MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Alexander to Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

The right-hander made a spot start for Houston on Tuesday and delivered a quality start against the A's with three runs (two earned) allowed over six innings. Alexander picked up his first win since 2022 with the performance, and he should be in the mix for a promotion the next time the Astros need some rotation depth or a long reliever.

A second opinion Tuesday confirmed that Ragans has a rotator cuff strain in his left shoulder, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

It's been nearly two weeks since Ragans has thrown a ball, and now that his diagnosis has been confirmed, the Royals will keep him shut down for another two weeks before re-evaluating him. A clearer timeline for his return may emerge once he's ready to begin a throwing program, but it seems unlikely that he'll be able to rejoin the rotation before the All-Star break. As long as Ragans is out, Noah Cameron's job as the fifth starter should be secure.

Burke and the White Sox will not play against the Cardinals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.

The game will be made up Thursday as part of a split doubleheader, and Burke is scheduled to start in the first game, which begins at 2:10 p.m. ET, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. Burke has a 5.60 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB in 27.1 innings over his last five starts.

Skubal and the Tigers won't play the Pirates on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Detroit, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

The game will be made up Thursday as part of a split doubleheader. The Tigers have already announced that Skubal will start the first game of the day, while the team will likely use an opener in front of right-hander Keider Montero for the second contest, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that Hicks (toe) will throw a live batting practice session Thursday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Cora wasn't sure what the next step for Hicks would be after facing hitters Thursday, though he did indicate the hurler would need a rehab assignment before being activated from the 15-day injured list. Acquired from the Giants in the Rafael Devers trade, Hicks has been shelved since early June with right toe inflammation. He was moved to the bullpen by the Giants in mid-May and presumably will be in line for a relief role in Boston.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that Crawford (knee/wrist) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another one Friday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Crawford reverted back to playing catch after a recent bullpen session didn't go well, but he has now resumed mound work. The right-hander will continue to ramp things back up as he eyes a rehab assignment.

The Yankees reinstated Brubaker (ribs) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Not only will Brubaker be making his season debut when he gets into a game, but he'll also be making his Yankees debut. After being acquired from the Pirates last March, Brubaker was limited to just a handful of rehab appearances in 2024 while he recovered from April 2023 Tommy John surgery and an oblique strain. He was fully healthy heading into spring training, but Brubaker sustained three rib fractures when he was struck by a comebacker in late February. The right-hander proved his health over a month-long rehab assignment and ended it in impressive fashion this past Friday, when he gave up one earned run on no hits and two walks in a five-inning start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Though Brubaker built up as a starter during his minor-league assignment, the Yankees are initially expected to use him in long relief.

The Orioles recalled Rogers from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday.

Rogers will start Wednesday's road game against the Rays. The left-hander was terrific in a spot start for Baltimore back on May 24, tossing 6.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts in a no-decision against the Red Sox. However, Rogers has not pitched well at Norfolk, collecting a 5.46 ERA and 26:8 K:BB over 29.2 innings. Rogers could receive multiple starts for Baltimore while Cade Povich (hip) is on the shelf, but he's a risky proposition in fantasy.

Double-A Portland placed Monegro on its 7-day injured list Saturday due to right elbow inflammation, Josh Ball of Beyond the Monster reports.

According to Ball, the same injury resulted in Monegro being scratched from a start earlier this month and cropped up again in his most recent appearance Friday, when he was lifted midway through the second inning. The 22-year-old righty had posted a 2.67 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 49:8 K:BB in 33.2 innings with Portland on the season before landing on the shelf.

Gray (wrist) could be ready to make his season debut by late July, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Gray resumed throwing off a mound last week as he works his way back from a fractured right wrist he suffered in mid-March. Presumably, the right-hander will come back as a starter for the Rangers, but there was some talk during spring training about moving him to the bullpen, so his role could depend on the team's needs at that time.