MLB Player News

Manager Aaron Boone said Friday that the Yankees are "optimistic" Cole (hamstring) will be able to start Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cole left his start Tuesday against the Blue Jays with left hamstring tightness, but per Erik Boland of Newsday, he's no longer feeling any discomfort. According to Marly Rivera of ESPN.com, he will throw a bullpen Saturday, and so long as he comes out of the session feeling good, all signs point toward him toeing the rubber Tuesday in Baltimore.

Stripling (oblique) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday.

Stripling made a rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday and allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in 1.1 scoreless innings. If he isn't needed out of the bullpen Friday, the right-hander will likely be considered to start one of the two games in Saturday's doubleheader.

Manager Alex Cora said Friday that Perez (illness) will throw a bullpen at Triple-A Worcester in the coming days, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Perez completed his quarantine Wednesday and joined the Red Sox for workouts late in the week, but he'll spend some time rehabbing with the minor-league club. The southpaw is slated to make a rehab appearance in Worcester on Sunday and will likely be considered to rejoin the big-league squad afterward.

Greinke (COVID-19 IL) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Greinke returned to the Astros and threw off flat ground Monday after spending just under a week away from the team. His resumption of mound work is an encouraging development, as it signals that he could return to the rotation as early as next week. With that said, the team has yet to pinpoint when Greinke will make his next start, and it remains a possibility that he will throw a simulated game before being activated.

Boyd was scratched from Friday's start against the Rays because of the same recurring elbow soreness that sidelined him from mid-June to late August, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw will be further examined by Detroit's medical staff to figure out the severity of the issue, but given that the same injury put Boyd on the shelf for over two months already this season, it wouldn't be at all surprising if he doesn't return in 2021. Per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com, he will be placed on the injured list, though the transaction has not been made official at this point. Tyler Alexander draws the start in his place Friday.

Heaney pitched one inning against Toronto on Thursday, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out one.

The left-hander continues to get bit by the long ball -- he surrendered a one-out solo shot to Vladimir Guerrero in the top of the ninth inning. Heaney's outing didn't get much better from there, as the Blue Jays followed with three straight hits that resulted in another run. He has not pitched well since joining the Yankees at the end of July, giving up 11 homers in 30.1 innings while registering a 7.71 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.

Boyd is no longer starting Friday's game against the Rays for an undisclosed reason, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports. Tyler Alexander will start in his place.

The reason for the change isn't known at this point, but the Tigers should provide an update on Boyd's status prior to first pitch.

Wilcox underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wilcox, who joined the Rays over the winter in the Blake Snell trade, cruised to a 2.03 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 10 starts for Low-A Charleston to begin the season, striking out 52 batters while walking just five. He hasn't pitched since late June due to an elbow strain. Tommy John surgery typically carries a recovery time of more than 12 months, so it's likely he doesn't pitch again until 2023, though some fall or winter action next season is possible if he's on the shorter end of the timeline.

McClanahan was placed on the 10-day injured list with a stiff back Friday but is only expected to miss one start, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The Rays have a comfortable nine-game lead over their division rivals, so they can afford to manage their young pitchers' workloads down the stretch in an effort to keep them at full strength for the playoffs. McClanahan has had an excellent rookie season, riding a 27.5 percent strikeout rate to a 3.59 ERA, and while his 110.1 innings this year don't represent a particularly high workload, he's already just 10.1 innings shy of his career high. The Rays presumably hope that he'll wind up making multiple starts in the postseason, so there's little reason to push him through even a minor injury in the final few weeks of the regular season. Chris Archer is expected to step back into the rotation for a spot start.

Sale tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and will not start Sunday against the White Sox, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The extent of Sale's absence will depend on whether he's vaccinated, a detail that is currently unknown. Garrett Richards or Connor Seabold could be called upon to fill Sale's rotation spot until he recovers from the virus.