MLB Player News

McKenzie did not factor into the decision Friday against the Twins, allowing one run on two hits and four walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out five.

McKenzie posted his second consecutive quality start, and the Cleveland right-hander has made six straight starts in which he's allowed two or fewer runs while generating five or more strikeouts, producing a 2.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 35:19 K:BB in 34 innings over that stretch. McKenzie is scheduled to face the Mets at home in his next outing.

Miller (3-4) took the loss Friday against the Orioles, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out one.

All of the damage against Miller came in the first inning, when the Orioles put up five runs before the right-hander could record an out. Miller would settle in and blank Baltimore over his final 4.1 frames, allowing just two more hits, though the Mariners couldn't climb out of the early hole in an eventual 9-2 defeat. The 24-year-old Miller has been solid this year overall, holding opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his nine starts. He sports a 3.08 ERA with a 0.99 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB across 52.2 innings this season. Miller is currently lined up for a tough road matchup with the Yankees in his next outing.

Means (2-0) earned the win Friday over the Mariners, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out four.

Means got off to a rocky start, allowing a run on three hits in the first inning. However, he'd settle down and hold Seattle to just one additional run over his final five frames in an eventual 9-2 win. It was a nice bounce-back effort from Means after he gave up four runs to Arizona in just 4.2 innings his last time out. The 31-year-old southpaw lowered his ERA to 3.06 with a 0.85 WHIP and 15 strikeouts over 17.2 innings, and he has yet to issue a walk. Means is currently lined up for a road matchup with the Cardinals in his next outing.

Maeda (illness) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Maeda has been dealing with a viral illness that landed him on the IL on May 11. He began throwing off a mound Wednesday and will now progress to a rehab start, putting Maeda in line to return to the rotation May 24 against the Blue Jays. The 36-year-old right-hander is 1-1 in seven starts this season with a 6.75 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB over 30.2 innings.

Whitlock (oblique) reported soreness in his right elbow following his rehab start at Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock looked good during his outing Wednesday, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out five batters, but any trouble with his elbow could cause his return to the Red Sox to be postponed. The 27-year-old righty will be examined by team doctors in Boston on Monday. Whitlock has been on the shelf since mid-April due to a left oblique strain.

Eovaldi (groin) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Friday will mark the first time Eovaldi has thrown off a mound since being diagnosed with a right groin strain May 3. He's eligible to return from the IL on Saturday, but considering the right-hander is just now resuming mound work, he may still be a week or two from returning to Texas' rotation. A clearer timeline for his return should emerge once he progresses to facing live hitters.

Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.

Urquidy (forearm) will make another rehab start after his upcoming outing at Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy is slated for four innings (60-65 pitches) in Saturday's contest, so the Astros will keep him in the minors for an additional rehab appearance to stretch him out further. The 29-year-old righty struggled in his first rehab outing, giving up three earned runs across 2.2 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming his third start in the minors will be his last, Urquidy is in line to pitch again for the Astros in Seattle on May 29.

Rodriguez (back) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

After throwing off a mound earlier this week, Rodriguez is set to make his first rehab appearance Tuesday. He made four starts prior to his back flaring up, but with the Blue Jays having indicated they wanted to monitor his workload in 2024, he could shift to the bullpen once he returns.

Bido is making progress in his recovery from a blister on his pitching hand that he developed during a May 8 start against the Rangers, and the Athletics still view him as an option for the big-league rotation, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

After turning in a 2.59 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over 31.1 innings at Triple-A Las Vegas, Bido made a spot start in a doubleheader but was pulled midway through the third inning of the second game, and he was returned to Las Vegas two days later. The right-hander hasn't pitched for Las Vegas since, but he could rejoin the big club as soon as Friday, when Oakland will have an opening in its rotation for a series opener in Kansas City. Bido served as the 27th man for the doubleheader last week, so he's eligible to be called back up at any time.