MLB Player News

The Twins will call Varland up from Triple-A St. Paul to start Wednesday versus the White Sox, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

He's sliding into the rotation spot vacated by Tyler Mahle (elbow) and should get multiple starts with Mahle slated to miss more than a month of action. Varland holds a 4.20 ERA and 25:4 K:BB across 15 frames with Triple-A St. Paul this season and pitched well in a spot start earlier this season. He's not a bad deep-league streaming option against a struggling White Sox club.

Pfaadt could be promoted from Triple-A Reno to start Wednesday against the Rangers at Globe Life Field, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Nothing has been officially announced by Arizona, but the fact the Diamondbacks aren't yet listing a confirmed starter for Wednesday points to Pfaadt likely getting the call to the big leagues. Pfaadt has thus far checked all the boxes for his Triple-A development, and he would be available to make the start Wednesday on six days' rest. Pfaadt, who logged 167 innings in the minors last season, has a career 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 104 strikeouts in 87 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Teheran was released by the Padres on Tuesday after opting out of his minor-league contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Heyman notes the Padres "would like him back," so the 32-year-old right-hander could wind up re-signing with the club after first testing the open market. He had registered a 6.84 ERA, 1.72 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB through 25 innings (five starts) this season with Triple-A El Paso.

Rucinski is scheduled to start Thursday's game against the Mariners at Oakland Coliseum, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

After returning last week from a season-opening stint on the 15-day injured list, Rucinski stepped into the rotation for his Oakland debut and his first MLB appearance since 2018. Though Rucinski gave the team 5.2 innings in his start against the Reds, he was lit up for five runs (three earned) on 11 hits and one walk while striking out one. Rucinski's results weren't anything to get excited about, but the one-year, $3 million deal he received over the winter after spending the previous four seasons pitching in the Korea Baseball Organization represents some level of commitment from the penny-pinching Athletics. Expect the 34-year-old to continue picking up starts, especially while the team is lacking in appealing alternatives to replace him in the rotation.

Stripling did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing two runs on five hits and zero walks over five innings during a 7-3 loss to Houston. He struck out five.

After four straight short outings (three as a reliever), Stripling tied his season high with five innings Monday. He also struck out at least five batters for just the second time this season and didn't surrender a walk for a third time. Given his back-to-back solid starts (four earned runs over 8.1 innings), it seems safe to assume Stripling's spot in the rotation is secure as long as Alex Wood (hamstring) remains on the 15-day injured list.

Bielak did not factor into the decision during Monday's 7-3 win over the Giants, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out six over four innings.

Bielak was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday to replace Jose Urquidy, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with shoulder discomfort. Luis Garcia drew the start versus San Francisco, but his outing lasted just eight pitches due to a right elbow injury, forcing Bielak to eat up as many innings as he could. The right-hander was a bit shaky with three walks over four innings and surrendered a two-run homer to Joc Pederson, but that was the lone blemish on an otherwise successful night for Bielak. With so many injuries to Houston's rotation, Bielak, who operated as a starter and reliever in the minors, could get a spot start or two moving forward.

Lauer (finger) is listed as the Brewers' probable starting pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Lauer tore the nail on his left middle finger during his most recent start last Tuesday against the Tigers, but the issue won't prevent him from missing a turn through the rotation. Instead, the Brewers are just opting to give him an additional day off between starts, as Freddy Peralta has leapfrogged Lauer in the pitching schedule and will take the hill for the series opener in Colorado on Tuesday. Through five starts this season, Lauer has gone 3-2 with a 5.19 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB across 26 innings.

Bibee is scheduled to make his second start for the Guardians on Tuesday in New York against the Yankees.

At least while both Aaron Civale (oblique) and Triston McKenzie (shoulder) remain on the injured list, the Guardians will keep spots open in the rotation for two of their top pitching prospects in Bibee and Logan Allen. Bibee earned himself another turn after a highly impressive MLB debut last Wednesday against the Rockies in which he struck out eight while allowing one earned run on six hits and no walks across 5.2 innings en route to picking up a win.

Kluber did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks over 5.1 innings during a 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays. He struck out seven.

Kluber was spotted a 2-0 lead after the first, but he quickly coughed up the advantage by giving up a three-run home run to Bo Bichette in the second. However, that was the only blemish on the right-hander's ledger, as he was pulled at 104 pitches with one out in the sixth. Monday's performance was a mixed bag for Kluber, who tied season highs with four walks and seven strikeouts, and his overall numbers (6.44 ERA and 1.40 WHIP) continue to look bleak despite a couple of solid outings. He'll look to find his footing during his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to take place during a three-game weekend set versus St. Louis.

Berrios did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing five runs on 11 hits and two walks over 5.1 innings during a 6-5 loss to Boston. He struck out four.

Berrios gave up three straight hits to start the game and found himself in an early 2-0 hole. The right-hander was able to settle down and got through the first with no more damage done and posted four scoreless frames before surrendering a solo shot to Jarren Duran and a two-run homer to Enmanuel Valdez in the sixth. Coming into the contest, Berrios had given up just 11 hits and three runs over his previous three starts (19 innings) and had a 18:2 K:BB during that stretch. However, his overall numbers have been marred by a couple of bad outings, and he currently holds a 5.29 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP over 34 innings.