MLB Player News

Martinez (thumb) was cleared to make his Triple-A Pawtucket debut May 8 and has thus far appeared in two starts for the affiliate, giving up 10 earned runs on nine hits and three walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings.

Martinez signed a minor-league deal with the Red Sox earlier in May shortly after he was released by the Giants without having made an appearance for the organization. The 30-year-old was brought along slowly by the Giants in spring training after his 2021 campaign was cut short by a thumb ligament injury that required surgery, but he's ostensibly healthy now. Martinez's previous track record of success in the majors makes him more intriguing than the typical veteran minor-league arm, but he'll need to deliver better results over a prolonged period before the Red Sox give him a look in the big-league rotation or bullpen.

Ryu (forearm) allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three across 4.1 innings in a no-decision Saturday in the Blue Jays' 5-1 win over the Rays.

Making his first start with the Blue Jays since April 16 after a four-week stint on the injured list due to forearm inflammation, Ryu looked to be on a limited pitch count. He was lifted midway through the fifth inning after tossing 71 pitches (44 strikes), despite doing a good job of limiting baserunners. The only damage against Ryu's ERA came in the first inning, when Yandy Diaz sent a wall-scraping home run over the right-field fence. Assuming Ryu feels fine physically after his between-starts bullpen session Monday, he should make his next turn through the rotation Friday at home versus the Reds.

Hill (illness) worked six innings and was the pitcher of record Saturday in Boston's 11-3 win over Texas. He struck out four while allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and zero walks.

Following a stint on the COVID-19 injured list, Hill was making his first appearance for Boston since May 5. Hill didn't face any obvious limitations in his return; in fact, his six innings and 94 pitches were his most of any of his six starts this season. In an effort to mitigate injury risk for the 42-year-old, the Red Sox could be more cautious with Hill's workloads as the season unfolds, but the team doesn't have any immediate plans to deploy him as a tandem starter like he had been earlier in the campaign.

Bundy (illness) could return from the COVID-19 injured list this week but will be limited initially when he returns, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "We're looking into maybe a potential piggyback game for his first game back," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "It'll give us an opportunity to not throw him out there for 85 pitches his first game back."

Bundy was able to clear MLB's COVID-19 protocols last week, but the right-hander is still working to regain conditioning after dealing with the effects of the virus. As the rotation currently lines up, Bundy could return Friday at Kansas City, but Minnesota's plans aren't completely clear.

The Tigers recalled Faedo from Triple-A Toledo ahead of his scheduled start Monday in Tampa Bay.

Though he was optioned to Toledo following his May 10 start against the Athletics, Faedo is eligible to rejoin the big club before the minimum 10 days after Detroit placed outfielder Austin Meadows (illness) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Faedo has looked good across his first two big-league starts, covering five frames both times out while allowing a combined total of four earned runs on 12 hits and three walks. Assuming he doesn't completely implode Monday in his first career road start, Faedo should stick in the rotation and pick up his second start of the week Sunday in Cleveland.

Ober (groin) gave up five runs (four earned) over five innings in a rehab start Sunday for Triple-A St. Paul. He had seven strikeouts and no walks but gave up a home run.

Ober looked sharp enough to return to the major-league rotation, but it's not clear when he'll return. However, manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune he could join the Twins on the upcoming road trip. He could be activated from the IL and start a game this weekend at Kansas City.

The White Sox selected Cueto's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday. He's scheduled to start Chicago's series opener in Kansas City, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chicago optioned infielder Danny Mendick to Charlotte to make room on the 26-man active roster for Cueto, who should have a full-time spot in the White Sox rotation at least until Lance Lynn (knee) returns from the 10-day injured list in early June. After he delayed signing with the White Sox until early April, Cueto essentially had to go through a modified spring training program before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment to build up his arm. He turned in a 5.17 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB across 15.2 frames over four outings at Triple-A, most recently building up to 5.1 innings in his May 11 start for the affiliate. With that in mind, Cueto shouldn't face any major restrictions with his workload as he makes his White Sox debut Monday.

Lynch allowed three hits and four walks while striking out four in 5.1 scoreless innings during Sunday's win over the Rockies. He didn't factor into the decision.

Lynch gave up six runs (five earned) in 8.2 innings over his last two starts, but he was more successful Sunday despite throwing just 54 of his 96 pitches for strikes. The left-hander was in line for the win when he exited the matchup, but the Royals' bullpen gave up seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lynch has a 3.30 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 30 innings over his first six starts in 2022, and he tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Twins on Friday.

Kopech (0-1) allowed three runs on one hit and four walks over six innings Sunday, striking out three and taking a loss against the Yankees.

Kopech looked solid for most of Sunday's outing, but he lost his command in the second inning. All five Yankees that reached base against him did so in the second as Kopech walked in a pair of runs and allowed another on a wild pitch. The other five innings in his start were all perfect. The 26-year-old righty is sporting a 1.54 ERA through 35 frames. Kopech is expected to get a rematch on the road against the Yankees next weekend.

Houck allowed a run on a hit and a walk in three relief innings during Sunday's loss to the Rangers.

The right-hander worked behind opener Austin Davis during Sunday's matchup, marking the fourth time he's pitched out of the bullpen in his last five appearances. Manager Alex Cora hasn't provided a clear reason for keeping Houck in a bullpen role, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him continue to work as a reliever since Michael Wacha (side) is expected to return next weekend. Houck has posted a 5.40 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 26.2 innings over eight appearances (four starts) this season.