MLB Player News

Greene has reached his innings limit and will not pitch again this season, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The decision ends any hope of Greene making his big-league debut this season, though that was always a long shot at best. The 22-year-old will end the year having produced a 3.30 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 21 starts at the two highest levels of the minors, striking out 31.7 percent of opposing batters while walking 8.9 percent. It was a very encouraging season for the 2017 second overall pick, who missed two straight seasons due to Tommy John and the coronavirus pandemic. He has set himself up well to potentially make his major-league debut in 2022.

Houck will be available out of the bullpen as early as Saturday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Houck made his previous start Wednesday and gave up three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and four walks over 4.1 innings, and he'll move to a relief role since the Red Sox won't require a fifth starter until Oct. 2, which is the penultimate game of the regular season. The 25-year-old has a 3.75 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 70:16 K:BB across 57.2 major-league innings this season, and he figures to play a significant role for Boston down the stretch, even though he's not expected to start.

Sale (illness) will be activated from the COVID-19 injured list to start Friday against the Orioles, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

As expected, Sale will rejoin the rotation Friday after testing positive for COVID-19 and missing the past week. Per Koch, manager Alex Cora said the veteran left-hander won't have any specific limitations following the brief absence, and he'll be available to pitch on a regular five-day schedule the rest of the season.

Schmidt was recalled by the Yankees on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Schmidt has made one major-league appearance this season, giving up five runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings in a start against the Mets on Sunday. He's expected to fill a bullpen role this time around.

Albers was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Albers allowed three runs in 2.2 innings Wednesday and now has a bloated 7.58 ERA in 19 innings this season. Injuries or other developments could demand his return to the big-league staff in the next couple weeks, but he isn't likely to provide fantasy value.

Singer was placed on the injured list for undisclosed reasons prior to his scheduled start Friday against the Mariners.

The absence of an injury designation suggests it could be a COVID-related move, but there's been no indication of that. Singer gave up six runs on five home runs in his last start Saturday, raising his ERA to 4.85 and his WHIP to 1.56 on the season. Jon Heasley was selected from Double-A Northwest Arkansas and may start in Singer's stead.

Garcia (11-7) got the win in Thursday's 12-1 defeat of the Rangers, allowing one run on five hits and three walks with two strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

Garcia was able to navigate some traffic on the bases in the second and third innings and bide some time until Houston broke out with seven runs in the fourth. It was a nice rebound performance from the young righty after he surrendered four runs in a loss his last turn, though his two whiffs are a season low for any appearance lasting at least four innings. He's totaled just 10 strikeouts over his last three starts after averaging six per game prior to the recent stretch.

Hendricks allowed seven earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out one across 3.2 innings Thursday against the Phillies. He did not factor into the decision.

Hendricks was handed a seven-run lead in the third inning, but he gave it all up just one frame later. Though he didn't allow a home run, Hendricks surrendered two doubles, four singles and also hit two batters in the fourth inning alone. Hendricks has now surrendered at least four earned runs in five of his last eight appearances, although he has recorded quality starts in the other three outings. As a result of this poor stretch, Hendricks has a 4.81 ERA across 170.1 innings on the campaign.

Bielak will draw a spot start Friday against the Diamondbacks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros had to scratch Framber Valdez (finger) from Thursday's start, so the team is shuffling its rotation as a result. Bielak has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen to this point in the season, though he has completed three innings in each of his last two outings. Even so, it's unlikely he'll be able to work deep enough into the contest to qualify for a win.

Valdez (finger) is in line to start Monday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Valdez was scratched from his start Thursday due to a cut on his index finger. The issue isn't expected to cause a stint on the injured list, though he'll have to wait for the Astros' next series to retake the mound.