MLB Player News

Flaherty (0-7) took the loss against the Angels on Thursday, completing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits and one walk while striking nine batters.

Flaherty was dominant at times, racking up 20 whiffs and nine punchouts. He held the Angels scoreless through four frames, but he lost steam in a three-run fifth inning, and the lack of run support from Detroit's offense saddled Flaherty with yet another defeat. The veteran right-hander is not only tied for the MLB lead with seven losses, he's also yet to win a game through 12 starts. Flaherty is at least providing his fantasy managers with punchouts -- he has 64 over 52.2 frames -- but his 5.81 ERA and 1.61 WHIP have landed him on many waiver wires.

Rodriguez (2-1) earned the win over Detroit on Thursday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five batters over five innings.

Rodriguez allowed a second-inning solo homer to Wenceel Perez, but that was the only run the Tigers managed against him. In fact, Rodriguez yielded just one other hit -- a first-inning single -- and retired 10 of the 11 batters he faced following the long ball. This was easily the left-hander's best outing since making his season debut May 17, as he gave up 11 runs across 9.1 frames over his other two starts. Rodriguez will look to build upon Thursday's performance next time he takes the mound, which lines up to be at home versus Colorado early next week.

Scherzer (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After receiving the green light to face live hitters Wednesday, Scherzer is now set to return to a competitive setting for the first time since landing on the IL in late April wth forearm tendinitis and ankle inflammation. He's expected to throw between 45 and 60 pitches during his first minor-league outing, and manager John Schneider said the future Hall of Famer will likely need to make multiple rehab starts before he returns from the injured list.

The Orioles selected Weston's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.

Weston has excelled at collecting strikeouts in the minors this season, fanning 40 batters in just 27.1 innings, but he's struggled to limit runs while posting a 6.26 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. Despite his poor effectiveness, the Orioles will add him to their big-league roster and likely deploy him as a multi-inning reliever. Trey Gibson was optioned to Norfolk in a corresponding move.

The Orioles optioned Gibson to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.

Gibson gave the Orioles 5.2 innings of one-run ball during his season debut in Wednesday's win. Now that his duties as a spot starter are complete, he'll head back to Triple-A in favor of Cameron Weston. Gibson owns a 3.65 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 12.1 innings through his first three MLB appearances and figures to remain a candidate for additional spot starts throughout the season.

Castillo is slated to work out of the bullpen and will piggyback starter Bryce Miller during Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks in Seattle, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Though both Castillo and Miller have expressed a reluctance to being used in a piggyback arrangement, the two pitchers will nonetheless operate in a tandem for a third consecutive turn through the rotation. The setup worked well the last time out Monday in Sacramento, with Castillo starting the game and delivering one of his better efforts of the season, as he struck out six and allowed just two hits and two walks over four scoreless frames. Miller followed with five innings of two-run ball and was credited with the win, but Castillo should have better odds of factoring into the decision Sunday while he and Miller are used in the opposite order. The Mariners will reassess their rotation plans after Sunday's contest, and Castillo may need another strong showing against Arizona to ensure that he avoids moving into a full-time relief role.

Miller is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks in Seattle and will be used in tandem with Luis Castillo, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Though both Miller and Castillo have expressed displeasure with being deployed in a piggyback arrangement, the two pitchers will nonetheless operate in a tandem for a third consecutive turn through the rotation. The setup worked well the last time out Monday in Sacramento, with Castillo delivering four shutout frames to open the game before Miller followed with four strikeouts over five innings of two-run ball en route to picking up his first win of the season. The two will pitch in the opposite order Sunday, and while being piggybacked by Castillo will likely suppress MIller's workload, the latter should still be able to reach the five innings he would need to hit to qualify for a win in a starting role. Since being activated from the injured list May 13, Miller has covered between five and 5.2 innings and 72 and 83 pitches over his three appearances while posting a 2.55 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

Woods Richardson will start Thursday's game versus the White Sox in place of the injured Kendry Rojas (elbow), Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Rojas had to be scratched because of a sore pitching elbow. Woods Richardson's last two appearances both came in relief, and he will be starting on just two days' rest after throwing 35 pitches over two frames Monday against Chicago. The right-hander's last start came more than two weeks ago, and he will be facing a restricted workload versus the White Sox.

Bubic (elbow) is still dealing with general left arm fatigue, MLB.com reports.

Bubic began a throwing program this past weekend and continues to play catch despite not yet feeling 100 percent. The southpaw will not be allowed to ramp things up until he's no longer feeling fatigue in his pitching arm, so there remains no timetable for Bubic's return to the Royals' rotation. He posted a 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 51:26 K:BB across 50.1 innings before landing on the 15-day injured list with left elbow discomfort in mid-May.

Skubal (elbow) will throw another simulated game Monday at Tropicana Field, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Skubal tossed 39 pitches over 2.2 innings in a simulated game Tuesday and will build up further Monday. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Skubal's next throwing session after Monday's will occur June 7. Woodbery speculates that it could line Skubal up to make a rehab start June 12 before rejoining the Tigers' rotation June 17 in Houston, though nothing is official on that front at this point.