MLB Player News

Hudson will start Wednesday's game against the Marlins, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Hudson has appeared in four games for the Cardinals this season, putting up a strong 1.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP through 10 innings. Most recently, he pitched 3.1 scoreless frames and picked up the win Saturday against the Nationals, so he'll be taking the hill Wednesday on three days' rest. The 28-year-old righty will likely stay in the game for two or three innings before being relieved.

Littell will serve as the Rays' opener Wednesday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wednesday will mark the third time this season Littell has served in an opener role. The 27-year-old righty holds a 6.05 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 19.1 innings this season and will presumably stay in the game for one or two innings before turning things over to the bullpen.

Kimbrel struck out one and didn't give up a hit or walk in a scoreless ninth inning to earn his 16th save of the season in Tuesday's win over the Brewers.

A pair of one-out errors allowed the tying run to reach second base, but Kimbrel delivered 10 of his 12 pitches for a strike to maintain the one-run advantage. The 35-year-old has converted all 16 of his save chances this year and has a 3.15 ERA and 60:16 K:BB across 40 innings, and he hasn't surrendered a run in his past 16 appearances.

The Giants optioned Beck to Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday.

Beck has been solid out of the bullpen for the Giants this season with a 3.06 ERA and 1.12 WHIP through 50 innings, but he'll return to the minors to clear a spot on the roster for Anthony DeSclafani (shoulder). As long as Beck keeps performing as well as he has been, there's a good chance he returns to San Francisco later this summer.

Fleming (elbow) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment this weekend in the Florida Complex League, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He'll go around two innings the first time out and build up from there. On the shelf since early June due to a nagging left elbow issue, Fleming looks poised to return to a swingman role with the Rays before the end of July.

Kittredge (elbow) shifted his rehab assignment Tuesday to Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Kittredge is moving right along in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, having tallied six strikeouts -- with no walks -- over three scoreless innings in the Florida Complex League to begin his minor-league rehab stint. He's now just one step away from becoming a bullpen option for the first-place Rays, though the 33-year-old figures to spend at least a week making appearances at Triple-A.

Hendriks (elbow) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

After being cleared to throw June 27, Hendriks will advance to the next step in his recovery process Wednesday. Assuming all goes well during his sim game, the 34-year-old closer will presumably embark on a rehab assignment before returning to Chicago's bullpen. Hendriks has pitched just five innings this season, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

Bradford (2-1) picked up the win in Sunday's 6-5 victory over the Guardians after covering three innings out of the bullpen and allowing two runs on three hits and no walks. He struck out four.

Bradford made a five-inning start during the Rangers' final series of the first half in Washington, but he looks like he'll work in relief for the foreseeable future after Texas opened its post-All-Star-break schedule with a five-man rotation. The rookie owns a respectable 4.55 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 29.2 innings in the majors this season and should be the Rangers' top option for a spot start should the team lose a rotation option at any point.

VerHagen (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

VerHagen landed on the injured list at the beginning of July with a right hip impingement after attempting to pitch through it for three weeks. It's unclear how long the Cardinals plan on keeping VerHagen in the minors, but it's likely he returns to the bullpen before the end of July.

Jacques will serve as Boston's opening pitcher for Tuesday's game in Oakland, Chris Henrique of the Boston Sports Journal reports.

The Red Sox shut out the Athletics in a bullpen game Monday and will go back to that well again Tuesday. Chris Murphy would seem to be the likeliest candidate to work in bulk relief behind Jacques, who hasn't recorded more than eight outs in any of his 33 appearances in the majors or minors this season.