MLB Player News

McCullers (forearm) is expected to throw a bullpen session before Sunday's contest against the Athletics, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers has slowly been working his way back from the forearm injury he suffered in February, and Sunday's session could be his last before launching a rehab assignment. Once healthy, the 29-year-old will be a welcomed addition to Houston's rotation as Luis Garcia (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Friday.

Brito will toe the rubber Saturday versus the Reds, Randy Miller of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.

The Yankees officially announced Brito as the starter Saturday, waiting until nearly the last minute to make that decision public. The right-hander earned a win the last time he was on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings of one-run ball while allowing six hits and striking out two batters Monday against the Blue Jays. Since he surrendered seven runs to the Twins on April 13, Brito has produced a respectable 4.56 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 16 strikeouts over 25.2 frames in six appearances with the Yankees.

Bibee will have his start pushed back a day after the Guardians' contest with the Mets was postponed Saturday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Sunday now as a result of the weather, and Bibee will seemingly toe the rubber for one of the contests. The right-hander went 7.2 innings in his last start, limiting the Angels to one run on two hits while striking out seven batters. The rookie appears likely to stick around Cleveland's rotation moving forward.

Whitlock (elbow) will make a second rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Sunday.

Whitlock was impressive his first time out for the WooSox, working four innings and throwing 49 pitches. He could be activated in the days following Sunday's start. The Red Sox are currently on the road, and if Whitlock is activated next week, his return to Boston's rotation could come Friday in Arizona.

DeGrom (elbow) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

This marked the second time this week deGrom threw a session. After Friday's exercise, he rested before going to the outfield to play catch. It was all positive news for deGrom, who said he feels like he's "turned a corner" in his recovery from what was diagnosed as elbow inflammation. "Everything felt good," deGrom said. "We are heading in the right direction." The Rangers haven't discussed a rehab assignment yet, and it should be noted the right-hander didn't take a significant amount of time away from throwing after being placed on the shelf in late April.

Kikuchi (5-1) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays fell 6-2 to the Orioles, giving up three runs on three hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out three.

All three runs came on a Ryan Mountcastle long ball in the third inning, but Kikuchi was somewhat lucky to escape without more damage. The 31-year-old southpaw has been taken deep six times in his last four starts, and on the season his 4.08 ERA hides an ominous 5.64 FIP while coming with a 1.32 WHIP and 43:12 K:BB through 46.1 innings. Kikuchi's next start will likely come on the road next week in Tampa Bay.

McClanahan did not factor into the decision Friday, tossing seven scoreless innings in which he allowed six hits and one walk during a 1-0 win over the Brewers. He struck out seven.

McClanahan gave up a season-high four runs to the Yankees last time out, but he bounced back with his third scoreless outing of the year and completed a season-high seven innings Friday. The left-hander has been a true ace to start the campaign, posting a 2.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 68:25 K:BB across 10 appearances (57 innings). McClanahan will look to stay sharp in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come during the four-game set versus Toronto that begins Monday.

Davies (oblique) is scheduled for his first rehab start Saturday with Double-A Amarillo, the Arizona Republic reports.

Davis has thrown bullpen sessions and worked in extended spring training games, and he is now progressing to minor-league action. The Diamondbacks will evaluate him following Saturday's outing to determine if he'll need another rehab start before being activated from the injured list.

Houser did not factor into the decision Friday, tossing six scoreless innings in which he allowed four hits and one walk during a 1-0 loss to the Rays. He struck out four.

Houser's start to the season was delayed by a stint on the injured list, and he wasn't sharp in his first two outings, allowing five runs on 15 hits across 8.2 innings. However, the right-hander found his form Friday and tossed six shutout frames against Tampa Bay's stout offense. Houser will look to make it back-to-back quality starts next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for the finale of a three-game set versus Houston.

Gibson (5-3) picked up the win in Friday's 6-2 victory over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out five.

The veteran right-hander finally got some run support, as incredibly the Orioles had been shut out in each of Gibson's first three starts in May. The quality start was his fifth of the year, and he'll take a 4.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 41:18 K:BB through 59 innings into his next outing, which is likely to come on the road next week in Yankee Stadium.