MLB Player News

The Royals selected Veneziano's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday.

The left-hander has a 4.22 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 79:43 K:BB across 89.2 innings (18 appearances) for Omaha this season, and he'll receive a look with the major-league club down the stretch. Veneziano could help fill the rotation spot of Brady Singer, who landed on the injured list Tuesday with a back strain.

Keller was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to symptoms associated with thoracic outlet syndrome.

Keller dealt with symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome earlier this season while on the injured list with a shoulder impingement, and those symptoms apparently resurfaced since being reinstated from the injured list Sept. 9. The right-hander will finish 2023 having pitched in just 11 games, and he had a 4.76 ERA, 1.94 WHIP and 31:45 K:BB over 45.1 innings. He's scheduled to hit free agency during the offseason, but the injury will cloud his outlook for 2024.

Singer was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a left lower lumbar strain.

The right-hander presumably picked up the injury during Monday's start against Cleveland, during which he gave up four runs over six innings. Singer had a strong six-week stretch from late June to mid-August with a 3.05 ERA across 59 innings, but he moves to the injured list having surrendered 24 earned runs in his past five starts. The 27-year-old won't be eligible to return until after the end of the regular season, and he closes the campaign with a 5.52 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 133:49 K:BB in 159.2 frames. Singer is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility and has more than four months to get healthy for spring training.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay confirmed that Estes will be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas to start Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Oakland will likely wait until a few hours before Wednesday's 3:37 p.m. ET opening pitch to make Estes' call-up official, but the 22-year-old right-hander will get the chance to make his MLB debut as the season winds down. Acquired last March as part of a prospect haul in the deal that sent All-Star first baseman Matt Olson to Atlanta, Estes has been one of the Athletics' better upper-level starting pitchers in the minors this season. Between stops at Double-A Midland and Las Vegas, Estes has struck out 131 and walked 43 over 137 innings while pitching to a 3.74 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.

McKenzie (elbow) is set to make the second start of his rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Columbus, MLB.com reports.

After covering three innings and tossing 44 pitches in his first rehab outing last Wednesday with Double-A Akron, McKenzie will shift his rehab assignment to the Guardians' top affiliate this week for what will likely be his final start in the minors before he returns from the 60-day injured list. The Guardians are targeting McKenzie for around 65 pitches Tuesday, and if all goes well, he could slot back into the big-league rotation as soon as this Sunday versus the Orioles. McKenzie has been on the shelf since mid-June with a right UCL sprain.

Verlander did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over six innings against the Orioles. He struck out five.

Verlander has now gone six or more innings in each of his last four starts, though he's pitched to a 5.19 ERA in that span. Overall, the veteran right-hander is 11-8 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 131:41 K:BB through 25 starts (149.1 innings) this season between the Astros and the Mets. Verlander's currently lined up for a favorable home matchup with the Royals in his next outing.

Lynch (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session with Triple-A Omaha this week and is expected to make at least one rehab appearance there soon, MLB.com reports.

It does not sound like Lynch will make it back to the Royals' active roster this season, but making some appearances before the season comes to a close could give the lefty some peace of mind heading into the winter. Lynch has been limited to just nine starts for Kansas City along with five rehab starts in 2023 due to shoulder issues.

Means did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over five innings in an 8-7 win over Houston. He struck out one.

After allowing a run in the opening frame, Means would rebound to blank the Astros over his final four innings in an eventual no-decision. The left-hander only has two strikeouts in two starts (10 innings) since returning from Tommy John surgery, though he's been able to do a relatively effective job of limiting damage by allowing just four runs. Means will try for his first win since 2021 in his next outing, currently scheduled for this weekend in Cleveland.

Bieber (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday and, if it goes well, he could return from the 60-day injured list to make a start later this week, MLB.com reports.

The Guardians don't currently have a starter listed for Thursday's home game against the Orioles, so that start could fall to Bieber if he feels good during Tuesday's mound session. In his second and likely final rehab start this past Sunday at Triple-A Columbus, Bieber fanned seven and gave up no hits and three walks over 3.2 scoreless frames. He threw 64 pitches in the outing, so the righty would be relatively limited from a pitch-count perspective in his first start back, especially if he ends up getting the nod Thursday on three days' rest. Bieber has been sidelined since mid-July with right elbow inflammation.

Montgomery didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 4-2 win over the Red Sox, striking out eight while allowing one run on five hits over seven innings.

Montgomery turned in another excellent outing and has now worked seven innings apiece in his last two starts. He's allowed just one run between those outings, after surrendering 11 runs in his previous two starts. The southpaw is 9-11 on the season with a 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 155:44 K:BB across 30 starts (175.2 innings) between the Rangers and Cardinals. Montgomery will look to keep his hot streak rolling in his next outing, currently scheduled for this weekend against Seattle.