MLB Player News

Paxton (illness) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Paxton has been sidelined since Sept. 7 while battling pneumonia. He fired a successful bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another Friday before being reevaluated. The southpaw is still hoping to make two more starts before the end of the season, though he'll need to return early next week for that to happen.

Sale will make his next start Friday against the Indians, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Sale, who was originally scheduled to pitch Saturday, will make the start on normal rest thanks to an off day Monday. Pushing Sale's start up by a day lines the southpaw up to make another start -- Wednesday against the Orioles -- before the end of the season. He fired 42 pitches his last time out and is hoping to throw around 65 pitches Friday.

Kopech underwent successful Tommy John surgery Tuesday.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Chicago's statement says that "Kopech is expected to make a full recovery in time to fully participate at spring training prior to the 2020 season," so it doesn't sound as though the White Sox have any thought of trying to get him back at the end of next season, which would have been a long shot at best.

Paxton (illness) is not listed among the Mariners' starters for their weekend series against the Rangers, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Paxton hasn't pitched since Sept. 7 while battling pneumonia. He tossed a bullpen session Tuesday but remains unready to rejoin the rotation. Unless he gets back Monday or Tuesday against Oakland, he'll end up making just one more start this year.

Bieber is expected to work as the Indians' primary pitcher out of the bullpen Friday against the Red Sox, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Bieber has made all of his 18 big-league appearances thus far as a starter, but he'll try his hand at relief work this weekend while the Indians integrate Trevor Bauer (lower leg) back into the rotation. Since Bauer has been shut down since Aug. 11 and hasn't had a proper rehab assignment, he'll likely be limited to only a couple innings Friday, allowing Bieber to follow him and likely pitch the bulk of the game. Bieber could bump Josh Tomlin from the rotation next week and make one final start before the regular season ends, but manager Terry Francona hasn't elaborated on his plans for the rookie just yet.

Paxton (illness) threw a lengthy bullpen session at Minute Maid Park prior to Tuesday's game against the Astros, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander continues to progress from his bout with pneumonia, with the robust workload he put in Tuesday certainly a good sign. Paxton remains on track to potentially rejoin the starting rotation this coming weekend in Arlington against the Rangers.

Sale will next start Saturday against the Indians, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Sale will be given five days of rest between starts, but manager Alex Cora was quick to point out the extra rest is about scheduling, not health, which we presume means the manager is trying to set his postseason rotation. The left-hander will throw 65 pitches Saturday against Cleveland, and then his next scheduled turn would be during the final series of the season, against the Yankees. The Red Sox may want to avoid using Sale against New York, an opponent they could potentially face in the ALDS. So, we could see Sale throw a simulated game, lasting 80 pitches or around six innings, perhaps making Saturday's start at Cleveland the final one that counts.

Odorizzi (7-10) allowed two runs on four hits and one walk across 6.1 innings Tuesday to earn the win over the Tigers. He struck out six.

Odorizzi scattered baserunners well throughout the outing and wasn't scored upon until the seventh inning, when he allowed a pair of singles before a two-run triple by Mikie Mahtook. He was removed at that point but already had enough run support to earn his seventh win of the season. Odorizzi needed just 84 pitches in this outing, throwing 67 percent for strikes in what was his second straight quality start. He'll take a 4.35 ERA into his scheduled appearance next week against this same Detroit club.

Rodon (6-6) allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk across seven innings Tuesday to take the loss against the Indians. He recorded one strikeout.

Rodon struggled to throw strikes at times as he tied his highest earned run total of the season. He conceded two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batsman in the second inning and yielded three more on three hits in the fifth. Rodon has struggled in the month of September, posting a 5.63 ERA across 24 innings in four starts. He'll look to bounce back this weekend against the Cubs.

Kluber (19-7) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks across eight innings to earn the win Tuesday against the White Sox. He struck out 11.

Working on three extra days' rest, Kluber delivered his longest outing since Aug. 4. He threw 70 percent of his pitches for strikes while inducing a whopping 24 swinging strikes and recording 11 groundball outs. Kluber allowed a pair of solo home runs in the sixth inning before allowing a run on two hits in the seventh, but he already had enough run support to lock down his 19th win. He will look to build on this strong outing this weekend against the Red Sox.