MLB Player News

Valdez (finger) could throw a bullpen session in Houston this week, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Valdez could return from the injured list in June. The left-hander threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Friday and could do so once again at Minute Maid Park before beginning a rehab assignment in the near future. Valdez recorded a 3.57 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 70.2 innings across 11 appearances (10 starts) for Houston in 2020.

Springs (3-1) earned the win over the Athletics on Sunday, firing a perfect fifth inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.

The left-hander got through his frame by impressively firing 11 of his 15 pitches for strikes and then became the pitcher of record when the Rays snapped 3-3 tie with a Mike Brosseau solo home run in the top of the sixth and held onto the one-run lead that afforded them. Springs has posted five scoreless efforts in the last six appearances, securing two wins and two holds during that span while lowering his ERA and WHIP to 2.30 and 0.83, respectively.

Dunning (2-2) earned the win Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out a career-high 10 batters over five innings against Seattle.

Dunning shut down the Mariners through the first four innings before Seattle got to him in the fifth. The right-hander limited the damage to two runs after escaping a bases-loaded jam. He induced 17 swings-and-misses, using mostly his sinker and slider. Dunning is next projected to pitch Saturday at Houston on five days rest, although with an off-day coming Wednesday, he could start Friday on normal rest.

Kopech is being considered to start one of Friday's doubleheader games against the Royals, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Used primarily has a multi-inning reliever in 2021, Kopech has started two games, including a 10-strikeout performance over five innings April 25 against the Rangers. He most recently pitched Saturday, when the right-hander allowed one run and three hits while striking out one over two innings (28 pitches).

Quintana allowed one run on two hits and five walks while striking out six across four innings in the Angels' win over the Dodgers on Sunday. He did not factor into the decision.

Quintana's only run allowed came on a Chris Taylor RBI-single in the third inning. The 32-year-old is off to the worst start of his career, sporting a 9.00 ERA and 2.14 WHIP in 21 innings. He's allowed at least four earned runs in half of his starts, and he's pitched into the fifth inning only once. His five walks allowed Sunday were a season high. Quintana could end up falling out of the rotation and into a bulk-inning relief role if this continues.

Kaprielian is a candidate for promotion from Triple-A Las Vegas if the Athletics decide to fortify their short-handed rotation for their upcoming road trip, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old made his first start of the minor-league season for the Aviators on Thursday, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.2 innings while recording five strikeouts. Kaprielian would seem to be a strong candidate to help fill the vacuum created by the injured-list stints of Mike Fiers (elbow) and Jesus Luzardo (finger), as he remains a promising prospect who already logged two major-league appearances in 2020 and flashed a mid-90s fastball. The Athletics begin their road trip with a three-game series against the Red Sox that kicks off Tuesday.

German allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out six in 6.1 innings in Sunday's win over the Nationals. He didn't factor into the decision.

German began Sunday's game by tossing six scoreless frames, but he gave up a two-run homer with one out in the seventh inning that forced him to settle for a second straight no-decision. The right-hander has recorded a 4.02 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 31.1 innings across his first six starts of the season. German tentatively lines up to make his next start on the road against Baltimore on Saturday.

Manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Odorizzi (forearm) is on track to throw a live batting practice session within the next two days, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. "Everything's tentative so now we got to build him back up," Baker said of Odorizzi. "He had a good [bullpen] session [Saturday], he'll probably throw to some hitters in a couple days and hopefully he'll go out on assignment. He came in a little behind already so we want to build him up this time and make sure he's ready to give us some length and won't go backwards."

Odorizzi is ready to move on to the next phase of his rehab program after he threw two sets of about 20 pitches apiece in an extended bullpen session Saturday. After he steps in to face hitters early this week, Odorizzi could be cleared for a rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land over the weekend. Odorizzi, who is working back from a right pronator muscle strain, may need one or two outings in the minors before Houston is comfortable reinserting him into the big-league rotation.

Kremer (0-3) allowed three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out three in five innings to take the loss against the Red Sox on Sunday.

Kremer had his best start of the season Monday, and he allowed just one run across the first five innings Sunday. However, he gave up a pair of singles to begin the sixth inning, and the runners were later brought across the plate to put Kremer in line for his third loss of the year. The right-hander has posted a 6.23 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 26 innings across his first six starts this season. Kremer tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Yankees on Friday.

Giolito (2-3) allowed one run on four hits and two walks over five innings Sunday, striking out two and earning a win over Kansas City.

Giolito snapped a three-start losing streak with his steady outing Sunday. He gave up a run on a Salvador Perez double play in the first inning before settling into four scoreless frames. The 26-year-old righty lowered his season ERA to 4.54 across 35.2 innings. Giolito is lined up for a rematch with the Royals at home next weekend.