnow was removed from Wednesday's start in Houston after just one inning with lower-back pain, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

After allowing one run in the first inning, Glasnow felt something in his back on a warm-up pitch before the second. He was visited by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and the trainer and then walked off the field after a brief conversation. Glasnow is tentatively slated to face the Giants at home next week, but it's too soon to say whether he has a chance to make that start.

Ryan (elbow) is listed as the Twins' scheduled starting pitcher for Saturday's game in Cleveland, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Ryan threw only nine pitches in his last outing Sunday against the Blue Jays before being removed due to right elbow soreness. After an MRI returned negative, Ryan was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday, and he must have gotten through that workout without issue in order to be cleared to start Saturday. Ryan has collected a 3.72 ERA and 40:10 K:BB over 38.2 innings this season.

The Nationals recalled Kent from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Kent was just claimed off waivers Sunday and will now join the Nationals' bullpen to provide a fresh arm. The 28-year-old made two relief appearances for the Twins earlier this season, allowing five runs (two earned) with a 2:5 K:BB over 3.2 innings.

The Angels optioned Aldegheri to Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday.

Aldegheri made what turned out to be just a spot start in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the White Sox, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over four innings. He will return to the rotation at Salt Lake, where he's posted a 7.77 ERA and 23:13 K:BB over 24.1 frames this season.

The Angels activated Manoah (finger) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Manoah has been out all season after losing a fingernail during his final Cactus League outing. The right-hander struggled in his lone rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, yielding six runs (five earned) on seven hits and two walks over 4.1 frames. Manoah is listed as an available reliever on the lineup card for Wednesday's game versus the White Sox, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, so the Angels seemingly plan to utilize him in the bullpen. The Angels will have an opening in the rotation during next week's series in Cleveland, so it's possible that Manoah receives a look as a starter or bulk reliever if he isn't needed out of the bullpen during the team's next four games.

Waldron is expected to pitch behind opening pitcher Bradgley Rodriguez in Wednesday's game against the Giants, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Waldron has started in each of his first three appearances of the season with the Padres but has found little success, pitching to a 9.88 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB in 13.2 innings. By turning to Rodriguez to cover the first inning or two of Wednesday's contest, the Padres are hopeful that Waldron will turn in improved results, since he'll perhaps be spared from facing the top of the San Francisco lineup once he enters the game. Even if Waldron fares better in the bulk-relief role, he could be at risk of a more permanent move to the bullpen -- or being designated for assignment -- in the near future. Lucas Giolito is close to being ready to join the big-league rotation after building up to four innings and 78 pitches Tuesday in his latest minor-league rehab start.

Skubal is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery Wednesday in Los Angeles to remove bone chips from his left elbow, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Renowned arm specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache is slated to perform the operation on Skubal, who relayed Monday that he had been battling the elbow issue intermittently since before spring training, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Neither Skubal nor the Tigers were willing to offer a timeline for the two-time Cy Young Award winner's return to the rotation, but the initial hope is that he'll be able to return to action in two months. A more precise target date for Skubal's return should come into focus once he's cleared to begin a throwing program a few weeks after the procedure is completed. Though he had seen his velocity drop and his strikeout rate tail off to begin 2026, he'd still been pitching at an ace-like level prior to hitting the shelf, posting a 2.70 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 45:6 K:BB in 43.1 innings through his first seven starts.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday that Imai (arm) will rejoin the rotation next week versus the Mariners, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

If Imai is kept on a schedule of five days of rest in between starts, he'll be in line to start Monday's series opener. He made his second rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Sugar Land, allowing one run on one hit with a 3:5 K:BB over three innings. Imai, who is coming back from fatigue in his pitching arm, threw 63 pitches Tuesday, so he will not be ready for a full workload in his first start back with the big club.

Woodruff is tentatively slated to resume throwing Saturday after undergoing a minor procedure Tuesday to drain fluid from his inflamed right shoulder, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Milwaukee placed Woodruff on the 15-day injured list Friday, one day after he saw his fastball velocity drop to the mid-80s during an abbreviated start against the Diamondbacks. After being diagnosed with shoulder inflammation, Woodruff traveled to Dallas on Tuesday to be examined further by Dr. Keith Meister, a renowned shoulder/elbow specialist. Though the visit with Dr. Meister seemed to be a foreboding sign, Woodruff evidently received a favorable evaluation and will now begin gearing up for a return from the IL. According to McCalvy, manager Pat Murphy said that Woodruff won't require an extensive buildup and will likely need just a couple of bullpen sessions before rejoining the rotation, potentially as soon as he's first eligible to come off the IL on May 16.