MLB Player News

Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Buehler (shoulder) will likely return during the Red Sox's home series against the Mets that begins May 19, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Buehler continues to rehab from right shoulder inflammation, which prompted his placement on the 15-day injured list May 2. With a timeline established for the 30-year-old's return, Hunter Dobbins -- who tossed six scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Royals on Friday -- will likely have one more start in the Red Sox's rotation next week. Buehler went 4-1 in six starts before landing on the IL, posting a 4.28 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 29:9 K:BB across 33.2 innings.

Wesneski underwent an MRI on Saturday that showed inflammation in his elbow, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Wesneski was placed on the injured list Friday due to the inflammation, but the team is waiting for the swelling to subside to make an official diagnosis. Manager Joe Espada said he expects it will be a few more days before that occurs, so the right-hander remains without a clear return timeline.

Mize was placed on the injured list Saturday due to a left hamstring strain, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Mize will hit the shelf just two days after a dominant outing against the Rockies in which he allowed one earned run while striking out eight across six innings. According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, Mize felt a sensation in his left hamstring late in the outing that was originally attributed to dehydration, but follow-up tests revealed what the Tigers are calling a "mild" strain. The Tigers haven't announced an immediate replacement in the rotation for Mize, though Keider Montero will likely be called up from Triple-A Toledo to replace him when a fifth starter is needed.

Brown (6-1) earned the win Friday in a 3-0 win over the Reds, pitching 5.2 shutout innings while giving up two hits and four walks and striking out nine batters.

Although he fell just one out short of collecting his eighth consecutive quality start to begin the season, Brown still put on a brilliant performance Friday. He reached nine strikeouts for the fourth time in a row and allowed the Reds to put a runner in scoring position only twice. With five consecutive wins and a sparkling 1.48 ERA, Brown has plenty of momentum behind him heading into his next start -- tentatively scheduled to come against the Royals on Wednesday.

Dobbins didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to Kansas City, allowing five hits and striking out six batters over six scoreless innings. He did not issue a walk.

Dobbins nearly allowed the Royals to score in the fifth inning after allowing a one-out triple to Kyle Isbel, but a classic 6-2-5-4 double play in the following at-bat allowed the 25-year-old righty to remain blemish-free on the day. With a 2.78 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 22.2 innings through his first four starts, Dobbins has certainly performed well enough to deserve a spot in Boston's rotation, but whether he makes his next scheduled start against the Tigers on Wednesday will likely depend on the health of Walker Buehler (shoulder).

Lorenzen didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Red Sox after pitching seven shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out seven batters. He did not issue a walk.

Getting through seven scoreless frames on just 90 pitches feels like too good of a performance not to be rewarded with a win, but that's what happens when your offense doesn't put any runs on the board until the 11th inning. The 33-year-old entered the game with a 4.23 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, but those numbers have dropped to 3.57 and 1.26, respectively, following his longest outing of the season. He'll look to keep his momentum going and collect his first win of May next week in Houston.

Williams (3-2) picked up the win Friday, allowing four hits and four walks over five scoreless innings in a 6-0 victory over the Phillies. He struck out eight.

The right-hander once again struggled with his control and his efficiency, tossing only 53 of 98 pitches for strikes before exiting, but 31 called or swinging strikes helped make sure Philly couldn't capitalize on their baserunners. Williams has struck out at least eight batters in three of his last four trips to the mound, but he's also issued multiple free passes in seven straight outings. He'll carry a 4.38 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 45:23 K:BB through 37 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Brewers.

Littell came away with a no-decision in Friday's 4-3 win over the Brewers, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander needed 90 pitches (65 strikes) to record his fourth quality start in his last five trips to the mound. After a bumpy beginning to the campaign, Littell has found a groove, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 30 innings over that five-start stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.

Gilbert (elbow) could throw off a mound by the end of Seattle's current six-game homestand that extends until Wednesday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Gilbert played catch prior to Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays, and it sounds like he's inching toward taking the next step in his throwing progression. The right-hander is recovering from a mild right flexor strain, and Kramer notes it's possible that Gilbert won't need as many rehab starts as teammate George Kirby (shoulder), who is expected to make three appearances in the minors before rejoining Seattle's rotation. However, Gilbert still has some hurdles to clear before reaching that checkpoint, so it remains difficult to gauge whether he'll be able to return before the end of the month.

Kirby (shoulder) is scheduled to make another minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Tacoma on Saturday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Kirby threw 42 pitches in his first rehab outing last Sunday, and he's in line to build up to around 60 pitches in his second appearance Saturday. The right-hander is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation, and Kirby is also expected to make a third start before rejoining Seattle's rotation. That gives him a chance to make his season debut before the end of May, barring any setbacks along the way.