MLB Player News

Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that Blanco has been suspended 10 games violating the prohibitions on foreign substances, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. He's expected to appeal the suspension.

Blanco was ejected from Tuesday's against the Athletics prior to the fourth inning after umpires examined his glove for a foreign substance. With MLB concurring with the umpires' assessment a day after investigating the matter, an automatic 10-game suspension was triggered for Blanco. The Astros haven't formally deactivated Blanco, so for now, the expectation is that he'll be able to pitch for Houston until the appeal process is completed.

The Athletics placed Wood (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with left rotator cuff tendinitis.

The transaction is retroactive to Monday, so Wood will be eligible to come off the IL as soon as May 28. Given Wood's long track record of injuries and history as a slow healer, however, fantasy managers who have been rostering the veteran southpaw should probably prepare for him to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Wood's shoulder issue had been bothering him during his most recent start this past Sunday in Seattle, prompting the Athletics to pull him after just two innings while his fastball velocity was down about two ticks from his season-long average. The Athletics haven't named an immediate replacement in the rotation for Wood, but Kyle Muller tossed four innings in relief of the lefty last Sunday and could be stretched out enough to step into the vacant starting role this weekend in Kansas City.

The Athletics optioned Basso to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Basso was up in the majors for just one day and didn't make an appearance. The left-hander could still be needed in the Athletics rotation at some point given the big club's mounting injury list, but for now he'll report to Las Vegas. Basso was torched for nine earned runs over 2.1 innings in his lone start with Las Vegas this season but has put up a 2.84 ERA and 32:3 K:BB over 25.1 frames with Double-A Midland.

The Athletics optioned Bido (finger) to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday.

Bido served as the Athletics' 27th man in last Wednesday's doubleheader with the Rangers. He started the second game of the twin bill and was dealt the loss after giving up four earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four across 2.2 innings in a 12-11 Rangers victory. Bido dealt with a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand, so it's unclear if he'll be ready to start when his next turn through Las Vegas' rotation comes up.

Whitlock (oblique) struck out five and allowed two hits and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings Wednesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Worcester.

Whitlock pumped in 40 of his 61 pitches for strikes and induced 12 swings and misses, looking as strong as ever while pitching in a game for the first time since April 16. Even though he didn't get fully stretched out for a traditional starter's workload Wednesday, Whitlock could return from the 15-day injured list to make his next appearance out of the Red Sox rotation. If the Red Sox decide he won't require an additional rehab appearance, Whitlock would likely start with the big club either Monday or Tuesday at Tampa Bay.

Francis (forearm) struck out four batters and allowed only one hit over two scoreless innings Tuesday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Buffalo.

The right-hander was shut down in late April due to forearm tendinitis, but Francis' sharp rehab outing suggests he's just about ready to rejoin the big-league staff. Alek Manoah is coming off a strong start as the fifth starter, so Francis will likely be ticketed for long relief when he returns. After a couple rough outings in the rotation to begin the season, Francis has 2.84 ERA and 5:3 K:BB in 6.1 relief innings for the Blue Jays.

Cole (elbow) threw approximately 36 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday, per MLB.com.

Cole continues to incrementally increase his pitch count during his throwing sessions -- his previous bullpen took place Saturday and included 29 pitches. The veteran right-hander sat at around 89 mph with his fastball in that session, so he appears to still have a ways to go to get back up to full speed, but so far his recovery seems to be going smoothly, with manager Aaron Boone characterizing Cole's outlook as "onward and upward." There's no indication yet of when Cole may begin a rehab assignment, but he isn't likely to be activated off the IL until after the start of June.

Bassitt won't start Wednesday's game against the Orioles at Camden Yards, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Bassitt was slated to start Tuesday in Baltimore before the game was postponed due to inclement weather. Rather than pushing each member of their rotation back a day in the pitching schedule to accommodate the postponement, the Blue Jays will have Yusei Kikuchi take the hill on normal rest Wednesday. As Blake Murphy of Sportsnet.ca notes, Bassitt has been hit hard by left-handed batters this season, and the lefty Kikuchi may give Toronto a better chance at coming away with a win against a lefty-heavy Baltimore lineup. The Blue Jays haven't announced their rotation plans for this weekend's series with the Rays, but expect Bassitt to start at least one of those games rather than having his turn skipped entirely.

Kikuchi is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Orioles in Baltimore, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

After Tuesday's game was postponed, the Blue Jays hadn't initially named a starter for Wednesday's series finale. Rather than pushing Chris Bassitt back a day in the pitching schedule after he had been in line to take the hill Tuesday, the Blue Jays will instead move up Kikuchi and have him take the hill Wednesday on his normal four days' rest. Kikuchi took a loss his last time out Friday against the Twins, but he worked a season-high eight innings and lowered his ERA to 2.64.

Pivetta came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rays, allowing two runs on four hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander generated an impressive 32 called or swinging strikes among his 81 pitches, but both runs off Pivetta came on solo shots by Josh Lowe and Randy Arozarena, with the latter chasing him from the game one out short of his second quality start of the season. Pivetta has served up five homers in two starts since coming off the IL, a worrisome trend, but he'll carry a 3.48 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 22:2 K:BB through 20.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in St. Louis.