MLB Player News

McKenzie (shoulder) is scheduled to make the second start of his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Columbus, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Thursday's outing could be the last of McKenzie's rehab assignment after he looked sharp in his 2023 debut with Columbus this past Saturday, when he covered three scoreless innings (52 pitches) and struck out four while allowing only three baserunners. If McKenzie can push his workload up to the 70-to-80 range Thursday, the Guardians would likely be comfortable with bringing him back from the 60-day injured list as soon next Tuesday. Aaron Civale (oblique) also looks like he'll be ready to return from the 15-day IL within the next week, so unless Cleveland expands the rotation to six men, two of Hunter Gaddis, Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee could end up losing out on starting roles.

Civale (oblique) made his second rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus, covering 3.1 innings and striking out five while allowing two runs on five hits and one walk.

While Civale recorded only one more out than he did in his first rehab start last Thursday, the right-hander pushed his pitch count up from 34 to 69. Though Civale likely needs one more outing before he'll be ready to handle a normal starter's workload, the Guardians could still bring him back from the 15-day injured list for his next start, even if he's on somewhat of a limited pitch count. Civale could be activated as soon as Sunday, when he would step into the rotation spot occupied by Hunter Gaddis for the series finale with St. Louis.

Watkins (finger) was reinstated from Triple-A Norfolk's 7-day injured list last Thursday and worked two innings in his return, giving up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out a batter.

Watkins was sidelined for approximately one month with a right fourth finger laceration. Though he was capped at 35 pitches in his return last Thursday, Watkins should gradually increase his workload in his subsequent turns through Norfolk's rotation.

Teheran is expected to start for the Brewers on Thursday versus the Giants, barring any issues with his physical Wednesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Teheran has agreed to terms on a major-league deal with the Brew Crew, but the contract won't be official until he goes through a medical review. Assuming no red flags arise, he'll make his Brewers debut Thursday as a rotation fill-in while the club battles multiple injuries. Teheran last pitched in the majors in 2021 and held a 5.62 ERA and 45:16 K:BB over 40 innings at the Triple-A level this season.

Soroka had his best start this season Tuesday for Triple-A Gwinnett, allowing one run over six innings while striking out eight, and he could join the Atlanta rotation next week, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The team's current plans call for Dylan Dodd to get called up for Thursday's start while Jared Shuster gets another turn Friday. If Soroka stays on a five-day schedule he would be in line to make his next start Sunday, but he could instead join the big-league roster in Oakland to take the hill Monday or Tuesday. The 25-year-old right-hander last pitched in the majors in August 2020, missing most of the last two seasons while recovering from multiple Achilles tears and other related injuries stemming from his lower-body issues. Through eight starts at Triple-A this year, Soroka has a 4.33 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 35:11 K:BB in 35.1 innings.

Priester has a 1.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 19 strikeouts in 24 innings over four May starts for Triple-A Indianapolis.

His 7.1 K/9 over that stretch leaves a lot to be desired, but Priester has averaged six innings per start this month, which in itself is an impressive feat for a 22-year-old pitcher at Triple-A. Priester had a 7.78 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in 19.2 innings across five April starts. He could get a look in the majors sometime this summer if he remains healthy, and the strength of his game will be generating weak contact (56.2 percent groundball rate).

Woodruff (shoulder) said he resumed playing catch Wednesday after he recently took a 4-to-5-day pause in his throwing program, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Woodruff didn't reveal whether the brief hiatus was part of a pre-planned arrangement or the result of a minor setback, but either way, the right-hander continues to eye a late-June return from the 60-day injured list while he recovers from a Grade 2 subscapular strain in his right elbow. Before the Brewers are able to pinpoint a more definitive target date for his return, Woodruff will have to advance to throwing sustained long toss, complete multiple bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions and likely make at least two minor-league rehab starts.

Velasquez (elbow) returned to Pittsburgh on Wednesday and expects to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make a start at some point during the Pirates' upcoming series in Seattle this weekend, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Velasquez acknowledged that it's not his call when the Pirates choose to activate him, though general manager Ben Cherington told Justice delos Santos of MLB.com that "all signs point to" the right-hander being reinstated from the IL for his next outing. Though Velasquez was initially expected to make two minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated, he looks like he'll be ready to go after striking out four over 4.2 scoreless innings with Triple-A Indianapolis this past Saturday. Velasquez will most likely take back a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation from Luis Ortiz.

Ritchie is scheduled to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday to repair a moderate UCL tear in his right elbow, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.

In addition to sidelining Ritchie for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, the upcoming procedure is expected to keep the 19-year-old on the shelf for the majority -- if not all -- of the 2024 minor-league season. A 2022 first-round supplemental pick, Ritchie had turned in a 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings over four starts with Single-A Augusta before being deactivated May 11.

Gray allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings during Tuesday's loss to the Giants. He did not factor into the decision.

Gray blanked the Giants through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. He opened up the frame by giving up a double and walking two batters to load the bases before handing the ball over to Jovani Moran. Moran would allow two of the inherited runners to score, both on walks. Gray was still in line for the win until the bullpen gave away the lead for good in the seventh. The 33-year-old still has yet to allow more than three runs in a start so far this season but remains winless in May after going 4-0 last month. He's at a 1.82 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 66:21 K:BB over 54.1 innings and tentatively lines up for a start to begin next week in Houston.