MLB Player News

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Monday that Flexen will remain in the rotation for now but will "at some point" pitch out of the bullpen, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports.

Flexen has permitted 13 runs with a 7:6 K:BB over 13.1 innings in his three starts this season. The White Sox will keep him in the rotation for the time being more out of necessity, but it sounds like he might be headed for a long relief role once Mike Clevinger is ready.

Verlander (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, and if all goes well, he's expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to make his first start of the season this weekend in Washington, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out three over four innings in his second minor-league rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi this past weekend. While his results weren't encouraging, Verlander more importantly built up to 77 pitches and reported no setbacks coming out of the rehab outing. He'll link back up with the Astros this week and will have his bullpen session monitored by the coaching and training staffs, but assuming he checks out fine, he should be on track to start Friday's series opener versus the Nationals.

Rodriguez will start Friday against the Padres, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Rodriguez impressed in his major-league debut Saturday against the Rockies, allowing run run with six strikeouts over 3.2 innings. While the right-hander will stick in the Blue Jays' rotation for now, the team will surely need to curtail his workload eventually. Rodriguez didn't pitch at all in 2023 and was used as a reliever in Japan in 2022.

Valdez (elbow) played some light catch Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

He had been slated to play catch Tuesday, but evidently the decision was made to move it up a day. Valdez is on the injured list with left elbow inflammation but is hopeful that he can return when first eligible April 23. It's possible, though he certainly has more work to do first before he can reach that goal.

The White Sox selected Nastrini's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Nastrini is set to make his major-league debut Monday against the Royals. The 24-year-old posted a 7.71 ERA in two starts with Charlotte, although that came with a 13:3 K:BB across seven innings. Nastrini was also impacted by an illness in his first start with Charlotte before pitching better his next time out, allowing three runs (two earned) with an 8:1 K:BB in four frames. He got his pitch count to 78 in that outing, so he should be get for 90 or so Monday.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Means (forearm) will make another rehab start during the upcoming week, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Means made the third start of his rehab assignment this past Thursday with Triple-A Norfolk, striking out three over three innings while allowing two runs on two hits and two walks. The lefty tossed 61 pitches (35 strikes) in the start, so he may need only one or two more outings in the minors before getting cleared to return from the 15-day injured list. Once activated, Means will most likely join the rotation as a replacement for Cole Irvin, as the two southpaws' pitching schedules are currently aligned.

Lorenzen (neck) was activated from the 15-day injured list by the Rangers on Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Lorenzen is set to make his Rangers and season debut with a start Monday in Detroit. While technically on the IL with a neck injury, Lorenzen making three rehab starts had as much or more to do with knocking the rust off after he didn't sign until late March. He held a 6.35 ERA and 13:9 K:BB over 11.1 innings in those rehab outings and doesn't make for a very desirable fantasy start Monday.

Bradish (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie on Tuesday.

It had been reported that Bradish was set to start a rehab assignment this week, and now the exact day and location has been revealed. He's slated for 2-to-3 innings and/or 40-to-50 pitches Tuesday, per Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com. The right-hander's rehab from a partial UCL tear has come along as well as could be expected, but it's basically the start of spring training for him, so he could need most, if not all, of his 30-day rehab window before rejoining the Orioles' rotation.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that he's considering a bullpen game Thursday versus the Guardians rather than starting Criswell, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

It's Criswell's turn in the rotation, and while he could still pitch multiple innings Thursday, he might not be deployed as a traditional starter. Cora noted that any pitcher that ultimately starts Thursday will depend on who is needed in relief over the next few days. Criswell allowed two runs over four innings in his first start against the Angels on Saturday.

Bradley (pectoral) will throw three innings Wednesday at the Rays' extended spring training facility, MLB.com reports.

Bradley threw a two-inning live batting practice session Friday and will now take the next step in his recovery. He'll need to increase his pitch count and stamina before returning, though he could be activated from the 15-day injured list in the first half of May.