MLB Player News

Burke will serve as the Angels' opening pitcher in Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Griffin Canning is on turn in the rotation, but he looks like he'll be utilized in bulk relief once Burke exits the game. Burke has tossed 3.2 scoreless innings with a 5:2 K:BB since being claimed off waivers by the Angels last week.

The Astros pulled Murfee off his rehab assignment Thursday due to discomfort in his right elbow, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Murfee initially reported soreness after making a rehab outing with Single-A Fayetteville last week. The Astros then made the decision to shut him down for a few days, but the 30-year-old's no-throw period will now be extended indefinitely after his elbow failed to show improvement. He's spent the 2024 campaign recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last July, and it's unclear when he'll be able to retake the mound.

Drury is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in Toronto.

It's the second day in a row that Drury's name has been absent from the Angels' lineup card after he had started each of the previous four tilts. Michael Stefanic will occupy second base in this one.

O'Hoppe is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Toronto.

It's a routine day off for O'Hoppe, who had started each of the previous three contests. Matt Thaiss will do the catching for the Halos in the series opener.

Pena is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game in Baltimore, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It's just the third day off all season for Pena and his first since June 21. Mauricio Dubon will handle shortstop duties for the Astros in the series opener while Pena gets some rest.

Eflin (shoulder) said Thursday that he expects to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible on Sept. 1, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Eflin landed on the IL on Tuesday with right shoulder inflammation but said Thursday that he already feels "10 times better" and doesn't believe he will need any rehab starts before returning. The righty has not yet resumed throwing, so while his comments Thursday are encouraging, Eflin's return when first eligible can't be written down in ink just yet.

The Rays transferred Rortvedt from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Per Whitaker, Rortvedt's new baby and the baby's mother are doing fine. This is a procedural move made so that he can spend more time with his family, as his three-game stay on the paternity list was set to run out. Rortvedt is expected to rejoin the Rays at some point on their road trip, potentially as soon as this weekend versus the Dodgers. Rob Brantly will remain on Tampa Bay's roster until Rortvedt returns.

DeLuca is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Though he had started in four of the Rays' last five matchups with right-handed pitchers, DeLuca will bow out of the lineup Thursday afternoon while righty Osvaldo Bido takes the hill for Oakland. Dylan Carlson will take DeLuca's spot in the Tampa Bay outfield, manning left while batting third.

Siri is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Siri had started in each of the Rays' last three matchups with right-handed pitchers and slugged home runs both of the past two nights, but he will take a seat for Thursday's matinee game while the Athletics send righty Osvaldo Bido to the hill. Kameron Misner checks in for Siri in center field.

Walls will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Though he appeared to be at risk of moving into more of a part-time role when the Rays recalled infielder Junior Caminero from Triple-A Durham on Aug. 13, Walls still looks to be the team's top option at shortstop. Walls will pick up his fifth start in six games Thursday, while Jose Caballero has instead taken the bigger hit from a playing-time perspective following the arrival of Caminero. Caballero boasts the better fantasy profile of the two players thanks to his willingness to run (35 steals in 48 attempts this season), but the Rays seem to place greater value on Walls' defense at shortstop.