MLB Player News

France was scratched from his start Friday versus the Diamondbacks due to a family emergency.

Jose Urquidy will get the start instead as the Astros open their final series of the regular season. Entering play Friday, they sit two games back of the Rangers for first place in the AL West and one game up on the Mariners for the third AL wild-card spot.

Urquidy will start Friday's game at Chase Field in Arizona, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

J.P. France has been scratched from the start due to a family emergency, so Urquidy gets the call for what will be his first start since Aug. 23. The 28-year-old right-hander has allowed 11 earned runs over his last 14.1 innings while working in long relief.

Elder won't start as originally scheduled Sunday against Washington, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

With Elder having already thrown a career-high 180.2 innings this season, 21.2 IP more than he worked across all levels in 2022, Atlanta will skip his turn in the rotation ahead of the postseason. The 24-year-old has given up 13 runs in 12.1 innings over his last three starts, so perhaps the extended rest period will help him return to form in the NLDS. The team has not yet named a replacement starter for the final game of the regular season.

France was scratched from his start Friday against the Diamondbacks for undisclosed reasons, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Given their position in the American League West and wild-card standings, Friday's game is pretty close to a must-win game for the Astros, so France must be dealing with some kind of physical issue. Look for an update on France's status to arrive later Friday. Jose Urquidy will pick up his first start since Aug. 23 in place of France.

The Brewers designated Teheran for assignment Friday.

After starting the season hot with a 1.53 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through 35.1 innings across his first six starts, Teheran has allowed 29 earned runs over 36.1 frames since June 27. His second-half struggles will ultimately cost Teheran his spot on the Crew's 40-man roster, and it will be given to Caleb Boushley, who is set to make his MLB debut Friday.

The Reds recalled Spiers from Triple-A Louisville on Friday.

With Daniel Duarte (shoulder) headed for the injured list, Spiers will come up from the minors to round out Cincinnati's pitching staff. Spiers has allowed 10 earned runs in 10 innings with the Reds this season but can give the team multiple innings out of the bullpen during the final series of the year.

The Pirates optioned Ortiz to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Ortiz put up a 4.78 ERA and 1.70 WHIP through 86.2 innings with the Pirates and was solid during his last outing Thursday, surrendering one run through five frames and picking up a win. He'll head back to Triple-A in favor of Cody Bolton, who was promoted from Indianapolis. Ortiz projects to be in the mix for Pittsburgh's Opening Day rotation in 2024.

Bido is set to start Friday's game against the Marlins at PNC Park, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Bido will be making his ninth start of the season for Pittsburgh, but he may not be asked to work as deep into Friday's outing as he has for most of those other eight starts. Before being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis last Sunday, Bido hadn't recorded more than four outs in any of his seven appearances for the affiliate in September. The Pirates don't have an obvious candidate to work in bulk relief behind Bido and may treat Friday's contest as more of a bullpen day.

The Tigers optioned Gipson-Long to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Gipson-Long wrapped up his season with a no-decision Thursday against the Royals, yielding three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and two walks over five innings. The 25-year-old right-hander delivered an encouraging 2.70 ERA and 26:8 K:BB across his first four major-league starts (20 innings) this year for Detroit.

Winans is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Nationals at Truist Park.

Max Fried (finger) and Charlie Morton (finger) are closing the regular season on the injured list, so Atlanta will at least temporarily have room in the rotation for Winans. In his return to the big leagues last weekend for a doubleheader in Washington, Winans took a loss in the opener of the twin bill while striking out six and giving up two earned runs over five innings. Through five starts with the big club this season, Winans owns a 1-2 record to go with a 4.33 ERA and 1.37 WHIP.