MLB Player News

Astros manager Dusty Baker announced Friday that Bielak will start Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown will start the series finale against Seattle on Sunday with Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez pitching Monday and Tuesday against the Angels. Bielak pitched reasonably well in relief of Luis Garcia on Monday with six strikeouts over four innings while allowing two runs on two hits with three walks. Bielak should be stretched out enough to qualify for a win chance while he's getting starts with the Astros, but he's far from an elite fantasy option and he'll be matchup dependent in terms of recommendation.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Friday that Kershaw will start Wednesday's game against the Brewers, Matthew Moreno of Dodgersblue.com reports.

Kershaw, who is also starting Friday, will start Wednesday's contest after Gavin Stone was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City after a disappointing MLB debut against the Phillies. Kershaw has been excellent in 2023, and he'll be making that start against the Brewers on regular rest.

An MRI taken Friday on Wright's shoulder revealed a shoulder strain, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

There's no timetable for the right-hander to return from the IL, but Wright will miss at least the next two weeks. The good news is there's no structural damage, so it doesn't appear the strain will be something that could end the 27-year-old's campaign.

Stone was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.

Stone struggled in his MLB debut against the Phillies on Wednesday, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He's considered one of the team's top pitching prospects, and while he's heading back to Oklahoma City for now, he stands a good chance of making starts for the Dodgers again this summer.

Rodon has been told his back issue is chronic, and there's no clear idea of when he might return, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. "I can't put a timeline on anything," Rodon said.

Rodon will undergo a cortisone injection in the early part of next week in the hopes it will help him get back on a mound more quickly. Unfortunately, it sounds like this might not just be an issue for the left-hander in 2023, but potentially throughout his career. Rodon has very little chance of returning in the month of May, and it's possible he won't be able to make his debut for the Yankees until after the All-Star break.

Skubal (elbow) will throw another bullpen session Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Skubal's last bullpen session was Sunday, during which he only threw fastballs. The Tigers still have not set a target date for Skubal's return, but considering he has yet to be cleared to face live hitters, it's possible he stays on the IL beyond his eligible return date of May 29.

Mahle (elbow) was moved to the 60-day injured list Friday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Mahle was diagnosed with a right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain last week and landed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. He will be shut down from throwing for at least four weeks and will have to be gradually built back up in order to return to a starter role. He'll be eligible to return in early July, but there's a decent chance Mahle will be out until after the All-Star break.

Lynch (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch said he feels "healthy and ready to go" after his bullpen session. He allowed two earned runs in his first rehab start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, but he also struck out six batters across 2.1 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw is scheduled to make another rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Omaha and throw somewhere between 65 and 75 pitches.

Matz is listed as the Cardinals' probable starter Sunday against the Tigers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

There has been some thought that Matthew Liberatore might get the call to take Matz's rotation spot, but Jones also notes that Liberatore is the listed starter at Triple-A Memphis on Saturday. Matz is seemingly going to get at least one more turn before perhaps sliding into a bullpen role. He is 0-4 with a 6.39 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB through 31 innings (six starts) this season with St. Louis.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday that Rodon (back) will have a cortisone injection as soon as possible, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Boone told reporters that the medical consensus is that it will help him get back on the mound more quickly. Rodon has recovered from the forearm issue that kept him out at the beginning of the season, but the back trouble he picked up during his rehab has stagnated his progress. It seems likely that the left-hander's return will be closer to the end of May than the middle of it.