MLB Player News

Walker (shoulder) will throw a simulated game Monday and is expected to start against the Phillies on Friday or Saturday if all goes well, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Walker recently threw 45 pitches during a bullpen session and should continue ramping up his workload during the simulated game Monday. The 29-year-old would be on three days rest if he were to start Friday, so it seems more likely he'll return from the injured list to pitch Saturday.

Miley (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Miley completed a 50-pitch bullpen session Friday and will now advance to facing live batters. The veteran left-hander appears to be nearing the final stages of his rehab program and could be ticketed for a minor-league rehab assignment if Wednesday's session goes well.

Bubic didn't factor into the decision during Saturday's 13-7 loss to Seattle, allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk with one strikeout in two innings.

Bubic surrendered two runs in the first inning on a J.P. Crawford home run, two more in the second and one in the third before being pulled. That's now two poor starts in three turns for the 24-year-old, who's permitted 11 runs and 21 baserunners in seven innings compared to just five strikeouts on the season. He's tentatively scheduled to take the mound next against the Yankees on Friday.

The White Sox activated Giolito (abdomen) from the 10-day injured list in advance of his scheduled start Sunday in Minnesota.

Though the White Sox will be bringing one of their top pitchers back for the series finale in Giolito, star outfielder Eloy Jimenez will head to the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move due to a hamstring strain that is expected to sideline him for 6-to-8 weeks. Jimenez's long-term absence is the latest in a long line of injury woes for the White Sox to begin the season, but Giolito's return at least fortifies a banged-up rotation. Giolito, who was on the shelf for just about two weeks with the left abdominal strain, tossed 50 pitches in a simulated game Tuesday, so he could be capped at around 70-to-80 pitches Sunday as he makes his return from the IL.

Boston activated Hill (personal) from the bereavement list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Rays.

As anticipated, Hill makes his way back from the bereavement list without missing a start, after Boston had deactivated him one day after his most recent turn through the rotation in Monday's loss to the Twins. The Red Sox deployed Hill as a tandem starter in front of Garrett Whitlock in the former's season debut April 12 in Detroit, but Hill should be in store for a more traditional start Sunday as he takes the hill for the third time in 2022.

Syndergaard didn't factor into the decision during Saturday's 5-4 loss to Baltimore, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings.

Syndergaard settled down after permitting two runs and three stolen bases in the first inning to keep Baltimore's offense quiet and departed in the fifth with the game knotted at 2-2. The most encouraging development for the 29-year-old is the six strikeouts -- one more than his total from his first two starts combined. He'll look to build on that momentum in his next start, currently set for Friday against the White Sox.

Urquidy allowed two earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three across 5.2 innings Saturday against the Blue Jays. He did not factor into the decision.

Urquidy appeared to be in for a long outing after he surrendered a home run to the first batter he faced. After laboring through the rest of the first inning, he faced the minimum number of batters through his next four frames. As is typical, Urquidy didn't miss a ton of bats, instead relying on inducing poor quality of contact. That approach has largely served serve him well early on this season, as he's turned in a pair of outings that have lasted at least five innings with two or fewer earned runs allowed.

Watkins registered a no-decision in a 5-4 win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts in five innings.

Watkins was able to navigate a tough Angels lineup aside from Mike Trout, who connected on solo home runs in the first and fifth innings to tie the game after Baltimore jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. After logging 16 games last season, the 29-year-old has pitched well in three starts with 2.77 ERA in 13 innings though his FIP is higher at 4.04 due to a 1.25 WHIP compared to just five strikeouts. Watkins is tentatively set to face Minnesota on Wednesday for his next start.

Manoah (3-0) allowed two earned runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five across six innings to earn the win Saturday against Houston.

Manoah surrendered a two-run homer to Alex Bregman in the first inning, but that was the only extra-base hit he surrendered. Particularly encouraging was that Manoah did not allow a walk, as he entered the game having surrendered six free passes across his first 12 innings this season. Across 18 innings to begin the campaign, Manoah has maintained a 2.00 ERA with 18 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay placed Springs on the COVID-19-related injured list Sunday after he was deemed a close contact of an infected person, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Meanwhile, the Rays activated infielder Yandy Diaz from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move now that his symptoms of the virus have dissipated. According to MLB rules, unvaccinated players deemed to be close contacts are required to complete five-day quarantines, while no quarantine applies for vaccinated players who are deemed close contacts but are testing negative. Springs has been stellar through seven appearances out of the Tampa Bay bullpen, striking out nine and allowing five baserunners over seven scoreless frames.