MLB Player News

Bielak will start for the Astros on Tuesday against the Rockies, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The Astros will push J.P. France back a day and also give Framber Valdez (ankle) a little extra time. Bielak has posted a 4.37 ERA and 37:18 K:BB over 47.1 innings this season, making eight starts and one relief appearance. The Rockies away from Coors Field is about as good of a matchup as it gets, but Bielak still isn't a great streaming option.

McKenzie (elbow) will remain shut down for three more weeks, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

McKenzie has already been shut down for more than two weeks after being diagnosed with partially torn right UCL in mid-June. He will attempt to rehab the injury with rest, with the goal of starting a throwing program later this month and eventually returning late in the season. Of course, Tommy John surgery is always a possibility with this type of injury if rest and rehab doesn't do the trick.

Whitlock is expected to be placed on the 15-day injured list in the coming days, but his right elbow injury isn't considered serious, Sean McAdam of The Springfield Republican reports.

Whitlock had to be removed from Sunday's start against the Blue Jays due to tightness in his pitching elbow. While the results of an MRI have not yet been revealed, McAdam hears that the injury "is not being considered a major setback." Theoretically, Whitlock could miss only one start with the All-Star break coming up, although it's not clear at this point whether he will be ready to go when his 15 days are up or close to it. The good news is that it appears he's avoided a long-term injury.

Bielak will be available in relief Monday versus the Rangers but is an option to start Tuesday against the Rockies, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak was recalled earlier Monday following a brief stint back in the minors. J.P. France is on turn to start Tuesday and remains an option, as well, but he could get pushed back a day depending on whether Framber Valdez (ankle) is ready.

Urquidy (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Urquidy has thrown off the mound a few times without issue and is now ready to face hitters for the first time since going down with right shoulder inflammation back in early May. He's eligible for activation at the start of the second half but presumably will require multiple rehab starts before rejoining Houston's rotation.

The Twins promoted Raya from High-A Cedar Rapids to Double-A Wichita on Monday.

Raya will make the jump to Double-A after he churned out a 2.94 ERA and 0.93 WHIP while striking out 29.5 percent of the batters he faced. In an effort to manage the 20-year-old's workload, the Twins have limited Raya to 3-to-4-inning starts for most of the season. That trend is expected to continue in Wichita.

The Astros recalled Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Bielak will return to Houston as a replacement for Shawn Dubin, who had previously been called up from Sugar Land on June 18 to fill Bielak's spot on the 26-man active roster. Though he made just one start for Sugar Land during his brief time in the minors, Bielak showed well in that June 24 outing, covering six innings while allowing one earned run on five hits and one walk. Bielak looks poised to re-enter the Houston rotation the next time the team requires a fifth starter Friday versus the Mariners, though he could be needed as soon as Tuesday or Wednesday against the Rockies in the event Framber Valdez needs more time to recover from an ankle injury.

Manoah struck out 10 and gave up one run on three hits and three walks over five innings in a start for Double-A New Hampshire on Sunday.

While this performance was a huge leap forward from his last outing in the Florida Complex League, there were still signs Manoah isn't yet ready to rejoin the Blue Jays rotation. The right-hander threw only 47 of 82 pitches for strikes, and the organization will likely want to see better efficiency from him before considering his reset a success. Per Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic, Manoah was sitting 93-94 mph with his fastball and topped out at 95 mph, a step up from the 92.8 mph he averaged through his first 13 big-league starts this year -- just one of the factors that led to a brutal 6.36 ERA, 1.90 WHIP and 2.1 percent K%-BB%. The Jays have yet to announce when, or at which level, he will make his next start.

Rodriguez (finger) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

After returning Matt Manning from the 60-day IL last week, the Tigers will get two more reinforcements to the rotation in the final week before the All-Star break. Tarik Skubal (elbow) will return from the 60-day IL to start Tuesday's series opener, while Rodriguez returns from a five-week absence to take the hill Wednesday. Before being shelved with a ruptured pulley in his left index finger, Rodriguez had been putting together a Cy Young Award-worthy campaign, cobbling together a 2.13 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 67:16 K:BB in 67.2 innings through his first 11 starts. The veteran southpaw looked sharp in his lone minor-league rehab start last Thursday with Triple-A Toledo, striking out four over 4.1 scoreless frames while scattering three hits and one walk.

Paxton is expected to begin paternity leave Tuesday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Paxton's leave, along with Garrett Whitlock being removed from Sunday's game due to elbow tightness, leaves Boston's rotation for the coming week to be determined. Given the maximum three-game absence for paternity leaves, Paxton is expected to rejoin Boston's rotation at some point during the weekend series against Oakland.