MLB Player News

Hill (knee) was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

The results of Hill's MRI have not been disclosed, so the extent to which he injured his left knee in Friday's game remains uncertain. His initial diagnosis was a left knee sprain. Phillips Valdez was recalled to take Hill's spot on the active roster for the time being.

Hill (knee) said Saturday that he's awaiting the results of an MRI, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Hill was removed from Friday's game against the Cubs due to a left knee sprain, and his MRI should help determine the extent of the issue. The southpaw isn't sure whether he'll require a trip to the injured list, but he compared his current injury to an MCL issue that forced him to miss a month in 2019.

Eovaldi (back) threw 35 pitches during a bullpen session Saturday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Eovaldi landed on the 15-day injured list with lower back inflammation June 12 and was initially optimistic that he'd require a minimal absence. Although he made slow progress early in his recovery, he's thrown two bullpen sessions in the last four days and should continue to ramp up his workload in the near future. It's not yet clear when he'll be cleared to return or whether he'll require a rehab assignment.

Lorenzen (6-6) took the loss against Houston on Friday, pitching three innings and allowing eight runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out three batters.

Lorenzen got out of the first inning without surrendering a run despite allowing two batters to reach base. Things got much worse for the right-hander from there, as Houston tallied two runs in the second and piled on six more in the third. Of the eight hits Lorenzen allowed, four went for extra bases, including three that left the yard. This was his second start in his past three outings during which he's been tagged for seven earned runs, and his season ERA has consequently jumped from 3.45 to 4.94.

Manning (shoulder/biceps) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Manning increased his throwing distance to 150 feet Friday and threw off a mound Saturday for the first time since being shut down in late May. The right-hander will continue to work at the Tigers' alternate spring training facility prior to eventually resuming a rehab assignment.

Bradish (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Bradish played catch on the field Wednesday and will resume mound work to close out the weekend. He's been on the injured list for just over a week, but the team remains hopeful that the right-hander will be able to return following a relatively brief IL stint.

Gausman left the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays with a right ankle contusion, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

X-rays were negative, so Blue Jays fans and fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief. Gausman went down and stayed down for several minutes after taking a comebacker off his ankle in the second inning of Saturday's matinee. It's still possible he could miss a start or end up on the injured list, but it does not sound like Gausman is in line for an extended absence.

Watkins allowed a run on three hits and a walk with five strikeouts over six innings, taking a no-decision versus the Twins on Friday.

Watkins allowed an RBI single in a sloppy first inning, but he was able to settle down and submit five perfect frames after that. It was the first time he's completed six innings this year, though he wasn't in line for the win as he left with the score tied at 1-1. The right-hander has a 4.61 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 23:17 K:BB through 10 starts overall, but he's allowed only two runs (one earned) with eight hits, two walks and nine strikeouts since rejoining the rotation in place of Kyle Bradish (shoulder). Watkins has pitched well enough to maintain his place in the rotation, so it's likely to be Austin Voth who moves to the bullpen once Bradish is ready to return.

Gausman exited the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Rays after being hit in the ankle by a comebacker in the top of the second inning, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Gausman allowed four hits and a walk while striking out three in two scoreless innings to begin Saturday's matinee, but he was hit by a comebacker in the top of the second inning. He remained down for several minutes but was ultimately able to walk off the field under his own power. The right-hander will presumably undergo further testing before the Blue Jays determine whether he'll need to miss additional time.

Astros manager Dusty Baker hinted Saturday that Odorizzi (lower leg) could be part of a six-man rotation if the right-hander returns from the 15-day injured list during the upcoming week, Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610 Houston reports.

While Odorizzi has been sidelined since mid-May with strains and sprains to the ligaments of his right foot and ankle, Cristian Javier has stepped into the Houston rotation. Javier appears to have solidified himself as a full-time member of the rotation after allowing just one hit and striking out 27 over 14 innings between his past two starts, but Odorizzi doesn't look as though he'll be on the outs for a starting role. The 32-year-old fared well in his second rehab start Wednesday at Double-A Corpus Christi, striking out six over five scoreless frames while allowing three hits and no walks. He tossed 78 pitches in that outing, so he should be stretched out enough to make his return to the Houston rotation at some point during the four-game home series with Kansas City that begins Monday.