MLB Player News

Imai (arm) played catch at Daikin Park on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Imai landed on the injured list Monday due to right arm fatigue, but imaging came back clean and he has begun a throwing progression. The right-hander is eligible to return later this month, but a timetable for Imai rejoining the Astros' rotation won't be available until he gets further into his throwing program.

The Astros have added Lambert to their taxi squad and appear poised to give him a start Friday against the Cardinals, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros have Lance McCullers starting Saturday and Mike Burrows on Sunday but currently have Friday's starter listed as TBA. Barring something unforeseen, that assignment will go to Lambert, who will need to be added to the 40-man roster. Lambert boasts a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:3 K:BB over 14.2 innings at Triple-A Sugar Land and will be on six days' rest Friday. He last pitched in the majors in 2024 with the Rockies.

The Orioles optioned Handley to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Handley arrived in the majors Saturday to provide insurance behind the plate after Adley Rutschman (ankle) landed on the IL, but the former will now return to the minors without playing a game for the O's. Sam Huff will now take over the backup catching jobCameron Foster was recalled from Norfolk in a corresponding move.

The Orioles recalled Foster from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Foster has given up seven earned runs in just six innings at Norfolk, but the Orioles will bring him up anyway to give their bullpen some extra depth. The 27-year-old will be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game.

The Orioles traded McDermott to the Dodgers on Thursday in exchange for minor-league pitcher Axel Perez, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

McDermott was DFA'd by Baltimore on Saturday, but his move to the Dodgers will put him back on a 40-man roster. The 27-year-old has made all five of his appearances at Triple-A this year, where he's given up four earned runs across 5.1 innings while striking out nine batters and walking six. He'll report to Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin his tenure in his new organization.

The Brewers acquired Fernandez from the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

Presumably, the Diamondbacks will receive cash considerations in return. Fernandez inked a minor-league contract with Arizona over the offseason, but he's been on the development list and has not pitched since the minor-league season began. The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2022 and holds a career 5.17 ERA and 47:35 K:BB in 54 innings across parts of four major-league seasons.

Schneemann is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

While starting in each of the last four games -- twice against righties and twice against lefties -- Schneemann went 7-for-14 with three extra-base hits (one home run, two doubles), two walks, two runs and three RBI. Though he'll take a seat against righty Shane Baz in the series opener, Schneemann has made a case for earning regular starts while the Guardians remain without one of their key everyday players in Gabriel Arias (hamstring), whose absence appears likely to stretch into at least the middle of May. For the season, Schneemann has produced a .371 wOBA, placing him third among all Guardians with at least 25 plate appearances.

Clarke is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Clarke will pick up some rest in the series finale after he had started in each of the previous seven games while going 4-for-22 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, four RBI and two runs. Lawrence Butler typically patrols right field but will slide over to center field Thursday with Clarke on the bench.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Muncy suffered a bruised hand earlier in the series when he was hit by a pitch, and the Athletics are wrapping up their four-game set versus Texas with a day game after a night game, so manager Mark Kotsay will elect to give the young infielder a breather. Darell Hernaiz will check in at third base in place of Muncy, who started in each of the Athletics' first 18 games of the season while slashing .288/.338/.485 with two home runs, two steals, 13 runs and five RBI.

Wynns will start at catcher and bat eighth in Thursday's game against the Rangers.

With Shea Langeliers handling one of the heavier workloads among all catchers this season, Wynns has seen sparse action through the first three weeks of the campaign. Wynns will be included in the starting nine Thursday for just the fifth time in the Athletics' first 19 contests.