MLB Player News

Means (elbow) will not make his scheduled rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Friday due to an illness, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Means' fifth rehab start will be delayed by at least a day, with the Guardians hoping that the 32-year-old southpaw will be able to pitch Saturday. Means is in the final stages of his recovery from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in June of 2024, and the hope is that he will rejoin the Guardians' rotation before the end of the regular season.

Lugo (back) received a cortisone injection Thursday and will resume throwing Sunday or Monday, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

The Royals placed Lugo on the injured list Thursday with a lower back strain and also gave him a cortisone shot to address the injury. He'll be back to throwing after a brief shutdown. The shutdown should have minimal impact on his return timeline.

Ragans (shoulder) is expected to begin his rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Sunday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ragans has spent the majority of the season on the IL and has been on the shelf since mid-June due to a left rotator cuff strain. He ramped up his throwing program with bullpen sessions in mid-August, and the 28-year-old southpaw has progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment. Royals manager Matt Quatraro relayed Friday that Ragans is scheduled to pitch two innings Sunday and could ramp up his workload barring any setbacks.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow was scratched from his scheduled start Friday against the Orioles due to back tightness, and the plan is to have the right-hander make a start "early next week" against the Rockies in Los Angeles, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Glasnow's back issue first cropped up Friday afternoon, prompting the Dodgers to scratch him and turn to Shohei Ohtani to start the series opener versus Baltimore. Roberts didn't specify which day Glasnow will make his next start, but the 32-year-old looks like he'll be available at some point during the three-game series versus Colorado. Glasnow may need to make it through a throwing session over the weekend without issue before the Dodgers lock him in for his next start.

Olson (shoulder) has begun a throwing program, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Olson has already been ruled out for the regular season, but it's an encouraging sign that he's started throwing. He's been sidelined since late July due to a shoulder strain. If his recovery continues without interruption, Olson could be healthy at some point during the playoffs.

Junk (elbow) will be activated from the 15-day injured list and start Monday against the Nationals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Junk pitched well in what will be his lone rehab start, striking out eight over five innings of one-run ball Tuesday at Triple-A Jacksonville. The right-hander has been sidelined since late August with right ulnar nerve irritation in his pitching elbow. Junk has collected a 4.09 ERA and 61:10 K:BB over 88 innings covering 12 starts and five relief appearances for Miami in 2025.

Weathers (lat) will rejoin the Marlins' rotation in the middle of next week, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The exact date of Weathers' return had not been confirmed, but he appears lined up to start Sept. 10 against the Nationals. Weathers has been sidelined since early June with a left lat strain but has been cleared to return after making a couple rehab starts. The left-hander threw 68 pitches and went 4.2 innings in his last rehab outing, so he will have a relatively limited workload in next week's return to the Marlins' rotation.

The Astros recalled Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Gordon will start Friday's contest in Texas versus the Rangers, giving the Astros' regular rotation members some extra rest. The southpaw holds a 5.64 ERA in 68.2 innings covering 13 starts and two relief outings this season.

Burrows pushed his record to 2-4 after striking out two batters while allowing two hits and one walk in three scoreless innings of relief during Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers.

Burrows made his second straight appearance in relief, though unlike the previous occasion, his usage Wednesday seemed to be a pre-planned arrangement. Despite keeping the Dodgers off the board through three innings, starter Braxton Ashcraft was lifted after tossing just 71 pitches, clearing the way for Burrows to step in and piggyback him while the Pirates held a two-run lead. Since the Pirates are likely looking to limit the innings of both Ashcraft and Burrows in September without having to shut down either pitcher, the two could continue to be deployed in tandem in Ashcraft's future starts.

Barnett is slated to start Friday's game against the Angels in Anaheim.

After being called up from Triple-A Las Vegas, Barnett made his first MLB start this past Saturday, taking a loss to the Rangers while allowing five earned runs on eight hits and no walks over four innings. The 25-year-old righty will get a chance to redeem himself Friday, but another poor showing could put him at risk of losing his spot in the Athletics rotation.