MLB Player News

Tampa Bay designated Anderson for assignment Wednesday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Anderson is getting booted off the active and 40-man rosters in order to make room for Jake Diekman, who is expected to be activated ahead of Wednesday's game in Baltimore after finalizing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay. In two appearances with the Rays, Anderson fired five scoreless innings and allowed just three baserunners. He'll now hit the waiver wire and could attract interest from a team in search of a multi-inning relief option.

Chirinos is slated to work in a bulk-relief role for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Chirinos stepped into the Tampa Bay rotation last weekend against the Yankees, covering 5.1 innings in a traditional starting role while giving up three earned runs on three hits and four walks. The performance marked a step back from how he had fared in his first four extended relief appearances, as Chirinos came into that start with a 0.64 ERA and 0.57 WHIP over 14 innings. Though he looks like he'll have a spot in the rotation until either Tyler Glasnow (oblique) is activated from the 15-day injured list or Taj Bradley is recalled from Triple-A Durham, Chirinos looks like he could jostle between starting and bulk relieving, depending on matchups and on what pitchers the Rays have available on a given day. Jalen Beeks is slated to open Wednesday's game and will likely cover one or two innings before giving way to Chirinos.

Dunning is slated to start Wednesday's game in Seattle.

The fact that Dunning will get a second straight turn through the rotation comes as no surprise after he blanked the Angels while striking out three over five innings in his first start of the season last Friday. Dunning should have a hold on a rotation spot until the Rangers get ace Jacob deGrom (elbow) back from the 15-day injured list.

Lodolo (calf) is listed as the Reds' probable starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Marlins.

Lodolo had been in line to start Thursday's series finale with the Mets at Great American Ball Park, but he'll instead make his next turn through the rotation in Miami after the Reds opted to push him back two days in the pitching schedule while he managed a sore left calf. Provided Lodolo doesn't have any setbacks while he likely throws a bullpen session Thursday, he shouldn't face any restrictions Saturday as he prepares for his eighth start of the 2023 campaign.

Syndergaard (finger) was able to play catch in the outfield Wednesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Syndergaard lasted just one inning in his start in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Brewers before departing with a bleeding blister/cut on his right index finger, but the fact that he's throwing a day after suffering the injury bodes well for his chances of avoiding a stint on the injured list. The Dodgers will presumably wait and see how Syndergaard fares during a potential bullpen session over the weekend before determining whether he's fit to make his next scheduled start, which would fall Monday or Tuesday versus the Twins.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk told reporters Wednesday that Velasquez (elbow) will throw live batting practice next week, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Tomczyk is confident that Velasquez will only miss the minimum 15 days after being placed on the injured list May 5 with inflammation in his right elbow. The right-hander will likely need to throw a few more bullpens and possibly make a rehab start, but all signs point to him being back right around May 20 to make more starts for the Pirates.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay announced Wednesday that Waldichuk will now start Friday's game against the Rangers, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Waldichuk was originally scheduled to get the ball Thursday for the series opener, but the Athletics will shuffle around their rotation and give the left-hander an extra day of rest before his next outing. JP Sears will now get the start Saturday with Drew Rucinski working Sunday, but Oakland has yet to announce who will be on the hill for Thursday's series opener with Kotsay only saying that the team will have a starter work in that game.

Morton (4-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in a 9-3 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out seven.

The veteran right-hander racked up 33 called or swinging strikes among his 100 pitches as he delivered his fourth quality start in his last five outings. Morton has alternated wins and losses to begin the season and has issued multiple walks in all seven of his starts, but the 39-year-old has remained reliable with a 3.32 ERA and 39:17 K:BB through 40.2 innings. He'll look for his first win streak of the year in his next trip to the mound, which is likely to come on the road early next week against the Rangers.

Nola (3-2) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in an 8-4 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out six.

The veteran right-hander appears to be warming up along with the weather. Nola's four-seam fastball averaged a season-high 93 mph in this outing and topped out at 95 mph, easing concerns about his April velocity, and he's delivered five quality starts in his eight trips to the mound in 2023. He'll take a 4.44 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB through 48.2 innings into his next outing, which is likely to come this weekend in Coors Field.

Manoah (1-3) took the loss Tuesday as the Blue Jays fell 8-4 to the Phillies, giving up three runs on four hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out one.

The big right-hander's early season struggles continue, as he generated only three swinging strikes among his 94 pitches. Manoah's slider has regressed significantly -- batters are chasing it less and making more contact with it, and as a result his swinging-strike rate has dropped from 11.2 percent last year to a paltry 8.4 percent through his first eight starts this season. Combine that ineffectiveness with a career-worst 13.1 percent walk rate, and Manoah has been one of the most disappointing pitchers so far in 2023 relative to his ADP. He'll look for answers in his next outing, likely to come early next week at home against the Yankees.