MLB Player News

Verlander will make his next start Thursday against the Rays, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Verlander was originally scheduled to start Friday, but he'll slide up a day to allow Michael Fulmer (shoulder) to move back to start Saturday. This puts the Tigers' ace in line to face Tampa Bay right-hander Alex Cobb.

Hamels (oblique) threw a simulated game Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

It was a brief outing for the left-hander, as he only threw two sets of 15 pitches, although it's good to see him getting back into game situations. He's still not expected to return until the All-Star break, but the progress is encouraging nonetheless.

McKenzie notched 13 strikeouts Thursday for High-A Lynchburg. The lanky righty allowed just one earned run on two hits while issuing just one free pass.

It was the second time this season McKenzie fanned at least 13 batters in a game, and he is quickly becoming one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. Overall, the 19-year-old has a 2.51 ERA and 84:24 K;BB in 64.2 innings.

Civale tossed eight innings on one-run ball, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out four in Monday's win at High-A Lynchburg.

Last year's third-round pick has been nothing short of impressive since receiving a promotion to open June. In three starts for the Hillcats, Civale is 2-1 with an impressive .161 BAA and 0.71 WHIP. He's posted a 96:16 K:BB over 113 innings in his minor-league career.

Groome (back) has been transferred to short-season Lowell for a rehab assignment.

Lowell's season doesn't officially kick off until June 19, at which point Groome will presumably be integrated into the rotation. If he excels through a few appearances, he could rejoin Low-A Greenville. So far this has amounted to a lost season for Groome, so the key will be for him to just remain healthy and pitching, regardless of which level he is at.

Kaprielian (elbow) is on track to begin a throwing program in about two months, George A. King of the New York Post reports.

The 2015 first-round pick underwent Tommy John surgery in April, so it sounds as though he's right on schedule in aiming to throw about five months after the surgery. The 23-year-old has pitched a total of just 29.1 innings in the minors in the two years since being drafted, so the Yankees will likely proceed with extra caution with Kaprielian. There's still a lot of variables ahead in the rehab process, but at this point a return in May or June of 2018 seems to be the goal.

Meyer gave up two runs on five hits and five walks while striking out five in a no-decision Monday against the Yankees.

The free passes continue to hold Meyer back -- he has issued at least four walks in five of his eight starts and 29 walks in total (40 innings). His strikeout total is nice, but Meyer needs to learn to limit baserunners and be more efficient to become a trusted mixed-league option.

Miley (2-4) allowed six runs on six hits and two walks over 2.1 innings in a loss to the White Sox on Monday. He did not record a strikeout.

Miley served up a two-run homer to Kevan Smith in the second inning, then really unraveled in the third, allowing four runs on five hits before being lifted. He's now failed to complete three innings in back-to-back starts, with his ERA jumping more than a full run (from 2.82 to 3.97) in that span. The lefty will look to begin righting the ship this weekend at home against the Cardinals.

Musgrove (4-5) allowed two runs on five hits and one walk across 4.2 innings in Monday's loss to the Rangers. He struck out two.

Making his first start since coming off the disabled list with a shoulder issue, Musgrove pitched well aside from a second-inning rally which saw the Rangers plate a pair of runs on back-to-back triples. He was removed after 75 pitches with two outs in the fifth, but it appears the team was simply exercising caution after his injury absence. Musgrove has compiled an uninspiring 4.81 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP this season, but he has pitched respectably in four of his last five starts and will look to go deeper into the game Sunday against the Red Sox.

Mejia (1-2) was charged with nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out four over 3.2 innings in a loss to the Mariners on Monday.

The 23-year-old put together a series of decent starts upon his return to the rotation last month, but he took a major step back in this one. Mejia issued first-pitch strikes to just 13 of 23 batters faced, and the Mariners capitalized when they got into hitters' counts. As things line up currently, Mejia will face the Indians at home in his next scheduled start. The Indians rank in the bottom third in baseball in terms of wRC+ against left-handed pitching, which lends some hope of a bounce back, but Mejia still will not be a recommended play in most formats.