MLB Player News

Skenes (1-0) earned the win over the Cubs on Friday, issuing just one walk while striking out 11 over six hitless, scoreless innings.

Skenes was lights out in his second big-league start -- he struck out the first seven batters he faced while holding the Cubs without a baserunner until Michael Busch's one-out walk in the fifth inning. Skenes has been as advertised to start his career, averaging 99.3 MPH with his fastball Friday and generating a 44 percent whiff rate with the pitch. The 21-year-old right-hander has allowed three runs through his first 10 innings while striking out 18. Skenes will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which tentatively lines up as a home matchup with the Giants.

Eovaldi (groin) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Friday will mark the first time Eovaldi has thrown off a mound since being diagnosed with a right groin strain May 3. He's eligible to return from the IL on Saturday, but considering the right-hander is just now resuming mound work, he may still be a week or two from returning to Texas' rotation. A clearer timeline for his return should emerge once he progresses to facing live hitters.

Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.

Urquidy (forearm) will make another rehab start after his upcoming outing at Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy is slated for four innings (60-65 pitches) in Saturday's contest, so the Astros will keep him in the minors for an additional rehab appearance to stretch him out further. The 29-year-old righty struggled in his first rehab outing, giving up three earned runs across 2.2 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming his third start in the minors will be his last, Urquidy is in line to pitch again for the Astros in Seattle on May 29.

Cavalli (elbow) is ready for a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Once Cavalli makes his first start, his 30-day rehab clock will start. One of the Nationals' top pitching prospects, Cavalli underwent Tommy John Surgery in March of 2023 and is finally ready to pitch in-game. Assuming he can avoid any setbacks, he's on track for a June return.

Cabrera (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

It will be his first time on the bump since he landed on the 15-day injured list May 8 with a right shoulder impingement. Cabrera has been on the IL twice this season with the same injury and it's not clear how long he'll be sidelined this time around, but he's on the comeback trail.

Rodriguez (back) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After throwing off a mound earlier this week, Rodriguez is set to make his first rehab appearance Tuesday. He made four starts prior to his back flaring up, but with the Blue Jays having indicated they wanted to monitor his workload in 2024, he could shift to the bullpen once he returns.

Walker (toe) is scheduled to do some throwing Monday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Walker had to depart Thursday's start against the Mets after he took a comebacker off his left foot. He was not able to move his injured toe Thursday but is feeling better Friday. Walker's status for his next start -- tentatively slated for Wednesday at home versus the Rangers -- is up in the air. Spencer Turnbull would step back into the rotation if Walker remains sidelined.

The Cubs recalled Hodge from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Hodge has posted a 4.80 ERA and walked 12 over 15 innings this season between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa, but he's also struck out 26. This will be the first stint in the majors for the 23-year-old.

Bido is making progress in his recovery from a blister on his pitching hand that he developed during a May 8 start against the Rangers, and the Athletics still view him as an option for the big-league rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

After turning in a 2.59 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 31.1 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas, Bido made a spot start in a doubleheader but was pulled midway through the third inning of the second game, and he was returned to Las Vegas two days later. The right-hander hasn't pitched for Las Vegas since, but he could rejoin the big club as soon as Friday, when Oakland will have an opening in its rotation for a series opener in Kansas City. Bido served as the 27th man for the doubleheader last week, so he's eligible to be called back up at any time.