MLB Player News

High-A Lansing will activate Morales (shoulder) from its 7-day injured list Tuesday, baseball writer Francys Romero reports.

Morales opened the season on the IL with an previously unknown issue, but Romero's report relays that the 21-year-old right-hander was still working through some shoulder discomfort that had cropped up late in the 2023 campaign. The injury ultimately cost Morales just under a month of game action, but the Athletics were likely planning to limit his innings count in 2024 anyway. Morales made just two starts for Lansing last season, giving up three earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out eight over 7.2 innings.

Luzardo was diagnosed Monday with a mild flexor strain in his left elbow, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The diagnosis is relatively good news, especially considering that Luzardo was able to play catch Monday, three days after tightness in his pitching arm forced him to the injured list. Luzardo is without a timeline at this stage to return from the IL, but more clarity on that front could come once he advances to the point in his recovery program where he's able to face hitters.

Senga (shoulder) threw a 21-pitch live batting practice session Monday and said afterward that he thinks he'll return from the 60-day injured list around when he's first eligible to be activated May 27, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Working his way back from a shoulder capsule strain, Senga also added that he will need to face hitters two more times before beginning a rehab assignment. That should put him on track for his first rehab start in early May, with a return before the end of the month being a possibility if all goes according to plan.

Luzardo (elbow) will play catch Monday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins haven't provided word regarding the findings of the test results on Luzardo's left elbow from over the weekend, but the fact that he's already been cleared to throw just three days after landing on the 10-day injured list certainly seems like a good sign. Luzardo is eligible to return from the IL on May 10, but it's still too early in his recovery to know whether he might make it back by that date.

Arrighetti is slated to start Thursday's game against the Guardians at Minute Maid Park.

With Justin Verlander recently returning from the injured list, Arrighetti looked like a candidate to lose out on a rotation spot, but Houston is ultimately keeping the rookie around as their No. 5 starter after the club instead chose to option J.P. France to Triple-A Sugar Land last week. Arrighetti likely doesn't have a long leash with Houston, however, as he's posted a 10.97 ERA and 2.34 WHIP in 10.2 innings through his first three big-league outings.

Martinez is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Padres at Petco Park.

He'll make a second straight turn through the rotation as a replacement for Frankie Montas (forearm), who was forced to the injured list April 22. In his return to a starting role last Thursday following a brief stint in the bullpen, Martinez was roughed up by the Phillies for five earned runs on 11 hits over six innings. Martinez should fare better Tuesday at Petco Park, where he turned in a 2.60 ERA over 62.1 innings in 2023 as a member of the Padres.

The Royals recalled Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha ahead of his scheduled start Monday in Toronto.

Kansas City optioned right-handed reliever Will Klein to Triple-A to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for Bowlan, who will be joining the rotation as a replacement for the injured Alec Marsh (elbow). Bowlan had covered at least five innings in each of his last three starts with Omaha and owns a 2.57 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 21:5 K:BB across 21 frames at the Triple-A level for the season.

Houck didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Cubs, allowing one run on four hits and zero walks while striking out nine over 6.2 innings.

Houck kept the Cubs off the scoreboard until Matt Mervis scratched an RBI-single off him with two outs in the seventh, which wound up being the last batter he faced. Sunday was already his third start this season with at least nine strikeouts and zero walks. The 28-year-old boasts a 1.60 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 41:5 K:BB in 39.1 innings and projects for a road start against the Twins his next time out.

King (2-3) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out six over 5.1 innings.

King struggled to keep the ball in the yard in this one. Bryson Stott got to him for a pair of two-run homers and J.T. Realmuto swatted one out against him in the sixth. His lack of command continues to haunt him, as he's now allowed 10 home runs in seven starts and has walked multiple batters in all but one appearance. The 29-year-old sports a 5.00 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 40:21 K:BB in 36 innings and will line up for a road start against the Diamondbacks his next time out.

Walker (1-0) picked up the win over the Padres on Sunday, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings.

The Padres piled on all six of their runs in just two innings. They got to Walker for three runs in the third with Fernando Tatis doubling home Jurickson Profar before coming home on a two-run blast from Jake Cronenworth. Walker was able to cruise into the seventh where he ran into more trouble, as the Padres added three more runs on a home run from Luis Campusano to make it a 7-6 game. His day would end there and he was able to squeak by with an ugly win. He'll look for some better results next time and is projected to take the mound next weekend against the Giants.