MLB Player News

Crochet (2-4) earned the win after he pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out six batters in Sunday's 5-1 victory over the Cardinals.

Crochet was able to make it back-to-back strong outings Sunday, limiting the Cardinals to just one run on a fourth-inning solo home run by Willson Contreras. The left-hander secured his first quality start since April 3 in the win and he has now allowed just three runs over 11 innings in his last two outings. Crochet will carry a 5.31 ERA and 11.7 K/9 into his next projected start Friday at home versus the Guardians.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Javier (neck) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list "by at least the Detroit series," which begins Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander threw 68 pitches over 3.1 innings during his rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. The Astros have already listed their probable starters for the three-game set against the Yankees this week, which sets up Javier to potentially pitch next weekend in Detroit.

Baz (elbow/oblique) gave up three earned runs on three hits and one walk in three innings Saturday during his first rehab start for Triple-A Durham. He failed to record a strikeout and built up to 39 pitches.

He gave up a two-run home run on a changeup to Forrest Wall, which accounted for the brunt of the damage. Baz averaged 95 mph on his fastball, per Thomas Nestco of TJ Stats, and he will probably need to make several more rehab starts before rejoining the big-league rotation.

Pepiot had X-rays come back negative and was diagnosed with a bruised lower left leg after exiting Sunday's start against the Mets, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

The 26-year-old appears to have avoided a serious injury after being struck in the leg by a 107-mph comebacker, which prompted his exit during the third inning Sunday. Pepiot could remain on turn to pitch against the Yankees next weekend if he bounces back well from the injury over the next few days.

Pepiot was removed from Sunday's game against the Mets after being struck in the left leg by a comebacker, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

The right-hander was hit by a line drive that came off the bat at 107 mph, ending his day during the third inning. Pepiot finished with three runs allowed on three hits and a walk over two innings. The specifics of the injury remain unclear, leaving the 26-year-old's availability for his next turn through the rotation up in the air.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Pivetta (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game in Atlanta, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Cora stopped short of confirming Pivetta for Wednesday, as the right-hander presumably needs to check out fine following a bullpen session Sunday or Monday before the Red Sox formally clear him to rejoin the rotation. Pivetta, who has been on the shelf since April 9 with a right elbow flexor strain, made a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday and gave up four earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five across three innings. Despite the less-than-stellar results, the Red Sox were apparently encouraged by how Pivetta felt physically in the outing and are eager to bring him back into the big-league rotation this week.

Whitlock (oblique) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock emerged from the session without issue and will embark on a throwing program. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said "it's just the beginning" when discussing the right-hander's status. Whitlock was placed on the injured list April 17 and seemingly will need at least one rehab start.

Scherzer (back) is still in a holding pattern while waiting for the soreness in his right thumb to subside, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Texas manager Bruce Bochy said the thumb improves every day, but Scherzer is not yet at the point where he can play catch. The right-hander threw 52 pitches in his first rehab start but experienced thumb soreness afterward. His following rehab start, originally scheduled for April 30, was pushed back.

The Blue Jays reinstated Manoah (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday versus the Nationals in Washington.

Manoah will be making his 2024 season debut for the Blue Jays after he opened the campaign on the shelf with right shoulder inflammation before completing a five-start minor-league rehab assignment between stops at Single-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo. The right-hander was far from sharp over the course of the minor-league assignment -- he posted an 8.69 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB across 19.2 frames -- but he finished off his stint at Buffalo in dominant fashion, tossing six innings of one-run ball while striking out 12 and issuing just two walks this past Tuesday. The Blue Jays are hopeful that Manoah can eventually regain the form that made him a third-place finisher in the 2022 American League Cy Young Award balloting, but his fantasy managers may want to tread carefully before activating him. Much like the entirety of his rehab assignment prior to Tuesday, Manoah struggled mightily with his command and control during his time with the Blue Jays and various minor-league affiliates in a disastrous 2023 season.

Kelly (shoulder) was reinstated from the 7-day injured list Friday and struck out one over a scoreless inning of relief in Triple-A Round Rock's 13-1 win over Albuquerque.

Kelly was shelved for just under a month with a shoulder injury before he returned to action for Round Rock earlier this week. The southpaw has made four appearances out of the Triple-A bullpen this season, striking out six while allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks over 3.2 innings.