MLB Player News

Duran (illness) will start at shortstop and bat seventh in Thursday's game versus the Astros.

Duran had to be removed from Wednesday's contest due to illness, but he will not have to miss any starts. He's been serving as the Rangers' primary shortstop since Corey Seager went down with a back injury in mid-May.

Schultz will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher in Friday's game against the Padres, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Schultz has performed well overall this season, but his ERA remains inflated at 5.30 through 18.2 frames after giving up six runs to the Mets in a May 18 appearance that lasted just one-third of an inning. He's now set for his first opening assignment of the campaign and is likely to remain in the game for an inning or two before Andrew Alvarez takes over in bulk relief.

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

Pinango saw his five-game hitting streak come to an end Wednesday, when he struck out in all three of his at-bats in the Blue Jays' 2-1 win over the Marlins. Though he's been reasonably productive at the big-league level this season with a .743 OPS across 83 plate appearances, Pinango could nonetheless find himself as an odd man out of the lineup more frequently with the Toronto outfield group suddenly becoming more crowded. The Blue Jays already got Nathan Lukes back from the injured list Monday, and Addison Barger (elbow) appears to be trending toward a return from the shelf in early-to-mid June.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said Thursday that Mlodzinski has been moved to the bullpen, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.

Mlodzinski has held his own as a member of the Pirates rotation this season, collecting a 3.76 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 55 innings. However, with the right-hander having significant relief experience and the Pirates needing bullpen help from the right side, it makes sense to shift Mlodzinski to a relief role to accommodate the return of Jared Jones (elbow), who will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Twins.

Pirates manager Don Kelly said Thursday that Jones (elbow) will return from the 60-day injured list and start Friday's game against the Twins at PNC Park, Jason Mackey of MLB.com reports.

Jones will be making his first appearance at the big-league level since he underwent UCL surgery last May. The right-hander looked sharp in five rehab starts, logging a 2.89 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 24:6 K:BB across 18.2 innings. He went 4.1 frames and threw 76 pitches in his most recent outing with Triple-A Indianapolis last weekend, so while Jones should be able to reach five innings Friday if he pitches efficiently, he shouldn't be expected to work much longer than that. Expect the Pirates to manage Jones' workload after he missed all of the 2025 campaign.

Gordon is slated to start Sunday against the Giants at Coors Field.

Gordon will receive another turn through the Colorado rotation after he was able to hold his own in his first start of the season Monday in a road matchup with the Dodgers. He limited one of the majors' top offenses to one run on six hits and one walk while striking out three over five innings, taking a no-decision in the Rockies' eventual 5-3 loss. The 28-year-old righty owns a 6.78 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 142 career innings in the big leagues, so despite getting a favorable matchup versus a weak Giants lineup in his second start, he'll be tough to trust at hitter-friendly Coors Field.

The Blue Jays transferred Estrada (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Thursday.

Estrada has been on the shelf since early April due to a right shoulder impingement, and though an official timeline for his return hasn't been established, he won't be available for the Blue Jays until at least June 4 now that he's on the 60-day IL. He'll also give up his place on the 40-man roster to infielder Charles McAdoo, who was called up from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.

The Marlins signed Willingham to a minor-league contract Thursday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Willingham began the 2026 season at Triple-A Sugar Land in the Astros organization, but he was released after posting a 3.38 ERA but a 9:11 K:BB over 13.1 innings. The 27-year-old holds a 7.11 ERA in 19 relief outings at the big-league level and will give the Marlins an experienced bullpen arm at Triple-A Jacksonville.

The Blue Jays selected McAdoo's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

With Lenyn Sosa (wrist) headed for the injured list, the Blue Jays will turn to McAdoo to fill in as infield depth. The 24-year-old has slashed .250/.357/.432 with eight home runs, 27 RBI, 31 runs and seven steals through 50 games at Buffalo, and he'll be making his MLB debut whenever he gets into a game.

The Red Sox recalled Samaniego from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

He'll slide into the roster spot vacated by the injured Garrett Whitlock (knee). Samaniego has posted a 1.04 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 13:7 K:BB in 17.1 innings this season out of Boston's bullpen.