MLB Player News

The Rangers recalled Winn from Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.

Winn will give the Rangers a fresh arm in the bullpen for Sunday's series finale in Houston, but he may not stick around in the big leagues for long. He was added to the 26-man active roster as a replacement for Cody Bradford (back), who was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. The Rangers will replace Bradford in the rotation in the series opener in Detroit on Monday, when Michael Lorenzen (neck) will be brought back from the IL. Texas could end up sending Winn back to Round Rock to make room on the active roster for Lorenzen.

Manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Verlander (shoulder) could return from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut Friday against the Nationals, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Espada noted that he has yet to check in with Verlander since the veteran right-hander made his second minor-league rehab start Saturday with Double-A Corpus Christi. He covered four innings and tossed 77 pitches in that outing while allowing five earned runs on seven hits and one walk, but as long as Verlander informs the Houston coaching staff that he's feeling fine physically, the 41-year-old should get the green light to make his next start with the big club. Verlander hasn't pitched particularly well in his two rehab starts while allowing 11 earned runs, but the Astros may not want to delay his return any longer given their early season rotation issues.

Lorenzen (neck) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to make his Rangers debut Monday against the Tigers, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander made his third rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday and allowed four runs across 4.2 innings, and he'll join the big-league rotation Monday with Cody Bradford (back) headed to the injured list. Lorenzen's role appeared in question with Bradford securing a longer-term rotation spot due to his performance, but Lorenzen will now have at least a couple weeks to stake his claim to a starting spot.

Texas placed Bradford on the 15-day injured list Sunday with lower back soreness, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.comreports.

Bradford earned a longer look in Texas' starting rotation after he began the season 3-0 with a 1.40 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB over 19.1 innings, but he'll now be unavailable due to the back issue. Michael Lorenzen will take the open spot in the rotation, and he will be starting Monday at Detroit.

The Mets optioned Jay to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday.

Following his call-up from Triple-A on Wednesday, Jay's first stint in the big leagues lasted less than a week, with the lefty reliever covering four innings between his two appearances and giving up one earned run on five hits and one walk. The Mets recalled right-hander Grant Hartwig from Syracuse to replace Jay in the bullpen.

The Twins returned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

As expected, Woods Richardson's stay with the Twins was only a temporary one, as he was summoned from St. Paul to serve as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader with the Tigers. He started the second game of the twin bill, earning the win while limiting Detroit to one run on two hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings. Woods Richardson should be the Twins' top choice the next time the big club is in need of a spot starter.

Ottenbreit (elbow) struck out five and allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks over 3.2 innings Wednesday in Single-A Clearwater's 8-7 win over Fort Myers.

Ottenbreit spotted 40 of his 71 pitches for strikes in his first appearance in affiliated ball since last July, when he pitched twice for the Phillies' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate. Ottenbreit had previously missed nearly all of the 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be healthy again now that he's resumed pitching for a full-season affiliate.

The Pirates placed Gonzales on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a left forearm muscle strain, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Gonzales was able to turn in his second straight quality start in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies, but he evidently was pitching with an arm injury at some point during that outing and will now be shut down for at least the next two and a half weeks. The Pirates recalled Ryder Ryan from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Gonzales' spot on the active roster and provide a heathy arm out of the bullpen in the short term, but the focus now turns to whom Pittsburgh will tab as the veteran lefty's replacement in the rotation. Top prospect Paul Skenes turned in a dominant 3.1-inning start with Indianapolis on Friday and would line up for Gonzales' spot in the rotation, if the Pirates feel ready to bring the 21-year-old to the majors. Quinn Priester also pitched Saturday for Indianapolis and, unlike Skenes, already has a spot on the 40-man roster, so he could represent another potential Gonzales replacement.

Butto was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to start Sunday's game against the Royals.

The 26-year-old allowed one run over six frames in a spot start during a doubleheader last week, and he'll rejoin the Mets to start the series finale versus Kansas City. Butto should receive at least a couple turns through the rotation while Tylor Megill (shoulder) is on the injured list.

Manning was returned to Triple-A Toledo after Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins.

The right-hander was called up to start the nightcap Saturday and took the loss after giving up four runs with a 7:2 K:BB over 6.2 innings. Manning has a 2.92 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in two outings as a spot starter for Detroit, and he'll remain the No. 1 candidate for a call-up when the big club again needs a starter.