MLB Player News

The Astros designated Weems for assignment Friday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Since joining the active roster June 24, Weems has made two appearances for Houston, giving up two runs across three total innings. He'll now lose his spot on the 26-man and 40-man rosters in favor of Jason Alexander, who was recalled from Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move.

The Astros recalled Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday. Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Alexander owns a 10.50 ERA through 12 innings in the majors this season, though he's given up just two runs in six frames since joining the Astros organization. He'll come up from the minors to provide length out of the bullpen and replace Jordan Weems, who was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

Manoah (elbow) could begin a minor-league rehab stint after throwing one more live bullpen session, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

Manoah began facing live hitters in early June and tossed two simulated innings July 1. He appears close to kicking off a rehab assignment in the minors, which will presumably span several weeks since the right-hander hasn't yet seen game action this season. Early August seems like the most likely timeframe for Manoah to be activated from the 60-day IL.

The Athletics placed Urias on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain, retroactive to Thursday.

Urias' hamstring forced him to make an early exit from Wednesday's game, and he'll spend at least 10 days on the injured list now that he's been officially diagnosed with a strain. Zack Gelof (ribs) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move, which means Urias likely won't benefit from regular playing time once he's healthy.

The Athletics reinstated Gelof (ribs) from the injured list Friday.

Gelof landed on the injured list at the start of the season due to a hamate fracture, but he suffered a stress reaction in his ribs while on assignment in May, extending his time on the shelf. Now completely healthy, he'll rejoin the active roster and take over as the Athletics' primary second baseman. Luis Urias (hamstring) was placed on the IL in a corresponding move. Gelof is batting eighth in his season debut against San Francisco on Friday.

The Guardians have assigned Bazzana (oblique) to the Arizona Complex League to begin a rehab assignment, per SI.com.

Bazzana suffered a right oblique strain in mid-May and hasn't played since then. He resumed baseball activities in late June and has now been deemed able to return to game action. Bazzana will presumably head back to Double-A Akron -- with whom he posted a .795 OPS across 33 games before getting hurt -- when he's completed the rehab assignment.

Cobb received an injection in his left hip earlier in the week and is slated to resume throwing Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Cobb has received multiple injections to address the inflammation in his hip, which has kept him on the injured list all season. The Tigers will likely look to get the 37-year-old back on a mound shortly after he restarts his throwing program, though it remains to be seen when he'll restart his rehab assignment in the minors.

Rodriguez (lat) threw 25 pitches -- including fastballs and breaking balls -- in a bullpen session Friday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez reported that he's now thrown a few bullpens at full intensity, though it remains unclear when he'll be able to advance to facing live hitters. The right-hander was diagnosed with a lat strain in late April after he had already begun the campaign on the IL due to right elbow inflammation. It remains unlikely that Rodriguez will be able to rejoin Baltimore's rotation earlier than August.

The Blue Jays optioned Bruihl to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.

Bruihl pitched a scoreless one-third of an inning to earn a hold in Thursday's win over the Yankees, bringing his ERA down to 2.70 in four appearances with the big club this season. The lefty will presumably be back in Toronto before the end of 2025, but for now he will make room for right-hander Lazaro Estrada, who can provide more length out of the bullpen.

Baez isn't in the starting lineup Friday versus Cleveland.

Baez started three of Detroit's previous four games but will get a rest Friday against Guardians righty Slade Cecconi. Zach McKinstry is starting at shortstop, and Colt Keith is getting a turn at the hot corner.