MLB Player News

Watkins is listed as the Orioles' scheduled starting pitcher for Friday's game in Minnesota, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Unsurprisingly, Watkins will draw a second straight turn through the rotation after he allowed an unearned run while striking out four over five innings in his start over the White Sox last weekend. The right-hander should hold down a starting role for the Orioles until Kyle Bradish (shoulder) is ready to come off the 15-day injured list.

Manager Oliver Marmol said Liberatore will be recalled from Triple-A Memphis to start Saturday's game against the Phillies in Philadelphia, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Liberatore has been optioned back to Memphis immediately after three of his first four big-league starts, but Marmol suggested that the rookie could have some staying power in the rotation during his upcoming stint in St. Louis, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. With Jack Flaherty (shoulder) moving to the 15-day injured list Monday and Steven Matz (back) unlikely to be ready for a return from the IL until the second week of July, Liberatore should be in store for at least two starts. Liberatore has produced a 4.00 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 6.1 K-BB% across 18 innings through his first four outings.

Liberatore rejoined the Cardinals on Wednesday and is expected to be formally called up from Triple-A Memphis later this week to make a start during the big club's upcoming series in Philadelphia, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

He'll likely be joining the rotation as a replacement for Jack Flaherty (shoulder), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Monday. Liberatore has previously made four starts for St. Louis, covering 18 innings over those outings while churning out a 4.00 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 6.1 K-BB%.

Bradish (shoulder) is throwing on the field ahead of Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Bradish landed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation Friday but has been able to throw on the field over the last several days. Manager Brandon Hyde still hopes that the right-hander will return from the injured list around when he's first eligible.

Lodolo (back) worked 4.2 innings in his rehab start Wednesday at Triple-A Louisville, striking out five while allowing one run on six hits and one walk.

In what was his fourth rehab start overall and third in a row at Louisville, Lodolo built up to 78 pitches, throwing 47 strikes. He looked relatively sharp in the outing, as two of the hits he allowed were infield singles, while the run he was charged with was surrendered by a Louisville reliever. Based on his workload, Lodolo looks ready to make his next start in the big leagues, provided he checks out fine following a bullpen session over the weekend. Lodolo has been on the injured list since late April with a lower-back strain.

Bednar was placed on the 7-day minor-league injured list for an undisclosed reason Wednesday, Single-A San Jose broadcaster Joe Ritzo reports.

Bednar has struggled in the minors over the last several weeks, logging a 6.52 ERA, 24:12 K:BB and 1.45 WHIP in 19.1 innings. The right-hander hasn't pitched in a game since June 12, and he'll be forced to miss at least a week due to his unspecified injury.

German (shoulder) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings for Double-A Somerset on Tuesday, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three batters.

After throwing 39 pitches in his first rehab outing with Single-A Tampa last week, German upped that count slightly to 43 pitches Tuesday. Twenty-nine of his offerings were strikes, and he has now racked up 6.1 scoreless frames over two rehab starts. It's uncertain how long German will be rehabbing in the minors, and there isn't a clear path to a rotation spot waiting for him in the majors. However, he's pitched well enough so far to be worth consideration in deep fantasy leagues in case a big-league starting slot does open up.

The Guardians promoted Allen from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old southpaw is scheduled to make his Triple-A debut Thursday after he overwhelmed Double-A hitters during his second tour of the league to begin 2022. In his 13 starts with Akron covering 73 innings, Allen generated a 3.33 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 104:22 K:BB. If Allen can continue to make bats miss at a prolific clip as he makes the jump to Triple-A, a late-season promotion to the big leagues can't be discounted, especially if the Guardians remain in playoff contention and are in need of another impact left-handed arm.

Ashby (forearm) threw a bullpen session in Tampa on Wednesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Ashby has been on the 15-day injured list since June 17 due to forearm inflammation, but he's downplayed the severity of the issue recently. He'll meet with the team's staff following Wednesday's throwing session to determine the next steps in his recovery, but it's possible that he returns to the mound during the Brewers' weekend series in Pittsburgh.

DeGrom (shoulder) threw 27 pitches during live batting practice Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The live batting practice session was the third deGrom has thrown in just over a week, and he was able to increase his pitch count Wednesday from his previous two workouts. Mets manager Buck Showalter said that the team will meet Thursday to determine the right-hander's next steps, but the skipper indicated that deGrom is close to beginning a rehab assignment.