MLB Player News

Ober (groin) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old completed an 18-pitch session Saturday and returned to the mound Wednesday. Ober will likely need to build up his pitch count and face live batters before potentially embarking on a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Red Sox hope Hill (illness) will return from the COVID-19 injured list to start Saturday at Texas, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The 42-year-old is no longer symptomatic after testing positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, and he's expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend. Even if Hill isn't ready for this coming Saturday, he could still pitch in Sunday's series finale. The veteran lefty went a season-high five innings last time out May 5 and didn't allow a run with a 6:1 K:BB.

Whitlock will start Monday's game against the Astros, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Although Rich Hill (illness) is expected to return from the COVID-19 injured list this weekend, Whitlock will remain in the starting rotation with an additional day of rest prior to his next outing. While Whitlock initially lined up to start Sunday in Texas, he'll be pushed back to start Monday's series opener at home against the Astros. Following a strong start to the season, the right-hander has allowed five runs in eight innings over his last two outings, although he's struck out 14 during that time.

The Rangers recalled Allard from Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday.

Texas sent outfielder Zach Reks to Round Rock to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Allard. The 24-year-old southpaw previously made four appearances out of the Rangers bullpen earlier this season, giving up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings.

Velasquez and the White Sox won't play against the Guardians on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to multiple positive COVID-19 tests within Cleveland's organization, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Velasquez was slated to make his sixth start of the season Wednesday. The White Sox will likely take increased precautions to make sure their players and staff aren't dealing with COVID-19 cases after playing two games against the Guardians, but it seems likely that Chicago will be able to play its upcoming series against the Yankees. As a result of the postponement, Velasquez is now scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Yankees, per Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com.

Civale and the Guardians won't face the White Sox on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to COVID-19-related concerns within Cleveland's organization.

Wednesday's game becomes the first to be postponed during the 2022 MLB season due to non-weather-related reasons. Assuming they aren't dealing with an outbreak that forces the team to suspend operations for several days, the Guardians will return to action Friday in Minnesota. Civale would likely be pushed back two days in the schedule to start that game.

Hill (illness) is no longer feeling COVID-19 symptoms and could return to start during the weekend series in Texas, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Hill, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, is throwing on his own and could be deemed ready for activation this weekend if he can produce two negative COVID-19 tests.

Severino didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Blue Jays, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out eight.

Things looked bad for the right-hander when Toronto grabbed a 3-0 lead by the top of the second inning, but Severino was able to settle down and keep the game close before exiting after 97 pitches (61 strikes). The eight whiffs were a season high for the 28-year-old, but he's worked past the fifth inning only once in six starts and is still looking for his first quality start of the campaign. Severino will carry a 4.08 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 31:9 K:BB through 28.2 frames into his next outing.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Yankees, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out seven.

The southpaw was headed for his second win of the season until Aaron Judge walked it off with a three-run blast off Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kikuchi appears to have turned a corner, posting a 14:4 K:BB in 11.1 innings over his last two starts with a 2.38 ERA and 0.79 WHIP, but Seattle fans can attest to the rollercoaster ride that the Kikuchi experience can be over a full season.

Waldichuk has posted a 1.14 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 40:9 K:BB and 3-0 record across 23.2 innings with Double-A Somerset this season.

Waldichuk was outstanding with a 3.03 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 13.3 K/9 across two minor-league levels last season, and he has been even more impressive out of the gates in 2022. The left-hander punctuated his strong start to the campaign with five innings of no-hit ball during which he struck out 12 in his most recent performance May 8. Waldichuk's fastball clocks in at 94-97 mph, and he also possesses an above-average slider and curveball. He's making a push to receive his first call-up either this season or next.