MLB Player News

The Rays transferred Grove (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

The transaction frees up a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Trevor Martin, who was called up from Triple-A Durham. Grove was signed last week as he continues his recovery from right shoulder surgery, and it's unclear when he might be ready to pitch in a game.

The Astros outrighted France to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

After the Astros designated him for assignment for the second time in just over two months this past weekend, France will once again end up sticking around in the Houston organization upon going unclaimed off waivers. He'll likely slot back into the rotation at Sugar Land, which lost three of its starters (Spencer Arrighetti, Colton Gordon and Peter Lambert) last week when the big club was in need of further reinforcement.

The Astros transferred Javier (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Javier's initial placement on the 15-day IL was retroactive to April 9, so his move to the 60-day IL ensures that he'll be on the shelf through at least the first week of June while he recovers from a Grade 2 right shoulder strain. Given the length of his absence along with his poor numbers prior to landing on the shelf (12.54 ERA, 2.36 WHIP and 4:9 K:BB in 9.1 innings over three starts), Javier likely won't be worth holding in the majority of fantasy leagues.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Gray will undergo an MRI on his right hamstring Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

Gray exited in the third inning of his start in Monday's 8-6 win over the Tigers due to hamstring tightness. The team believes the issue to be minor, but more will be known about Gray's status after the imaging results are in. Gray is tentatively slated to start Saturday in Baltimore, but that assignment is up in the air. If Gray need some down time, Payton Tolle is a likely replacement in the Boston rotation. As Healey notes, Gray was previously shelved with right hamstring strains during the 2022 and 2024 seasons, missing about 2-to-3 weeks on the two occasions.

Weiss is slated to start Tuesday's game against the Guardians in Cleveland, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros appear set to condense their rotation from six to five men this week, and Weiss, Spencer Arrighetti and Peter Lambert will all maintain starting roles for the time being after Colton Gordon was shifted to the bullpen Saturday. After making his first five appearances of the season in relief, Weiss was unable to make it out of the fourth in his first MLB start last Thursday against the Rockies, covering 3.2 innings and striking out three while allowing two earned runs on three hits and four walks. The 29-year-old righty has walked 13.9 percent of the batters he's faced on the season and will likely need to show improvement in that area to guarantee himself a longer-term stay in the rotation, even as the Astros contend with numerous injuries to starting pitchers.

Flaherty didn't factor into the decision Monday against the Red Sox, allowing two runs (zero earned) on three hits and six walks in 3.1 innings. He struck out three.

With Monday's game having an early first-pitch time of 11:10 a.m. ET, Flaherty appeared to be a step slow on the mound. It was the third time in his career that the right-hander issued at least six walks, and the Tigers decided they'd seen enough after he threw a season-low 73 pitches (41 strikes). Flaherty has a strong 3.47 ERA through 23.1 innings, but his 1.59 WHIP and 24:20 K:BB are major causes for concern ahead of a difficult task at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park against the Reds in his next start.

Forcucci (elbow/back) has started twice for Single-A Fayetteville since being cleared to make his professional debut April 10, covering 1.2 innings while striking out three and allowing two earned runs on one hit and five walks.

A third-round selection in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Forcucci didn't pitch at all that season or in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery shortly before being selected by the Astros. The 23-year-old righty had also been managing a back injury in spring training, but he finally received the green light to pitch in games shortly after the Carolina League season got underway. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Forcucci has struggled mightily with his control coming off major elbow surgery. In addition to walking five of the 12 batters he's faced, Forcucci has also hit a batter and uncorked three wild pitches.

Mikolas didn't factor into the decision in Sunday's win over the Giants, allowing four hits and a walk over four scoreless innings of relief. He struck out four.

The veteran right-hander worked as a bulk reliever, taking the mound after PJ Poulin recorded the first two outs for the Nationals, and Mikolas just missed collecting his first win of the season -- Washington scored all three of its runs right after he was lifted after 61 pitches (40 strikes) for Andrew Alvarez, who completed a combined shutout. Mikolas still has an ugly 9.15 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 15:10 K:BB through 19.2 innings over five appearances (three starts) this season, but Sunday's effort was at least encouraging. Mikolas lines up for another favorable matchup, either as a starter or a primary pitcher, next weekend on the road against the White Sox.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that Sandoval isn't expected to require further imaging on his left biceps and will likely resume throwing after a few days of rest, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Shortly before he was scheduled to make his third rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, Sandoval was pulled off his minor-league assignment and reported to Boston to receive further evaluation after experiencing biceps tightness following his previous outing. Fortunately for Sandoval -- who is working his way back from a June 2024 internal brace surgery on his left elbow -- he appears to have avoided any sort of major setback and could soon be ready to link back up with Worcester to continue his rehab assignment. Even so, the 29-year-old left-hander still isn't expected to be ready to return from the 15-day injured list until at least early May, and the Red Sox may not have a rotation spot available for him once he's activated.

The Twins are expected to place Funderburk on the paternity list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Mets, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

With Funderburk's wife due to deliver the couple's first child Monday, the lefty reliever will most likely remain away from the team for its entire upcoming three-game road series in Queens before linking back up with the Twins for their weekend series in Tampa. Minnesota plans to call up left-hander Kendry Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul to take Funderburk's spot on the active roster and in the bullpen. One of five different Twins to record a save this season, Funderburk has also collected four holds while pitching to a 2.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 8:7 K:BB in nine innings.