MLB Player News

Houston recalled Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Blubaugh has made two big-league appearances (one of which was a start) totaling nine innings so far in his debut MLB campaign, giving up four runs on eight hits with an 11:2 K:BB. His numbers haven't been great at Sugar Land, as he's registered a 5.27 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 101: 58 K:BB across 99 frames, but the Astros will look to the right-hander for some pitching depth while he's up with the team. The Astros don't have an immediate opening in their rotation, and Luis Garcia (elbow) is nearing a return from the injured list, so Blubaugh figures to work as a long reliever with the big-league club.

The Mets placed Montas on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Aug. 22, due to a right elbow UCL injury.

Montas didn't make his 2025 debut until late June after suffering a lat strain in spring training. Two months later, Montas is headed back to the injured list with an unspecified injury to his UCL. The 32-year-old was recently moved to the bullpen and hadn't pitched since Aug. 15. The Mets recalled Huascar Brazoban from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move.

The Phillies announced Saturday that Wheeler (shoulder) will undergo season-ending thoracic outlet decompression surgery, Paul Casella of MLB.com reports. He's expected to face a recovery timeline of 6-to-8 months.

Wheeler was placed on the injured list a week ago after doctors discovered a blood clot in his throwing shoulder, which he had removed in a procedure Monday. Since then, he's been diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome, which will require a more significant surgery. Given the estimated 6-to-8-month recovery timeline, Wheeler's availability for Opening Day in 2026 now appears to be in doubt. Before being shut down last week, the 35-year-old righty had been a leading candidate for the 2025 NL Cy Young Award, posting a 10-5 record, 2.71 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 195:33 K:BB across 149.2 innings.

Lauer is expected to start Wednesday's game against Minnesota in Toronto, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

With Shane Bieber returning from the 60-day injured list to make his Toronto debut Friday, manager John Schneider indicated Lauer would be moving to a relief role. While Schneider told Mae that Lauer will still be available for a brief appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday's game in Miami, the Blue Jays still plan to have the lefty start at least one more time Wednesday in order to give Bieber extra rest between outings. It's not yet clear if Lauer will handle a full workload in his start next week, nor is it known whether Toronto will opt for a six-man rotation for any additional amount of time as Bieber gets back into a groove as he settles back in following his April 2024 Tommy John surgery.

Bieber is scheduled to make his next start next Friday against the Brewers, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Bieber was excellent in his Toronto debut Friday, allowing one run on two hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over six innings. Though his next turn would ordinarily come up Wednesday against Minnesota, he'll instead take the mound against Milwaukee after a team off day Thursday, as manager John Schneider wants to give the hurler extra rest, per Mae. Eric Lauer will start Wednesday in what could be his final turn in the rotation.

Messick is slated to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Rays at Progressive Field.

Messick will unsurprisingly receive a second straight turn through the Cleveland rotation after he excelled in a no-decision in his MLB debut this past Wednesday, when he limited the Diamondbacks to one run on seven hits and one walk over 6.2 innings while striking out six batters. The 25-year-old lefty may eventually cede his spot in the rotation to the rehabbing John Means (elbow), but Messick could make it tough for the Guardians to justify moving him to the bullpen or back to Triple-A Columbus if he comes through with another strong start Tuesday.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Horton (finger) will start Saturday's game against the Angels in Anaheim, MLB.com reports.

During his most recent start in Monday's loss to the Brewers, Horton was lifted in the third inning due to a minor blister on his pitching hand. Counsell acknowledged that the rookie had dealt with a blister in the same spot in the past, but the righty apparently checked out fine during his between-starts bullpen session and will take the hill Saturday for his 18th outing of the season. Horton has been the Cubs' top-performing starter since the All-Star break, going 4-1 with an 0.58 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB in 31 innings.

Freeland (finger) is slated to start Saturday's game against the Pirates at PNC Park.

Freeland developed a blister on his pitching hand during his most recent outing in Monday's 4-3 win over the Dodgers, but it apparently didn't prevent him from completing his between-starts bullpen session. He'll return to the mound on his standard four days' rest and shouldn't face any restrictions as he takes the hill for his 24th start of the season.

Fedde worked in long relief during Friday's 12-7 loss to the Mets, covering 4.1 innings and striking out one batter while allowing six earned runs on 11 hits and two walks.

After being acquired from the Cardinals on July 27, Fedde stepped into the Atlanta rotation but fared poorly over his four starts with the club, netting a 7.11 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 12:11 K:BB in 19 innings. With Atlanta claiming Cal Quantrill off waivers from Miami on Thursday and inserting him into the rotation Saturday, Fedde was moved to the bullpen for the weekend series and was put to work Friday after starter Joey Wentz was chased from the game midway through the fourth inning. Though he spared the rest of the bullpen from overuse, Fedde was knocked around during his 93-pitch appearance and is unlikely to see opportunities in high-leverage spots anytime soon.

Quantrill is slated to start Saturday's game against the Mets at Truist Park, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Erick Fedde had been in line to start this weekend, but he ended up getting moved to the bullpen to open up a rotation spot for Quantrill, whom Atlanta claimed off waivers from Miami on Thursday. Before getting cut by the Marlins, Quantrill had endured a disappointing 2025 campaign, posting a 5.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 82:30 K:BB in 109.2 innings. An impending free agent this winter, Quantrill will look to pitch well over the final five weeks of the season with the hope of earning a rotation spot with Atlanta or another club heading into 2026.