MLB Player News

The White Sox claimed Cusick off waivers from the Tigers on Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Cusick has struggled at the Triple-A level this season, posting a 6.32 ERA and 11:14 K:BB over 15.2 innings. However, the 25-year-old was a first-round pick back in 2021, so the White Sox will see if they can coax more out of him.

The Phillies recalled Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Toronto.

Zack Wheeler (personal) was placed on the paternity list in a corresponding move, but Abel will be taking over the rotation spot that had previously been occupied by Taijuan Walker, who has been moved to a relief role. Walker had been filling in for Aaron Nola (ankle), who has resumed throwing off a mound and should eventually take the rotation spot back from Abel once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. Nola will likely need to make a rehab start in the minors before being reinstated, so Abel should be in good position to get at least two turns through the rotation while he's up with the big club. The 23-year-old righty was highly impressive in his MLB debut back on May 18 against the Pirates, covering six shutout innings and scattering five hits while striking out nine batters.

Festa has been scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday with Triple-A St. Paul and appears likely to enter the Twins rotation Sunday against the Blue Jays in place of the injured Pablo Lopez (lat), Declan Goff of SKOR North reports.

Lopez exited his start Tuesday against the Athletics due to a right lat strain, and while he has not yet been officially placed on the 15-day injured list, the transaction is considered imminent. Festa missed some time at St. Paul in May with right arm fatigue, but he's looked strong in two starts since returning, allowing just one run with a 12:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings. The 25-year-old has also pitched well in three starts with the Twins this season, collecting a 1.38 ERA and 15:5 K:BB across 13 frames. Festa could be needed for multiple starts with the big club, pending the results of the tests on Lopez's lat.

The Phillies placed Wheeler (personal) on the paternity list Wednesday.

Wheeler didn't travel to Toronto for the three-game series versus the Blue Jays this week while awaiting the birth of his child, but the Phillies waited until Wednesday before officially deactivating him. In a corresponding move, the Phillies recalled right-hander Mick Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and he'll start Wednesday's game. Per MLB rules, Wheeler will have to miss between one and three games while on the paternity list, so the expectation is that he'll be activated to make a start at some point during this weekend's series in Pittsburgh.

Campbell (elbow/wrist) appears on track to begin pitching in games in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League during the first week of July, SI.com reports.

The No. 37 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Campbell has been snakebitten on the health front since being selected and is still waiting to make his professional debut. After previously undergoing nerve decompression surgery on his right elbow in May 2023, Campbell then required Tommy John surgery on the same elbow last April. Additionally, Campbell had another procedure Oct. 1 of last year, when he underwent surgery to address De Quervain tenosynovitis on his right wrist. Campbell looks to be making good progress in his rehab program for the elbow and wrist issues, but given his long layoff, it's fair to expect some rust once he eventually makes his debut in Arizona.

The Padres are optimistic Darvish (elbow) will be ready to make his season debut before the end of June, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Darvish had a setback with his right elbow following his lone rehab start in mid-May, but he threw his second bullpen session in as many days Tuesday. Both mound sessions were low intensity, with Darvish topping out at 90 mph, but he's slated to throw a more intense bullpen session Friday. There is no firm timetable for Darvish's return, with manager Mike Shildt saying the 38-year-old is "going to create his own timelines with us."

Triple-A Las Vegas placed Estes on its 7-day injured list May 20 due to an undisclosed injury.

After being optioned to Las Vegas in early April after two rough starts for the Athletics to begin the season, Estes made seven appearances for the Triple-A club before going down with an injury. The 23-year-old righty likely would have been in consideration for a call-up in the near future had he not gotten hurt, as he posted a 4.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 33:9 K:BB across 34.2 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Gallen (4-7) earned the win Tuesday in Atlanta after giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk over seven innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander pounded the zone with 65 of his 89 pitches going for strikes, and the single walk marks the first time he hasn't issued multiple free passes in a start since April 2. Gallen entered Tuesday with an 8.02 ERA and 17:11 K:BB in his previous four starts, but he was able to get back in the win column with his fifth quality start of the campaign. He'll carry a 5.13 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 73.2 innings into his next start, which tentatively lines up for Sunday in Cincinnati.

Stephen struck out a career-high 11 for High-A Vancouver on Tuesday, allowing two runs (one earned) one three hits over six innings. He didn't walk a batter.

The 22-year-old right-hander hasn't missed a beat since his promotion to the Northwest League, and over three starts for Vancouver, Stephen has posted a 3.21 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16:3 K:BB through 14 innings. A second-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, the Mississippi State product made his pro debut at Single-A this season and is racing up the ladder on the strength of a mid-90s fastball, a potentially plus changeup and strong control and command.

Strider (0-4) took the loss Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, coughing up five runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- and two walks over five innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander struggled through 85 pitches (52 strikes), serving up homers to Ketel Marte in the first and third innings and Corbin Carroll in the fifth. Strider has been a shell of himself since returning from a hamstring injury, posting a 6.43 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 14:7 K:BB over three starts and 14 innings, and his velocity remains down -- he's averaging 95.2 mph on his four-seamer this season, over two ticks below the 97.3 mph he was averaging in 2023. Strider will try to find his form in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in San Francisco.