MLB Player News

Manager Bob Melvin said Saturday that Cobb (hip/shoulder) has paused his throwing program due to further complications with his right shoulder, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cobb has now been pulled off his throwing program three times since the beginning of the season due to problems with his shoulder. An MRI of his shoulder came back negative in late April, but the Giants will likely want to take another look just to be absolutely certain the right-hander isn't dealing with some underlying issue. Melvin added that Cobb isn't close to returning following his latest shutdown, making it likely his absence extends well into June.

Cole (elbow) threw two simulated innings in the bullpen Saturday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cole has been slowly ramping up his activity over the past few weeks, and his next step will likely be facing hitters in live batting practice. The reigning AL Cy Young winner has been out since mid-March while nursing nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow, and he's been throwing off a mound since May 4. Pitching coach Matt Blake said after Cole's bullpen session Saturday that the right-hander was clocked throwing in the low 90s, but he is still likely multiple weeks away from making his return. At this rate, Cole's timetable to return looks like it could be mid-to-late June.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Wicks (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment after throwing two more bullpen sessions, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

Wicks progressed to facing hitters for the first time Friday, and the Cubs will look to give him a few more reps off a mound before getting him back into game action. Counsell did not specify exactly when Wicks' assignment will begin, nor did he say how many starts the left-hander will need to make in the minors, but Wicks likely won't require more than one or two outings before rejoining the Cubs' rotation.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Musgrove (elbow) is "in a great spot" to return to the team's rotation Sunday in Atlanta, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

Musgrove has thrown two bullpen sessions since going on the injured list with right elbow inflammation May 5 and doesn't appear to need a rehab assignment. The right-hander played catch Friday, and if he recovers well from that, there's a good chance he'll take the mound for Sunday's matchup in Atlanta. Musgrove has struggled with a 6.37 ERA and 1.51 WHIP through 41 innings this season, though he pitched well in his most recent start prior to landing on the IL, allowing two runs and striking out nine batters over six frames against Cincinnati on May 1.

The Orioles reinstated Rodriguez (shoulder) from the injured list to start Saturday's game against the Mariners.

Rodriguez, who landed on the injured list May 1 with right shoulder inflammation, will return to the Orioles' rotation without making a rehab appearance in the minors. The 24-year-old right-hander threw 30 pitches in a bullpen session Sunday, though it's unclear how many pitches he's built up to since then, making it possible he works under a pitch count while facing the Mariners. Mike Baumann was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Luzardo (1-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing five hits over six scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Mets. He struck out seven without walking a batter.

After a couple first-inning hits got Francisco Lindor to second base, Luzardo locked in and retired 11 straight batters. All five hits off the southpaw were singles, and he fired 59 of 89 pitches for strikes in his second quality start of the year. After a bumpy first few weeks to the season and then an IL stint, Luzardo appears to be back in form, delivering a 15:1 K:BB in 11.2 innings over two starts since rejoining the rotation. He'll carry a 5.02 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 42:14 K:BB through 37.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Brewers.

Bassitt (3-6) took the loss Friday, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over 5.2 innings as the Blue Jays were downed 4-3 by the Rays. He struck out five.

The veteran right-hander blanked Tampa Bay for five innings, but the wheels came off in the sixth as an Isaac Paredes walk was sandwiched between a Randy Arozarena double and a Richie Palacios homer. Bassitt left the game after 103 pitches (65 strikes), falling short of his third straight quality start. While he's been pitching a little better in May, he'll take a 5.03 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB through 48.1 innings on the season into his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the White Sox.

Alexander (2-2) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on three hits over 7.1 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out four.

His final line doesn't look quite so impressive, but the left-hander was perfect through seven innings before a Danny Jansen bloop single with one out in the eighth started a Toronto rally that chased Alexander from the game. He's now worked at least seven innings in back-to-back starts, although Alexander got tagged for six runs by the Yankees in his last start prior to Friday. He'll carry a 5.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 37:12 K:BB through 47 innings into his next appearance, but despite the length he's provided of late, it's unclear whether Alexander will remain in the rotation when Ryan Pepiot (lower leg) returns.

Cortes (2-4) picked up the win in Friday's 4-2 victory over the White Sox, allowing one unearned run on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out six.

An error by Oswaldo Cabrera in the third inning led to the only damage off Cortes, who tossed 63 of 93 pitches for strikes in his fifth quality start of the season. The southpaw has been effective when he's been able to keep the ball in the park; he's served up multiple homers in three of his last seven outings, stumbling to a 6.06 ERA in those starts but not giving up an earned run in the other four. Cortes will take an overall 3.56 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 57:12 K:BB through 60.2 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Mariners.

Peterson (hip) struck out eight over 5.1 scoreless innings in his latest rehab start Tuesday for Double-A Binghamton. He scattered five hits and didn't walk a batter.

Peterson opened the season on the 60-day injured list while he completed his recovery from Nov. 6 surgery to address a torn labrum in his left hip, but the southpaw looks on pace to be activated on or around when he's first eligible May 27. He tossed 70 pitches (53 strikes) in Tuesday's outing, his first with Binghamton and the fourth outing overall of his rehab assignment. Peterson will likely shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Syracuse and should require just one or two more tune-up starts before making his way back from the IL. The Mets have a full rotation at the moment, so Peterson -- who has a minor-league option remaining -- could end up sticking around with Syracuse upon his activation.