MLB Player News

The Mariners plan to activate Boyd (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Thursday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Boyd has struck out seven in four scoreless innings across his last three rehab appearances, suggesting he could be a valuable addition to Seattle's bullpen down the stretch. The lefty has yet to appear in an MLB game this year after undergoing flexor tendon surgery last September.

Javier will start Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Though Javier moved to the bullpen for last weekend's series with the Orioles, it was always expected to be a short-term arrangement while the Astros had two open dates in the schedule this week. Because Justin Verlander (calf) was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Javier's return to the rotation will come even earlier than anticipated, as he'll take the hill Wednesday for his 20th start of the season. The righty allowed two runs across three innings in his only relief appearance last weekend, yet he still boasts an impressive 2.97 ERA for the season.

The Astros recalled Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak has pitched to a 3.58 ERA in 27.2 innings since being sent down July 21. Prior to the demotion, the righty had a 3.48 mark in 10.1 big-league innings and he figures to handle long-relief work for however long he's with the Astros.

The Astros placed Verlander (calf) on the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Verlander underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed fascial disruption, but no muscle fiber disruption to his right calf, which he injured while covering first base in Sunday's start against the Orioles. While a timeline for Verlander's return hasn't yet been established, the diagnosis was worrisome enough for the club to place him on the shelf for at least the next couple weeks. Due to a pair of off days this week, Houston planned on scaling its rotation back to five men, so Cristian Javier will presumably return from the bullpen to take over Verlander's spot in the rotation. Additionally, top pitching prospect Hunter Brown is expected to be added from Triple-A Sugar Land when the active roster expands to 28 players Thursday, providing further coverage for Houston while Verlander is on the mend. In his comeback from Tommy John surgery this season, Verlander has re-emerged as a leading American League Cy Young candidate, as he turned in a 1.84 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over 152 innings before exiting Sunday's outing. He won't be eligible to come off the IL until Sept. 13.

The Athletics plan to promote Waldichuk from Triple-A Las Vegas when the active roster expands to 28 men Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Waldichuk, who was one of four prospects the Athletics acquired from the Yankees in the Aug. 1 Frankie Montas deal, has turned in a 3.38 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while striking out 21 in 18.2 innings over his four starts at Las Vegas. At the moment, the Athletics don't have an immediate opening for Waldichuk in the rotation, but the team could move Adrian Martinez to the bullpen or to Triple-A to clear a spot for Waldichuk. It's also conceivable that the Athletics expand their rotation to six men to clear a spot for Waldichuk, who should get the chance down the stretch to audition for a full-time role with the big club in 2023.

Milone (neck) re-signed Aug. 19 with the Mariners on a minor-league contract.

Before he was cut loose by the Mariners on Aug. 9, Milone was on Seattle's injured list with a cervical muscle strain. Given that he hasn't appeared for Triple-A Tacoma since re-signing with Seattle, Milone is presumably still recovering from the injury. Prior to being released earlier this month, the veteran lefty generated a 5.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP across 16.2 innings with the big club.

Montas (4-11) took the loss against the Angels on Monday, allowing four runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out six batters over six innings.

Montas threw 62 of 91 pitches for strikes and induced 15 swings-and-misses, but his inability to keep the ball in the park cost him in the loss. He was rocked for solo shots by Luis Rengifo and Mike Ford before serving up the decisive two-run homer to Shohei Ohtani in the fifth inning. Montas hadn't given up more than two long balls in any contest before Monday, so this was more of an aberration than the norm for him. He's yet to get into the win column as a Yankee, going 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA and 1.52 WHIP over 25.2 innings through five starts.

Suarez (5-6) earned the win over the Yankees on Monday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six batters.

Suarez gave up only three hits in the outing, though two of them -- including an Anthony Rizzo solo home run -- went for extra-bases. The left-handed hurler demonstrated good control with 56 of his 87 pitching going for strikes, and of his three walks, two were intentional passes to Aaron Judge. Suarez turned in his third quality start of the campaign and ended a two-game losing streak to bring his record to 5-6. He had a strong month of August, posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 29:7 K:BB over 28.2 innings across five starts.

Bello (0-4) yielded three runs on five hits and three walks over four innings Monday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Twins.

Bello worked through three scoreless frames before Minnesota finally broke through in the fourth on Jake Cave's RBI sacrifice fly. The 23-year-old rookie was charged with two more runs in the fifth after he put two runners on base without recording an out and was removed. Bello's ERA now sits at an unsightly 7.27 with a 24:15 K:BB through 26 innings. For now, he's projected to face the Rangers at home this weekend.

Bundy allowed two runs on nine hits and a walk over 4.2 innings against the Red Sox on Monday. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.

Bundy would've earned his eighth win if he would've been able to finish the fifth frame. He gave up an RBI double to Alex Verdugo in the third inning followed by another RBI double to Reese McGuire in the fourth. Bundy is now sporting a 4.53 ERA with an 80:24 K:BB through 23 starts and he's given up two or fewer runs in five straight outings, though he's failed to complete six innings in any of them. The 29-year-old is lined up for a road start against the White Sox this weekend.