MLB Player News

Brewers manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Houser is slated to start Saturday's game against the Royals at American Family Field, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Milwaukee appears to have selected Houser as its fifth member of the rotation over Colin Rea, who appeared out of the bullpen in Wednesday's 8-1 loss to the Dodgers after starting in each of his prior five outings with the Brewers. Houser had been on the injured list all season with a groin injury before being reinstated last Sunday. In his 2023 debut against the Giants, Houser took a no-decision while striking out five over 4.2 innings and allowing two earned runs on seven hits and one walk. Houser could make for a useful streaming option against a weak Royals offense this weekend, but he'll likely struggle to maintain lasting season-long value outside of NL-only leagues.

Bielak is scheduled to make his second start with the Astros on Saturday against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Until Lance McCullers (forearm) is deemed ready for his 2023 debut, the Astros will have room in the rotation for both Bielak and J.P. France, after the two moved into starting roles last week when Jose Urquidy (shoulder) and Luis Garcia (elbow) were shut down with long-term injuries. After having previously made his season debut with the Astros in long relief May 1, Bielak stepped into the rotation last Sunday in Seattle and took a loss after surrendering three runs (two earned) on 10 hits and two walks while failing to strike out a batter over 4.2 innings.

France is scheduled to make his second start with the Astros on Friday against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.

France will unsurprisingly receive another turn through the rotation after he excelled in his MLB debut last weekend in Seattle, taking a no-decision despite striking out five and permitting only three hits and one walk over five scoreless frames. While all of Lance McCullers (forearm), Jose Urquidy (shoulder) and Luis Garcia (elbow) are on the shelf with long-term injuries, France should have plenty of leash in the Houston rotation even if he takes a step back in his second MLB start.

Ashcraft (leg) is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Ashcraft's most recent start Sunday against the White Sox came to an end in the second inning when he was struck in the leg by a comebacker, but he didn't suffer any sort of injury that will cause him to miss a turn through the rotation. The second-year righty had maintained a tidy 2.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP through his first six starts of the season before he recorded just five outs against the White Sox while allowing eight earned runs on six hits and two walks.

Mahle (elbow) will undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the 2023 season, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

After Mahle was initially placed on the 15-day injured list May 3 with a posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain in his right elbow, he was quickly shifted to the 60-day injured list Friday. Now nearly one week later, it has been determined he needs Tommy John surgery and will be out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign and a significant chunk of 2024. Mahle was off to a strong start with Minnesota this year, producing a 3.16 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 28 strikeouts over 25.2 innings in five starts. He's scheduled to hit free agency during the offseason.

Canning (2-1) took the loss Wednesday, allowing five runs on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings against Houston. He struck out three.

Canning allowed a two-out, solo home run to Yordan Alvarez in the first and proceeded to toss two scoreless frames before getting into trouble in the fourth. It was the first time through five starts that Canning failed to complete at least five innings, and he tied a season worst with five earned runs allowed. As long as Jose Suarez (shoulder) remains on the injured list, Canning should continue to draw starts, even if the results aren't overwhelmingly positive.

Javier (3-1) earned the win Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk over six innings during a 5-4 win over the Angels. He struck out 11.

Javier has completed at least five innings in each of his first eight starts and allowed fewer than three runs seven times during that stretch. The right-hander recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts Wednesday en route to his third win, marking the second time he's tallied double-digit strikeouts this year. Javier sports a 3.47 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 54:10 K:BB through 46.2 innings and will look to maintain his strong play during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled for a three-game set versus the Cubs.

Gausman did not factor into the decision Wednesday, tossing six scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits during a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. He struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

Gausman has been a hit-or-miss fantasy player so far. In five of his first eight starts, the right-hander has finished at least six scoreless innings, but he's surrendered 18 runs in his other three outings, including a season-high eight runs last time out versus Boston. Gausman is currently sporting a 3.38 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a stellar 67:7 K:BB through 48 innings, but he's certainly capable of a clunker once in a while.

Wheeler did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings during a 2-1 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out seven.

Aside from a solo home run by Brandon Belt in the fifth, Wheeler was sharp through a season-high seven innings and struck out at least seven batters for the fourth time this year. Belt's long ball was the first allowed by the right-hander since his first start of the season, but Wednesday's performance was still a great bounce-back effort for Wheeler, who got touched up by the Red Sox last time out. Through eight appearances (45 innings), Wheeler sports a 3.80 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 53:12 K:BB, and he'll look to make it back-to-back quality starts next time out, which tentatively lines up to come during a three-game set in San Francisco early next week.

Kelly didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins, giving up four runs on four hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander tossed 61 of 97 pitches for strikes as he gave Arizona at least six innings for the fifth time in his last six starts, but Kelly exited with the game tied 4-4, giving him no shot at his fourth win. He'll take a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB through 45.1 innings into his next outing, likely to come early next week in Oakland.