MLB Player News

Heaney (shoulder) plans to throw three simulated innings during a bullpen session Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Heaney remains without a timeline to resume facing hitters, but he's been steadily increasing his pitch counts in bullpen sessions since he was cleared to begin a throwing progression just over two weeks ago. The lefty was shut down April 20 with shoulder discomfort and may need one or two rehab starts in the minors before the Dodgers pinpoint a target date for his return from the 10-day injured list.

Schmidt (3-2) picked up the win against Baltimore on Tuesday, allowing an unearned run and striking out one batter over two innings.

Schmidt checked in for the 10th inning and retired all three batters he faced to keep the score tied. He remained in for the 11th frame and allowed the designated runner to score on a pair of groundouts, but the Yankees walked off with a win in the bottom of the inning to provide Schmidt with the win. The right-hander has allowed only one earned run over 13 innings this season while posting a 10:4 K:BB.

Malone has made a full recovery from the illness that set him back in spring training, but he's now working through a throwing progression as he looks to overcome a recent bout of right shoulder soreness, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Malone resumed throwing live batting practice sessions a week ago and could be ready to pitch in a simulated game at the Pirates' spring training facility within the next few days. Once he's deemed ready to make his 2022 affiliated-ball debut, Malone will likely slot into the Single-A Bradenton rotation.

The Twins placed Ryan on the COVID-19-related injured list Wednesday.

With Ryan heading to the COVID-19 IL, the Twins summoned Devin Smeltzer from Triple-A St. Paul to take the rookie right-hander's spot in the rotation Thursday against the Royals. It's unclear whether Ryan tested positive for the virus or is being deactivated as a matter of precaution, but it's possible he won't have to miss more than one turn through the rotation while he's on the COVID-19 IL. More information on Ryan's status should come by the end of the week.

Manning (shoulder/illness) covered 1.2 innings in his rehab start Tuesday at Triple-A Toledo, giving up one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three.

Making the fourth start of his rehab assignment at Toledo after his previous outing was cut short when he experienced lightheadedness, Manning experienced no health-related setbacks. However, the right-hander didn't work as deep into the start as the Tigers has hoped, as he was pulled after throwing just 43 pitches (25 strikes). According to Jason Beck of MLB.com, manager A.J. Hinch said that the Tigers have an organizational edict to limit all minor-league pitchers to no more than 30 pitches in a given inning, so Manning was pulled early after he struggled with efficiency during the second inning. As a result of the short outing, the Tigers are still deciding whether Manning will need another rehab start, or if he's built up enough at this point to slot back into an injury-depleted big-league rotation that desperately needs another healthy arm.

Gausman (4-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 8-1 victory over the Cardinals, scattering four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

After uncharacteristically issuing two free passes in the first inning, Gausman knuckled down and pounded the zone, firing 74 of 105 pitches for strikes before exiting, and St. Louis never got a runner past second base. The right-hander has been worth every penny for the Blue Jays so far after signing a $110 million deal in the offseason, providing six quality starts in nine trips to the mound with a 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 65:5 K:BB through his first 56 innings with Toronto.

Priester (oblique) will throw live BP on Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Priester resumed mound work earlier in May and has now been cleared to face live hitters. If the right-hander feels good following Wednesday's throwing session, he'll likely be able to begin a rehab assignment soon.

Fried didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Phillies, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The lefty tossed 58 of 99 pitches for strikes before exiting with a 4-2 lead, but Fried was denied his fifth win of the year when Kenley Jansen blew the save in the top of the ninth. The quality start was Fried's second in a row and sixth in nine trips to the mound, and he'll carry a 3.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 52:8 K:BB through 55 innings into his next outing.

Contreras is listed as the Pirates' starting pitcher for Sunday's game in San Diego.

Contreras will be rewarded with a second turn through the rotation after he blanked the Rockies over five innings and struck out five while allowing only five baserunners in his second career MLB start Tuesday. With Pittsburgh having demoted Bryse Wilson to Triple-A Indianapolis and with Mitch Keller moving to the bullpen for the Pirates' six-game week, Contreras looks secure as the team's No. 4 starter at the moment.

Flaherty (shoulder) will face live hitters Thursday, Jim Hayes of Bally Sports Midwest reports.

Flaherty began throwing bullpen sessions in early May, and he's now been cleared to face hitters after being transferred to the 60-day injured list last week. The right-hander isn't eligible to be activated by the Cardinals until early June, but it seems like he's trending toward a minor-league rehab assignment.