MLB Player News

Jankowski will be optioned when Dallas Keuchel is activated from the disabled list , Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports Friday.

Keuchel is expected to make his return Saturday. Jankowski allowed a pair of runs in his only appearance with the big club this season. He owned a sharp 1.42 ERA at Triple-A and could be up with the big club as bullpen reinforcement again later this season.

Manaea (3-3) allowed no runs on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over seven innings to earn the win Friday against the Yankees.

Manaea left the contest in a scoreless game, but the offense came up with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning to reward him for his outstanding effort. This was only the second time he posted a quality start over his last seven outings, and he lowered his ERA to 4.35. His best fantasy asset has been his ability to strike out batters, as he's notched 45 of them over his last 41.1 innings of work. He'll make his next start Friday against the Indians.

Graveman (shoulder) will likely be placed on the disabled list, John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group reports.

The shoulder soreness that plagued Graveman earlier in the year appears to have resurfaced, and the right-hander has been replaced in the rotation for the Athletics' weekend series against the Yankees. While nothing is official at this point, Graveman is expected to hit the disabled list in relatively short order, and manager Bob Melvin commented that if Graveman does, indeed, go on the DL, he'd likely miss more than the requisite 10 days.

Graveman, who is not starting against the Yankees this weekend, is dealing with shoulder soreness, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

It's troubling news considering Graveman missed the latter half of April with the same ailment. The best-case scenario for both parties seems to be giving the right-hander some extra rest and hoping he can make his next scheduled start, Thursday against Cleveland. Sean Manaea will be taking his spot for Friday's series opener versus the Yankees and Jharel Cotton will slide into the rotation Saturday.

Valdez was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Valdez, along with Dwight Smith, was sent down in order to clear roster space for Josh Donaldson and Troy Tulowitzki, both of whom are returning from injury Friday. The 32-year-old right-hander, claimed off waivers from Oakland earlier this month, pitched one scoreless inning for the Blue Jays but will make his next appearance in the minors, where he has a 3.00 ERA through two starts this season.

Burdi will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, ending his 2017 season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's an unfortunate end to what had been a promising start to the 2017 campaign, as Burdi had compiled a minuscule 0.53 ERA and a 20:4 K:BB through 17 innings before going on the DL with elbow soreness. The hard-throwing righty will likely return to the mound sometime in the middle of the 2018 season, where he'll look to build on his early success at Double-A Chattanooga.

Alexander (hamstring) is set to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Friday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Alexander, who has posted a very respectable 1.26 ERA over 14.1 innings of relief this season, could make his return to the Royals' bullpen within the next week if all goes according to plan. He may need to pitch a couple of innings with Omaha as he gets back to full strength, but expect a firmer timetable to come down from the team in the near future.

Whalen will start Saturday's game against the Red Sox, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

It will be his first major-league appearance since last season, when he compiled an unimpressive 6.57 ERA over five starts with the Braves. With James Paxton aiming to return to the rotation sometime next week, it appears this will be Whalen's only chance with the team before being shipped back to Triple-A Tacoma, where he has posted a 4.09 ERA through four starts thus far.

Farmer will start the first game of Saturday's doubleheader after Friday's game was postponed by rain.

Farmer, recalled specifically for this spot start, has posted a 4.12 ERA over nine games with Triple-A Toledo this season, so he's likely bound to return to the minors after Saturday. Michael Fulmer will take the mound in the nightcap of the twinbill.

Graveman has been replaced as the Athletics' starter against the Yankees on Friday, Jane Lee of MLB.com reports. Sean Manaea will take his place.

Manaea will take Oakland's first turn for the weekend series. Graveman's 5.48 ERA in May has soured his fantasy outlook after a brisk 2.25 ERA in four April outings. Still, Oakland should soon clarify if it is removing him from the rotation entirely or merely shuffling things around.