MLB Player News

The Tigers will promote Manning from Triple-A Toledo to start Monday against the Marlins in Detroit, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Manning is set to rejoin the big club after Kenta Maeda was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a viral illness. The 26-year-old right-hander holds a 0-1 record over three major-league starts this season and sports a 4.24 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 17 innings.

Manning will likely rejoin the big-league rotation with Kenta Maeda (viral illness) being placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Jack Flaherty is currently listed as the starter for Sunday's game against the Astros, but given that Manning was scratched from his Saturday start for Toledo, it's possible he could start Sunday, or at least Monday against the Marlins. Manning has a 4.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 17 strikeouts in 17 innings through three MLB starts this year.

The Tigers placed Maeda on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a viral illness.

Maeda's ailment may in part explain his struggles in his last start against the Guardians on Tuesday, when he allowed seven runs on five hits across two innings. The veteran right-hander will be on the shelf until at least May 23. The Tigers recalled outfielder Akil Baddoo from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move, but Detroit could look to bring up Matt Manning from Triple-A to bolster the rotation in Maeda's absence.

The Athletics recalled Estes from Triple-A Las Vegas ahead of his start against the Mariners on Saturday.

Despite a 2-3 record with a 6.04 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in Triple-A this season, Estes will take to the mound for the Athletics on Saturday in his season debut. The 22-year-old right-hander started in two games for Oakland last season, going 0-1 with a 7.20 ERA and 1.40 WHIP over 10 innings. To make room for Estes, the Athletics optioned left-hander Easton Lucas to Triple-A Las Vegas.

The Astros reinstated Javier (neck) from the 15-day injured list Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Javier landed on the IL on April 21 due to neck discomfort. He made one rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on May 4, throwing 68 pitches while allowing three runs on three hits and two walks over 3.1 innings. To make room on the 40-man roster for Javier, Houston designated right-hander Brandon Bielak for assignment. Javier will start Saturday against the Tigers, though the Astros could limit his workload to ease the right-hander back into the rotation.

Cole (elbow) threw 29 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Cole noted that he had a "pretty good" bullpen session, with 13 of his 29 pitches being breaking balls and his velocity topping at 89 mph. He is set to stay in Tampa Bay and throw another bullpen early in the coming week.

Whitlock (oblique) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock was placed on the 15-day injured list April 17 after sustaining a left oblique strain the day before against the Guardians. Before landing on the IL, Whitlock was 1-0 over four starts with a 1.96 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB over 18.1 innings. How he fares during and after his rehab start Wednesday will determine whether the 27-year-old right-hander will require more than one outing in the minors to prepare for his return.

Scherzer (back) revealed Friday that he received a cortisone injection in his right thumb after undergoing additional tests Wednesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The exam revealed that Scherzer's thumb issue is more nerve-related than skeletal, and the right-hander noticed significant improvement following the injection. Scherzer noted that he passed multiple strength tests that would have indicated a ligament issue, and his rehab plan has changed accordingly. The 39-year-old was on the field Friday playing catch for the first time since having his program delayed due to issues with his right thumb and forearm.

Houck (3-4) took the loss Friday as the Red Sox fell 5-1 to the Nationals, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander pitched well and gave Boston another quality start, Houck's fifth straight and seventh in eight outings this season, but his offense let him down. Houck will carry a 2.24 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 50:8 K:BB through 52.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home next week against the Rays.

Kikuchi (2-3) took the loss Friday as the Blue Jays were downed 3-2 by the Twins, giving up two runs on four hits over eight innings. He struck out three without walking a batter.

The left-hander pounded the strike zone, firing 68 of 97 pitches for strikes in his fifth quality start of the year, and he generated plenty of weak contact -- even Carlos Santana's solo homer in the fifth inning had a sub-100 mph exit velocity and barely made it over the fence down the right-field line. It was the longest outing of Kikuchi's Toronto tenure, and his longest MLB start since he gave the Mariners a shutout win in August 2019, which coincidentally was against the Jays. Kikuchi will take a 2.64 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 46:9 K:BB through 47.2 innings into his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Baltimore.