MLB Player News

Kremer (3-1) allowed one run on six hits and two walks over six innings Friday, striking out three and earning a win over Atlanta.

Kremer coughed up a run in the first inning before settling in for a nice quality start. Despite recording just three punchouts, he forced a season-high 15 swinging strikes. Kremer lowered his ERA to 5.80 through 35.2 frames. He's given up at least four runs in five of his seven starts, though he's yielded just one run in a combined 12.2 innings in the other two. Kremer is projected to face the Rays at home next week.

The Astros announced Friday that Garcia will undergo Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery and miss the remainder of the 2023 season.

Garcia ends his season with a 2-2 record, 4.00 ERA and 31:10 K:BB over six starts. The right-hander left Monday's outing against the Giants after just eight pitches, and further evaluation determined that the operation was necessary. The earliest he could rejoin the Astros' rotation is likely next summer. In the meantime, Houston may be scrambling to reinforce the big-league staff, although there is a chance Lance McCullers (forearm) could return within the next month.

Astros manager Dusty Baker announced Friday that Bielak will start Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown will start the series finale against Seattle on Sunday with Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez pitching Monday and Tuesday against the Angels. Bielak pitched reasonably well in relief of Luis Garcia on Monday with six strikeouts over four innings while allowing two runs on two hits with three walks. Bielak should be stretched out enough to qualify for a win chance while he's getting starts with the Astros, but he's far from an elite fantasy option and he'll be matchup dependent in terms of recommendation.

Rodon has been told his back issue is chronic, and there's no clear idea of when he might return, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. "I can't put a timeline on anything," Rodon said.

Rodon will undergo a cortisone injection in the early part of next week in the hopes it will help him get back on a mound more quickly. Unfortunately, it sounds like this might not just be an issue for the left-hander in 2023, but potentially throughout his career. Rodon has very little chance of returning in the month of May, and it's possible he won't be able to make his debut for the Yankees until after the All-Star break.

Skubal (elbow) will throw another bullpen session Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Skubal's last bullpen session was Sunday, during which he only threw fastballs. The Tigers still have not set a target date for Skubal's return, but considering he has yet to be cleared to face live hitters, it's possible he stays on the IL beyond his eligible return date of May 29.

Mahle (elbow) was moved to the 60-day injured list Friday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Mahle was diagnosed with a right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain last week and landed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. He will be shut down from throwing for at least four weeks and will have to be gradually built back up in order to return to a starter role. He'll be eligible to return in early July, but there's a decent chance Mahle will be out until after the All-Star break.

Lynch (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch said he feels "healthy and ready to go" after his bullpen session. He allowed two earned runs in his first rehab start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, but he also struck out six batters across 2.1 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw is scheduled to make another rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Omaha and throw somewhere between 65 and 75 pitches.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday that Rodon (back) will have a cortisone injection as soon as possible, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Boone told reporters that the medical consensus is that it will help him get back on the mound more quickly. Rodon has recovered from the forearm issue that kept him out at the beginning of the season, but the back trouble he picked up during his rehab has stagnated his progress. It seems likely that the left-hander's return will be closer to the end of May than the middle of it.

Crawford's left hamstring strain which forced him to the injured list is considered mild, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Crawford tweaked his hamstring during an appearance Wednesday versus the Blue Jays. It sounds like he could have avoided the IL, but this allows him to take his time and for the Red Sox to add a fresh bullpen arm.

Crawford was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a left hamstring strain, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Crawford was initially considered day-to-day after leaving Wednesday's game against Toronto with hamstring tightness, but his injury now seems to be more severe than previously thought. Kaleb Ort will be recalled from Triple-A Worcester to replace Crawford in Boston's bullpen.