MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Roa to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.

Houston needed room for Peter Lambert, who is getting the promotion ahead of Friday's start against the Cardinals. Roa has pitched in seven games out of the bullpen for the Astros this season, posting a 5.19 ERA, 1.96 WHIP and 6:7 K:BB across 8.2 innings.

The Astros selected Lambert's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.

Lambert made a bid for the Opening Day roster with an encouraging spring training and remained effective at Triple-A to begin the season, as he logged a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB across 14.2 innings with Sugar Land. He'll now be the 10th pitcher to start a game for the Astros this season, as he's set to take the mound Friday against the Cardinals.

Lange allowed two hits and struck out two in one inning Thursday in the 10-9 loss to the Tigers.

Lange, the Tigers' leader in saves back in 2023, struggled mightily in 2024 largely due to command issues (17 walks in 18.2 innings) before being demoted to the minors. The 30-year-old missed the majority of last season with a lat injury, pitching only one time, but he signed with the Royals this offseason to slot in as a serviceable middle reliever. Kansas City has deployed Lange in a low-leverage role, as he's yet to earn a win or a hold to this point, but his performance has been trending in a positive direction (1.42 ERA over his last 6.1 innings).

Walls is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates.

Walls had started all nine games since returning from the injured list April 6, so this will be his first day off. Ben Williamson is starting at shortstop, with Richie Palacios handling second base for Tampa Bay. Walls is slashing .310/.375/.345 with a double, four RBI, six runs scored, two stolen bases and a 2:6 BB:K across 35 trips to the plate since making his season debut.

McMahon is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Royals.

Even with right-hander Michael Wacha on the mound for the Royals, McMahon will sit in favor of Amed Rosario at third base. McMahon is batting .111 with a sky-high 32.6 percent strikeout rate in 43 trips to the plate against right-handed pitching this season. McMahon is also hitting 59.1 percent of his batted balls on the ground versus righties.

Uberstine was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Worcester on Friday with right shoulder soreness, Chris Henrique of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

Uberstine made his major-league debut earlier this month, appearing in one game for the Red Sox back on April 5 against the Padres. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk with two strikeouts across 2.2 innings. Uberstine was sent back to Worcester the following day.

Contreras (back) is starting at first base and batting second Friday against the Tigers, Chris Henrique of BostonSportsJournal.com reports.

Contreras' back tightened up on him Tuesday, and he was out of the lineup Wednesday against the Twins ahead of Thursday's off day. Contreras has been one of baseball's best hitters over the last couple weeks, as he's slashing .378/.500/.676 with three home runs, 10 RBI and eight runs scored over the last 15 days.

Wells struck out the only batter he faced Thursday in a 4-2 loss to the Guardians.

Wells missed the majority of 2024 and 2025 due to an elbow injury, starting seven big-league games over those two years. The 31-year-old righty excelled in four September starts to end last season, posting a 2.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 18:2 K:BB across 21.2 innings, and the expectation was that Wells would be a part of the Orioles' rotation to kick off 2026. Instead, he's exclusively been used as a relief option, working 11 innings in nine appearances with a 4.91 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11:4 K:BB while picking up four holds.

Holton gave up his first earned run of the season Thursday in a 10-9 win over the Royals, allowing a solo home run in a third of an inning.

The southpaw has been a stalwart member of the Detroit bullpen the past three seasons, collecting 48 holds since 2023 with a 2.61 ERA and 0.89 WHIP while averaging 65 appearances a year. The seventh-inning shot by Salvador Perez was the first home run that Holton has given up in 7.1 innings this season after he served up 15 homers over 78.2 frames in 2025.

Newcomb threw 1.2 shutout innings Thursday, allowing just one hit while striking out three batters in a 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

The 32-year-old southpaw entered in the seventh inning, keeping the game knotted at 2-2 before Seranthony Dominguez fell apart in the ninth. Newcomb got off to a rocky start to 2026, allowing six earned runs over his first 10 innings prior to this appearance. Thursday's performance lowered his ERA to 4.38 through 12.1 innings and nine games with a 13:5 K:BB, and he has just one hold with zero wins or saves.