MLB Player News

The Twins optioned Abel to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.

Minnesota didn't immediately replace Abel on the roster ahead of Sunday's 7-2 win over the Padres, so the Twins will have three spots to fill when the active roster expands from 26 to 28 men Monday. Abel's demotion comes after he was moved to the bullpen for this weekend's series against the Padres following a rough start against the White Sox on Aug. 23, when he served up six earned runs across three innings. The right-hander didn't fare any better in his lone relief appearance, as he gave up six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk over one inning in Saturday's 12-3 loss.

MLB and the MLBPA announced Sunday that Ortiz will remain on non-disciplinary paid leave until further notice while MLB continues its sports-betting investigation.

The Guardians aren't planning on commenting further on Ortiz's status until the investigation concludes, but the right-hander's locker at Progressive Field was cleared out nearly a month ago, which implies that he isn't expected to pitch again this season. Ortiz remains under club control heading into 2026, but whether he returns to the mound with the Guardians or another team down the road won't become clear until MLB releases the findings of its investigation.

The Astros will activate Garcia (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday to start the team's series finale versus the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Garcia will be making his first major-league start since May 1, 2023 following a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery and related setbacks. The right-hander will get the green light to rejoin the Astros after a nine-appearance minor-league rehab assignment, during which he posted a 3.30 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 38:7 K:BB over 30 innings. In Garcia's most recent rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Sugar Land, he allowed one run over six frames while throwing 75 pitches, so he should be able to handle something close to a normal workload in his 2025 Astros debut.

Manager John Schneider said after Sunday's 8-4 win over the Brewers that Scherzer was pitching through upper-back tightness, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports. The right-hander took a no-decision after striking out one and giving up four runs on nine hits and no walks across four innings.

The 41-year-old threw 45 of 67 pitches for strikes and generated just three whiffs while surrendering a pair of home runs, with his early exit ending a run of six straight starts of at least six innings. The back issue hasn't seemed to stir up much cause for concern, though it's worth keeping an eye out for any updates on Scherzer ahead of his next turn through the rotation, which currently lines up for next weekend on the road against the Yankees.

Giolito (10-2) earned the win Sunday over the Pirates, allowing a run on three hits and five walks over six innings. He struck out six.

While Giolito's five walks were the second-most he's issued in a start this season, the right-hander was able to minimize the damage en route to his 10th victory. Giolito has gone 4-0 with a 2.27 ERA in his last seven outings (43.2 innings), lowering his ERA to 3.38 on the season with a 1.23 WHIP and 105:43 K:BB across 22 starts (125.1 innings). He's currently slated to face the Diamondbacks on the road his next time out.

Severino (oblique) is scheduled to return from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Cardinals in St. Louis, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.

The right-hander has been sidelined over three weeks due to an oblique strain, and he'll rejoin the Athletics rotation without a rehab assignment. Following the layoff, Severino could face some workload limitations in his first couple outings back in the majors. The right-hander was in strong form prior to the injury with a 3.13 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB over his last four starts.

Ryan (13-7) earned the win Sunday over San Diego, allowing five hits and a walk across seven scoreless innings. He struck out eight.

After he was tagged for 11 runs over nine innings in his previous two starts, Ryan rebounded with a dominant outing Sunday, striking out at least eight batters for the eighth time this season. Ryan lowered his ERA to 3.08 on the season with a 0.97 WHIP and 174:30 K:BB across 155 innings. He'll look to keep rolling his next time out, tentatively scheduled for next week in Kansas City.

Wells (elbow) is expected to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Tuesday in San Diego, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

The right-hander has spent the season rehabbing from the UCL revision and brace augmentation surgery he underwent in June 2024, but he's ready to make his 2025 debut Tuesday. Wells built up to 6.1 innings Wednesday with Triple-A Norfolk during the final outing of his rehab assignment, but the Orioles are still likely to be cautious with his workload down the stretch.

The Angels placed Anderson on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to a left oblique strain.

The veteran left-hander delivered five scoreless frames Friday in Houston, but that could end up being his final start of the campaign. Anderson will be eligible to be reinstated Sept. 14, but oblique injuries often require longer than 15 days of recovery time. If the 35-year-old is unable to return to the mound in 2025, he'll finish the campaign with a 4.56 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 104:57 K:BB across 136.1 innings.

Urena agreed to a major-league contract with the Angels on Sunday.

The right-hander elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Twins last week, but he was able to find another home in the majors. Urena had made 13 appearances (five starts) with four different MLB clubs this season and has a 5.00 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 20:13 K:BB over 36 innings. After placing Tyler Anderson (oblique) on the injured list Sunday and optioning Jack Kochanowicz to Triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, the Angels have two open spots in the rotation, and Urena is a good bet to fill one of those slots during the team's upcoming series in Kansas City.