MLB Player News

Cortes didn't factor into the decision Thursday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in a 5-4 win over Houston. He struck out five.

The Astros got to Cortes early Thursday, scoring three runs in the opening inning before Jake Meyers led off the second with a solo homer. While it looked like the game could get out of hand, Cortes recovered to set down 12 of the final 13 batters he faced, ultimately winding up with a no-decision, as the Yankees scored five unanswered runs in a comeback win. New York is perhaps counting on a bounce-back campaign from Cortes after he made just 12 starts last year, going 5-2 with a 4.97 ERA. The left-hander is tentatively lined up for a road matchup with the Diamondbacks in his next outing.

Valdez allowed three runs on five hits and six walks over 4.2 innings in a no-decision Thursday against the Yankees. He struck out five.

Valdez managed to skirt danger through the first four innings, holding the Yankees off the board thanks to three double-play balls. However, the left-hander's shaky command finally caught up with him in the fifth, when he was tagged for three runs. While his final line ultimately could have looked a lot worse, it's a discouraging outing from Valdez, who's expected to anchor the Astros' rotation while Justin Verlander (shoulder) is sidelined. Valdez went 12-11 last season with a 3.45 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 200:57 K:BB across 31 starts.

The Rangers placed Scherzer (back) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

According to Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News, Scherzer threw a bullpen session Tuesday, which is believed to be the first time he stepped back on the mound since undergoing surgery in December to address a herniated disc in his back. Scherzer said that his pitching arm feels good, and he estimated that he's in what would be the early February portion of his throwing program if he had been coming into a normal spring training rather than rehabbing from surgery. Rangers general manager Chris Young said Wednesday that there are no plans at this point to shift Scherzer to the 60-day injured list, per Buster Olney of ESPN, suggesting the veteran right-hander could be ready to rejoin the rotation before the end of May.

The Rangers placed Mahle (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Mahle is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery. The Rangers are hopeful that he'll make enough progress in his rehab to become a rotation option at some point after the All-Star break.

The Athletics placed Medina (knee) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Medina suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain to his right knee in early March during a Cactus League appearance. According to MLB.com, Medina has been able to play catch from his knees recently, and he'll progress to playing catch while standing up once the soreness in his knee subsides. He's still without a clear timetable for making his 2024 debut.

The Rangers selected Urena's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

The veteran hurler held a 2.25 ERA and 14:3 K:BB over 16 innings this spring to win a spot on the Opening Day roster. Most of Urena's big-league experience is as a starter, but he will be used in long relief by the Rangers for the time being.

The Mariners recalled Hancock from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday.

The 24-year-old had been sent down last week, but he will enter the Seattle rotation as a replacement for the injured Bryan Woo (elbow). Hancock's first start of the season is slated to come Monday against the Guardians.

The White Sox placed Drohan (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.

A Rule 5 selection this winter, Drohan missed the entirety of his first spring training with Chicago while recovering from left shoulder nerve decompression surgery. According to MLB.com, Drohan is expected to begin a throwing program shortly after the regular season begins, but his placement on the 60-day IL implies that the White Sox expect him to take nearly two months to get fully ramped up. Drohan served primarily as a starter for the Red Sox's Triple-A affiliate in Worcester last season, registering a 6.37 ERA, 1.85 WHIP and 93:63 K:BB in 89 innings.

The Tigers placed Gipson-Long (groin) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Gipson-Long didn't pitch during the Grapefruit League while battling a left groin strain, so his move to the IL to begin the regular season was fully expected. After an eye-opening finish to the 2023 campaign over his first four big-league starts with the Tigers, Gipson-Long had been expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring if the groin injury hadn't cropped up. Because of the missed time in addition to the Tigers' other rotation options being in generally good health, Gipson-Long could be optioned to Triple-A Toledo once he completes a minor-league rehab assignment. Per MLB.com, Gipson-Long has resumed facing hitters in live batting practice as of last week, so he shouldn't be far away from reporting to an affiliate for game action.

The Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

Means will be eased along slowly into the season after he experienced a flareup in his surgically repaired left elbow back in October. According to MLB.com, Means was about a month behind the Orioles' healthy pitchers in his throwing progression when he reported to spring training Feb. 14, so he only recently reached the point in his ramp-up program where he's able to face hitters. Means is expected to report to Triple-A Norfolk in the near future for a rehab assignment and is likely to make multiple starts on the farm before the Orioles are comfortable bringing him back from the IL.