MLB Player News

Okert will operate as the Astros' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Okert will make his first start of the 2026 campaign, helping bridge the gap in Houston's rotation ahead of Peter Lambert's expected start Tuesday. The right-hander has appeared in 17 contests so far this season, posting a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 10 strikeouts over 15 innings. The Astros haven't specified whether a pitcher will work in bulk relief behind Okert, but Ryan Weiss is the freshest arm in the bullpen who's capable of covering multiple innings.

Triple-A Salt Lake placed Moore on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to a leg injury, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Moore hadn't played since April 25 on account of the injury, which Angels general manager Perry Minasian relayed is a minor issue that won't keep the young infielder on the shelf for too long. Before succumbing to the injury, Moore failed to win a spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster but had gotten off to a nice start to the season at Salt Lake with a .219/.437/.452 slash line and more walks (28) than strikeouts (24) over his 103 plate appearances.

Fried didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.

After holding opponents scoreless over 14 innings in his previous two starts, Fried matched his season high in both walks and hits allowed Sunday, though the Yankees would rally late in an eventual 11-3 victory. Fried has delivered quality starts in six of his eight outings to open the year, posting a 2.39 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP and 43:15 K: BB across 52.2 innings. The left-hander is currently lined up to face the Brewers on the road his next time out.

The White Sox promoted Montgomery from Double-A Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte on Sunday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Montgomery will move up a level in Chicago's minor-league farm system after slashing .313/.429/.606 with six home runs and two stolen bases over 126 plate appearances with Birmingham to begin the season. Viewed as one of the organization's top prospects, the 23-year-old Montgomery could have a shot at making his MLB debut later this summer if he can keep his strikeouts in check during his time at Triple-A.

Gibson did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Yankees, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

Making his major-league debut, Gibson gave up a solo home run to Ben Rice in the first inning before Aaron Judge added a two-run blast in the third. Overall, it was a decent debut for Gibson against one of the league's premier offenses. Still, he'll likely return to Triple-A with Trevor Rogers (illness) expected to rejoin the rotation soon.

The Mariners designated Thomas for assignment Sunday.

Thomas had been part of Seattle's 40-man roster for just over a year but has made just three appearances at the big-league level. He's played exclusively at Triple-A Tacoma thus far in 2026, slashing .260/.313/.328 over 144 plate appearances. Given that he's already 26 years old and producing at a below-league-average level (67 wRC+) at Triple-A, Thomas is a good bet to go unclaimed off waivers.

Seattle claimed Suarez off waivers from Atlanta on Sunday.

Suarez has no minor-league options remaining and will be added to the 26-man active roster once he links up with Seattle. The 28-year-old lefty is expected to serve as a multi-inning option out of the Seattle bullpen after logging a 6.61 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 21:12 K:BB across 16.1 frames over eight appearances (one start) with Atlanta this season.

Lauer is scheduled to start Monday's game against the Rays, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Jose Berrios (elbow) will make a fourth minor-league rehab start Sunday and won't be a candidate to return from the 15-day injured list until later next week, so Lauer will receive at least one more turn through the rotation. Lauer surrendered seven runs to the Twins on April 11 but has otherwise been a more respectable fill-in starter with a 4.57 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB in his other five outings.

Dominguez went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer, two doubles, three total RBI and a second run scored in Sunday's 11-3 win over the Orioles.

Dominguez gave the Yankees some breathing room in the eighth inning with his two-run shot off Andrew Kittredge, his first homer of the year, extending New York's lead to 6-3, before adding another RBI later in the frame after the Yankees batted around. Coming into Sunday, Dominguez had gone just 2-for-13 with no extra-base hits in his first four games since he was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he slashed .326/.415/.478 with three homers and eight steals in 24 games.

Smith will be sidelined at least a couple weeks after the White Sox announced Sunday that he suffered a right rotator cuff strain, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Smith presumably sustained the injury during his previous start for Triple-A Charlotte last week, during which he fired two scoreless frames. The right-hander opened the campaign in the White Sox's rotation but was demoted in early April after surrendering 10 earned runs with a 11:9 K:BB through his first three starts.