MLB Player News

Ryan (groin) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday versus the Rangers, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Ryan has been given the official go-ahead to rejoin the Twins' rotation after throwing 71 pitches and striking out seven batters over four innings of one-run ball in his lone minor-league rehab start last Friday with Triple-A St. Paul. The 27-year-old right-hander landed on the injured list Aug. 3 due to a left groin strain.

Flaherty (soreness) was able to do some throwing Friday, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.

Flaherty experienced some general soreness following his last start against the Padres Aug. 15, during which he was lit up for seven earned runs on four hits and four walks over just three innings. Kyle Bradish will start for Baltimore on Saturday against the visiting Rockies, but the Orioles' pitching schedule beyond that has to be determined. Flaherty could perhaps be ready to take the hill for Sunday's series finale versus Colorado or Monday's series opener versus the White Sox.

Mize (elbow) is set to throw live batting practice Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

It will be his first time facing live hitters since he underwent both Tommy John and back surgery last summer. Mize is hoping to make a few appearances for the Tigers before the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, though the clock is obviously ticking.

Boston transferred Kluber (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

This move clears out a 40-man roster spot for reliever Zack Weiss, who has been claimed off waivers from the Angels. Kluber has been sidelined since June 21 because of a shoulder injury and there remains no timetable for his return to the Red Sox. The veteran right-hander just recently resumed playing catch.

Houston optioned Bielak to Triple-A Sugar Land on Friday.

Bielak allowed three earned runs over 5.1 innings of long relief in the Astros' blowout loss to the Red Sox on Thursday. He threw 112 pitches during that appearance and wasn't going to be available for the next handful of days.

Anderson (5-5) gave up four runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings in relief of Shohei Ohtani (elbow) Wednesday to take the loss against the Reds in the first game of a doubleheader.

Because Ohtani exited midway through the second inning with a UCL tear, Anderson was needed in long relief and ended up getting what amounted to a de facto start on normal rest. He was ultimately saddled with the loss but should have some longer-term security in the Anaheim rotation with the Angels having already announced that Ohtani won't pitch again this season. Anderson will end up missing out on a start during this weekend's series against the Mets, however. He'll likely make his next trip to the mound in Philadelphia to begin the upcoming week.

Williams (1-5) took the loss Thursday, allowing seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over 4.1 innings against the Dodgers. He struck out five.

The rookie appeared to be in a good rhythm through the first two innings, but things began to unravel for the right-hander in the third beginning with a leadoff double from Enrique Hernandez. Two runs would come across for Los Angeles in the inning and Williams continued to struggle over the next two frames before being replaced by Hunter Gaddis. Williams allowed a career-high five earned runs on the afternoon and failed to make it through five innings for the first time in his last five starts. He's now 0-3 through five August starts, though he does carry a solid 37:9 K:BB over that stretch.

Waldichuk allowed five runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out four batters over five innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on Thursday.

Waldichuk carried a 3-1 lead into the fifth frame, but he surrendered the lead by giving up four runs in that inning. Three of those came via the long ball, as Elvis Andrus tagged him for a solo homer and Luis Robert knocked a two-run shot. Altogether, Waldichuk gave up three home runs, the sixth time this season he's surrendered multiple long balls in a contest. The mediocre outing ended a strong three-start stretch in which the southpaw had posted a 2.70 ERA and 18:5 K:BB over 16.2 frames.

Heaney allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out five batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against Minnesota on Thursday.

Heaney entered the contest having given up just two homers over his past seven outings covering 32 innings, but he had trouble keeping the ball in the park against the Twins. The three long balls he allowed tied a season-high mark, though the impact was softened by the fact that all three were solo shots. Still, Heaney failed to take advantage of his team's generous early run support, as he was pulled after just 4.1 frames. The left-hander emerged from the All-Star break on a roll with four wins and a 2.33 ERA over 27 innings across his first five starts, but he's gone less than five frames in each of his past three outings and has allowed seven runs over 9.1 innings during that span.

Lopez allowed five runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out four batters over five innings in a no-decision against Texas on Thursday.

Lopez entered the contest in the midst of one of the most effective stretches of his career, tossing three straight scoreless appearances during which he posted a 0.95 WHIP and 22:3 K:BB over 19 innings. He saw the scoreless streak come to an end quickly Thursday when Marcus Semien tagged him for a homer leading off the game. That was one of three long balls Lopez served up in the contest, and he exited after five frames having yielded five runs and a season-high 10 hits. The mediocre outing is understandable given that Lopez was facing the league's second-highest scoring team, and he still holds an excellent 2.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 46:7 K:BB over 42 innings across his past seven starts.