MLB Player News

Bieber (elbow) will return from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's game against Houston, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Manager John Schneider had previously hinted that Bieber would be coming off the IL on Monday, but the team wanted to see him throw one last bullpen session Saturday before locking him into the pitching schedule. The 31-year-old righty has made five rehab appearances across three affiliates since beginning his minor-league assignment in late May, posting a 6.88 ERA and 1.88 WHIP with a 14:5 K:BB across 17 innings. He threw 80 pitches in five frames during his final rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.

The Blue Jays optioned Little to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

Little joined the big-league roster Friday, but he'll be sent right back to the minors after giving up four earned runs in one inning during Friday's blowout loss to the Cubs. Lazaro Estrada (shoulder) was activated from the 60-day IL in a corresponding move.

The Blue Jays reinstated Estrada (shoulder) from the injured list Saturday.

Estrada has been on the shelf since April due to a right shoulder impingement. He was cleared to begin pitching in rehab games June 2 and has since allowed four earned runs in 9.2 innings across four appearances at Triple-A Buffalo. Now fully healthy, he'll presumably work as a long-relief option for the big club. Brendon Little was optioned to Buffalo in a corresponding move.

The Blue Jays optioned McAdoo to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.

The 24-year-old will end up as the odd man out of a roster spot following Daulton Varsho's (wrist) return from the injured list. McAdoo went just 4-for-25 at the plate across eight games during his stint in the big leagues but could still return to the majors later this season if the Blue Jays run into problems with their infield depth.

The Blue Jays reinstated Varsho (wrist) from the injured list Saturday.

Manager John Schneider said Thursday that Varsho would "have to do a lot" in order to return from the IL by Saturday, but the 29-year-old appears to have passed all of the Jays' tests and will now rejoin the team without heading out on a rehab assignment. He'll reclaim his role as Toronto's primary center fielder, and Charles McAdoo will head back to Triple-A Buffalo to clear space on the 26-man roster.

Eovaldi was scratched from his start Saturday against the Padres due to left knee soreness, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The Rangers are saying that Eovaldi's knee is just "a little" sore, so while he won't be able to pitch Saturday, a trip to the injured list may not be necessary. MacKenzie Gore will move up a day and toe the slab in place of Eovaldi.

Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Fried (elbow) is expected to begin facing hitters by late June or early July, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Fried has been throwing off a mound for about a week and is now asymptomatic after landing on the injured list May 16 due to a bone bruise in his left elbow. He remains without an official timeline for his recovery and is likely to require a rehab assignment before coming off the IL, but a return to the rotation at some point around the All-Star break appears feasible.

Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that Wells (head) will likely return from the injured list and start Sunday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Wells landed on the injured list June 6 with cervical headaches but has been playing in rehab games since Tuesday, going 2-for-12 with a pair of homers and an additional RBI across three contests. He'll presumably reclaim his job as New York's primary backstop once he's activated, though he may not take on an everyday role after posting a .533 OPS through 169 plate appearances to begin the season.

Garcia went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Rays.

The infielder slashed at a Griffin Jax sinker in the third inning and drove it the other way over the left-field fence. Garcia has 10 homers on the season, and three of them have come in the last nine games, a stretch in which he's batting .290 (9-for-31) with a double, six runs and eight RBI.

Abrams went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Rays.

The star shortstop took Griffin Jax deep in the second inning to give the Nationals an early lead that didn't last long in an eventual 5-2 loss. It was Abrams' 15th homer of the season and third over 15 games in June, but he's struggling to make a consistent impact this month, slashing .246/.270/.410 with three steals, eight RBI and 12 runs.