MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Blanco (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The team announced that Blanco would be undergoing season-ending elbow surgery Wednesday but didn't supply the specifics regarding the procedure. It's now known that Blanco will require Tommy John surgery, which will likely force him to miss a significant portion of the 2026 campaign. Colton Gordon should hold down Blanco's spot in the rotation until the Astros get Luis Garcia (elbow) or Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) back from the injured list.

Cobb (hip) is expected to begin a rehab assignment Thursday with High-A West Michigan, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Cobb completed a bullpen session Monday and seems to be feeling good enough to see in-game action. The 37-year-old has been battling inflammation in his right hip since February, meaning he will likely require several starts in the minors to prepare for his return. He's not expected back until late June.

Blanco (elbow) will undergo surgery next week and will be sidelined for the rest of the 2025 season, the Astros announced Wednesday.

Blanco reported soreness in his throwing elbow on May 19 and hit the injured list May 22 with elbow inflammation. Houston sought out a second opinion on the 31-year-old's injury, which yielded severe enough results to require season-ending surgery. It's unclear if he will have traditional Tommy John surgery or a hybrid internal brace procedure. Colton Gordon should fill Blanco's spot in the rotation until Luis Garcia (elbow) or Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) are reinstated from the IL, which isn't expected to happen until late June or July. Blanco finishes 2025 with a 3-4 record, a 4.10 ERA and 48:20 K:BB in 48.1 innings spanning nine starts.

Scherzer (thumb) threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Monday and is expected to face hitters in live batting practice in Toronto on Thursday or Friday, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.

The bullpen session was Scherzer's second in three days, and with both going off without a hitch, he looks set to take the next step forward in his recovery by facing hitters. Scherzer will likely need to throw multiple live sessions before the Blue Jays map out a rehab assignment for the veteran right-hander, who has been on the injured list since March 30 due to right thumb inflammation.

Megill (4-4) picked up the win Tuesday, giving up two runs on four hits and four walks over 5.2 innings in a 6-4 victory over the White Sox. He struck out six.

The right-hander ran out of gas in the sixth inning, loading the bases on a single and two walks before getting the hook after 100 pitches (64 strikes), but Jose Butto got out of the jam without adding any runs to Megill's ledger. While he fell short of his second quality start of the season, Megill did collect his first win since April 21, snapping a five-start winless streak that had seen him stumble to a 6.17 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 36:12 K:BB over 23.1 innings. The 29-year-old lines up for a tough test in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

Houck (elbow) has continued his throwing program this week but is not yet considered close to beginning a rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

After being placed on the 15-day injured list May 14 due to a right flexor pronator strain, Houck was cleared to resume throwing late last week and will continue to work toward a rehab assignment. He's not expected to be ready to return from the IL until late June or early July, and it's unclear what sort of role he might fill for the Boston pitching staff once he's activated. Before getting shut down with the injury, Houck's spot in the rotation appeared to be in jeopardy after he turned in an 8.04 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 43.2 innings through his first nine starts.

Cannon (2-6) took the loss Tuesday as the White Sox fell 6-4 to the Mets, coughing up five runs on nine hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

Four of the hits off Cannon went for extra bases, including first-inning homers by Pete Alonso and Jared Young. It's the first time since April 10 that Cannon has been taken deep more than once, and the first time since April 21 the right-hander has been charged with more than three earned runs. Despite Tuesday's stumble, he'll take a respectable 4.15 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 46:18 K:BB through 60.2 innings into his next outing, which is lined up to come at home early next week against the Tigers.

Bradley (4-4) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk over seven innings as the Rays fell 4-2 to the Twins. He struck out six.

The right-hander needed 91 pitches (61 strikes) to deliver his second straight quality start and seventh of the season in 11 outings, but a lack of support on both offense and defense kept him out of the win column. Bradley's still prone to the occasional dud performance, but over his last seven starts he sports a 3.92 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 30:15 K:BB through 41.1 innings. He'll look for a better result in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Houston.

The Rangers announced that Eovaldi (triceps) was removed from Tuesday's game as a precaution and is not expected to miss time due to the issue, Kenndi Landry of MLB.com reports. The pitcher was removed from Tuesday's game after two innings with triceps fatigue.

Eovaldi will be monitored over the coming days, but the plan, for now, is for the right-hander to start next Tuesday in Tampa. It will help that the Rangers are off Thursday and next Monday, which keeps the rotation in order while giving Eovaldi two extra days of rest.

Ryan (5-2) picked up the win in Tuesday's 4-2 victory over the Rays, allowing one run on five hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander wrapped up the month of May undefeated, going 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 33:5 K:BB over 29 innings while delivering four quality starts in five trips to the mound. Ryan has put up Cy Young-worthy numbers to begin the season, and he'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week against the A's.