MLB Player News

Houck (back) threw off flat ground Tuesday and felt good following the session, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Houck appears poised to avoid surgery to address the disc injury in his back, something that looked to be a real possibility as recently as last week. He'll start building up in the coming days, and Boston manager Alex Cora hopes the right-hander can pitch by the end of the season.

Buehler (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery and flexor tendon repair surgery Tuesday.

Buehler had Tommy John surgery the year he was drafted (2015), so this is his second go-round with the procedure. Given the timing of the surgery and the fact that he has a lot riding on his recovery going smoothly, it's possible he won't pitch in games until the 2024 season.

Glasnow (elbow) threw his second live batting practice session Tuesday and will face hitters once more before likely beginning a minor-league rehab assignment, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Glasnow reiterated after Tuesday's workout that his surgically repaired right elbow feels good, and he remains optimistic that he'll return from the 60-day injured list this season. According to Topkin, Glasnow's fastball topped out at around 97 miles per hour Tuesday, and while he appears to have recaptured his pre-surgery velocity, regaining command of all of his pitches may prove to be the greater challenge. If Glasnow does meet his goal of pitching for the Rays in 2022, it'll almost certainly come as a reliever, given that he doesn't seem to have enough time at this stage of the season to build up as a starter.

DeGrom will start Thursday against the Rockies, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

He was originally going to pitch Tuesday against the Yankees, but the Mets pushed him back. It's good to know it was not due to anything physically serious enough for him miss a start this week. This allows deGrom to line up to face the Dodgers next week.

Wells (oblique) completed a bullpen session Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Wells relayed afterward that he felt good while stepping on the mound for the first time since being placed on the 15-day injured list July 28 with a Grade 1 left oblique strain. He'll still need to complete a few more side sessions and throw a live batting practice session or two before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but the Orioles remain optimistic he'll return in 2022. Wells will presumably prepare to rejoin Baltimore in a starting role, but any setback or slowdown in his rehab program at this stage of the season might force him to come back as a reliever.

The White Sox placed Kopech on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a left knee strain.

After Kopech exited in the first inning of his start during Monday's 6-4 loss to the Royals, manager Tony La Russa said the right-hander was dealing with a hamstring issue, but the White Sox provided an updated diagnosed upon placing the 26-year-old on the IL. The severity of his left knee strain isn't fully known, though the White Sox are tentatively planning on Kopech being ready to return from the shelf when first eligible Sept. 7, per Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Even if that's the case, Kopech's impending two-week absence could still make it difficult for fantasy managers to justify holding him at this stage of the season. The White Sox called up Tanner Banks from Triple-A Charlotte to provide the team with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen until a replacement in the rotation is needed for Kopech beginning with Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks.

The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right biceps soreness.

Ashcraft had been confirmed to start Wednesday's game in Philadelphia, so the biceps soreness may have cropped up in his most recent bullpen session following his last outing Friday in Pittsburgh. Right-hander T.J. Zeuch was one of three players called up from Triple-A Louisville, and he could enter the rotation Wednesday if he isn't needed out of the bullpen Tuesday. Ashcraft had gotten off to a nice start to the second half, having posted a 3.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 32:11 K:BB across 38.1 innings coming out of the All-Star break. Per Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer, Ashcraft is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Wednesday, but since the rookie right-hander isn't dealing with any elbow pain, the Reds are hopeful he'll pitch again in 2022, according to manager David Bell.

Severino (lat) threw 24 pitches Tuesday while facing rehabbing teammate Giancarlo Stanton (Achilles) in a live batting practice session, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

According to Rivera, Severino's fastball sat around 95-to-97 miles per hour during the throwing session, right around his season-long average. The Yankees moved Severino to the 60-day injured list earlier this month after he exited his July 13 start with a low-grade lat strain, but the right-hander already looks like he's well on his way to being ready to go when first eligible in the middle of September. Severino could soon be cleared to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Red Sox placed Eovaldi on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Eovaldi was deactivated after he demonstrated little progress in recent days in his recovery from the shoulder issue, which resulted in him being scratched ahead of his start against the Pirates last week. Boston summoned Josh Winckowski from Triple-A Worcester to replace Eovaldi in the rotation beginning with Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

Greene (shoulder) is expected to throw another bullpen session Wednesday before facing hitters in live batting practice Saturday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Greene checked out fine after a 25-pitch side session Sunday, his first mound work since he landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 5. Manager David Bell has said that Greene will require between one and three rehab starts in the minors prior to being activated from the IL, so he's most likely trending toward a mid-to-late September return. The shoulder injury came at an inconvenient time for Greene, who had been magnificent over his most recent four starts with the Reds (2.70 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 29:8 K:BB in 23.1 innings).