MLB Player News

Skubal (elbow) tossed a 15-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Skubal threw exclusively fastballs during the session, which marked his first time taking part in mound work in nearly nine months after he underwent flexor tendon surgery last August. After opening the season on the 60-day injured list, Skubal won't be eligible to make his 2023 debut until May 29, but the Tigers haven't provided a firm target date for him to be activated. A clearer timeline for his debut could come into focus once he completes several more side sessions and faces live hitters in batting practice before advancing to what will likely be a multi-start minor-league rehab assignment.

The Mariners placed McGee on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right forearm strain.

McGee's move to the IL comes after he was brilliant in a spot start for Seattle in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Toronto, as he twirled 6.2 innings of shutout baseball. The rookie right-hander's arm was apparently hurting after the effort, however, and he'll now be sidelined for at least two weeks while while recovering from the strain. Outfielder Taylor Trammell (wrist) was activated off the injured list in a corresponding transaction.

Severino (lat) will begin a rehab assignment either Wednesday or Thursday for High-A Tampa, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Severino will likely need to make multiple rehab starts before returning to the Yankees' rotation, as he's missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from a lat strain. If everything goes well in his minor-league outings, the right-hander could be a member of the Yankees' rotation around the middle of May.

Mahle's (elbow) MRI and X-ray results will be reviewed with the team doctor Sunday, but manager Rocco Baldelli expects the right-hander to miss at least one turn through the rotation, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 28-year-old was diagnosed with an impingement to the back of his right elbow after exiting his start against the Royals on Thursday, and more information should be available once the medical imaging is reviewed. Mahle may have a difficult time avoiding the injured list, especially since the Twins are already down a starter with Kenta Maeda (triceps) on the shelf.

Gausman didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 1-0 extra-inning win over the Mariners, allowing six hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings while striking out a season-high 13.

The veteran right-hander delivered another dominant performance along with his fifth quality start in six outings this season, but Gausman found himself locked in an unlikely pitchers' duel with unheralded rookie Easton McGee, who was making his first career big-league start. Gausman has double-digit punchouts in three of his last four trips to the mound, and he'll take a 2.33 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 54:6 K:BB through 38.2 innings into his next start, likely to come next week in Boston.

Bello developed a blister on his right index finger during Saturday's 8-7 extra-inning win over the Guardians, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports. "I couldn't throw the slider because of my finger so it was good to be able to get out of that [fifth] inning with the play that I made," Bello said after the game.

The blister became an issue in the fifth inning, when a trainer visited the mound just before Bello made a nice fielding play to end the inning. That ended his day after five strong innings. There wasn't much concern from manager Alex Cora or the pitcher following the game, which suggests he'll be ready to take his next turn in the rotation, which will likely come next week against the Blue Jays.

McGee didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 1-0 extra-inning loss to the Blue Jays, allowing only one hit and one walk over 6.2 scoreless innings. He struck out two.

The 25-year-old right-hander was undaunted by the prospect of facing a powerful Toronto lineup on the road in his first ever big-league start, and McGee took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before a Matt Chapman double with two outs ended his brush with history. McGee probably could have lasted longer -- he exited after only 64 pitches (45 strikes) -- but in a scoreless tie, manager Scott Servais elected to rely on his bullpen instead. With Robbie Ray (elbow) done for the year and top prospect Bryce Miller struggling to keep the ball in the yard with Double-A Arkansas, there's a golden opportunity in front of McGee to lay claim to a rotation spot. He could face another tough test his second time out, however, as he currently lines up for a home start against the Astros next weekend.

Ober didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the Royals, allowing one run on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

The right-hander just missed a quality start, leaving after 88 pitches (55 strikes), but Ober still pitched well enough to collect a win. Minnesota's batters couldn't cash in most of their chances to drive in runs, however, racking up a massive 25 LOB. Ober's stay in the rotation should be a longer one this time with Kenta Maeda (triceps) on the IL and Tyler Mahle (elbow) potentially set to join him, but the 27-year-old has earned the assignment with a 1.59 ERA and 10:5 K:BB through his first two starts and 11.1 innings this season.

Keller didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Twins, allowing one run on six hits and five walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander also uncorked two wild pitches and exited the game after getting only 49 of his 92 pitches over the plate, but Minnesota's hitters let Keller off the hook for all the traffic he put on the basepaths. That's been the story of his season so far, however -- the 27-year-old sports a 3.56 ERA and has given up two runs or less in four of his six starts thanks in large part to serving up only one homer in 30.1 innings, but his 24:24 K:BB and 4.78 FIP indicate that major regression could be coming. Keller will hope his luck holds in his next outing, likely to come next weekend at home against the A's.

Dunning is expected to fill in for starter Jacob deGrom (elbow) while deGrom is on the 15-day injured list, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom was placed on the IL on Saturday and is eligible to return May 14. The Rangers have two off days this coming week and will need a fifth starter once during that stretch if they choose to go with four starters over the next seven days. Dunning has pitched well out of the bullpen this season and has thrown at least four innings on two occasions, so he should be able to offer the Rangers a decent amount of length whenever he's needed to make a spot start in place of deGrom.