MLB Player News

The Red Sox activated Giolito (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Giolito is set to make his Red Sox debut Wednesday in Toronto after missing last season following an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and getting a late start to the 2025 campaign because of a left hamstring strain. The right-hander held a 5.19 ERA and 17:13 K:BB over 17.1 innings across five rehab starts. Giolito threw 85 pitches during his final rehab outing, so he should be able to handle a relatively normal workload versus the Blue Jays.

The Athletics selected Duran's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Acquired earlier this month from the Dodgers in the trade that sent outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Los Angeles, Duran has posted a 6.75 ERA and 18:12 K:BB over 16 frames at the Triple-A level this season. He'll provide the Athletics with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen while he's up with the big club.

The Blue Jays selected Lauer's contract from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday.

Lauer is on track to either start or serve as the primary pitcher out of bullpen Wednesday against the Red Sox in what will be his Toronto debut. The 29-year-old lefty finished last season in the Korea Baseball Organization before returning stateside and signing a minor-league deal with Toronto in December. Though he failed to win a spot on the Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, Lauer performed adequately over his first five starts of the season at Buffalo, logging a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB across 24 innings. With a decent showing Wednesday, Lauer could end up sticking around as the fifth member of the Toronto rotation until Max Scherzer (thumb) is back from the injured list.

The Blue Jays will call up Lauer from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Lauer is likely to either start Wednesday's contest or be used in a bulk-relief role. The left-hander has made five starts with Buffalo this season, putting up a 4.50 ERA and 21:6 K:BB over 24 innings. If Lauer does indeed pitch Wednesday, it will be his first appearance at the big-league level since 2023.

Wesneski isn't expected to make his next start until the Astros' three-game series in Milwaukee early next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Manager Joe Espada relayed Tuesday that Wesneski isn't dealing with an injury, but the Astros are eager to build in some extra rest for the right-hander after he lacked his usual efficiency in his most recent start Friday, when he recorded a season-low one strikeout and threw 51 of his 80 pitches for strikes in a 2-0 loss to the Royals. With Wesneski not scheduled to pitch this week, the Astros called up AJ Blubaugh from Triple-A Sugar Land to start Wednesday against the Tigers, and a sixth starter will be added to the mix against the White Sox on Sunday, when Lance McCullers (forearm) is scheduled to come off the 15-day injured list to make his 2025 debut with Houston.

McCullers (forearm) will return from the 15-day injured list Sunday and will start in the Astros' series finale against the White Sox in Chicago, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers will be taking the hill for the Astros for the first time since the 2022 World Series, after a prolonged recovery from June 2023 flexor tendon surgery kept him out of action for the entirety of the past two seasons. The right-hander was cleared to resume facing hitters in late February and steadily ramped up to close out spring training before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment March 30. Across four starts between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, McCullers logged a 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 12.2 frames, including a five-inning scoreless appearance in his final outing Saturday. He built up to 71 pitches in that start, so McCullers could be operating with a slight workload restriction in his 2025 Astros debut. Houston may also be keen on building extra rest for McCullers between starts, so it wouldn't be surprising if the team expanded its rotation to six men for the next few weeks.

Kirby (shoulder) could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Sunday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Kirby threw a live batting practice session Monday and described it as "nasty," adding that he "felt great." He will throw again Sunday, and it will be determined soon whether that will be in an official game setting. Kirby has been slow-played as he works his way back from right shoulder inflammation but has been checking every box along the way.

Miller revealed after Tuesday's start versus the Angels that his back "locked up" on him pregame, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Miller did not sit down in between innings to avoid making the back issue worse. He successfully navigated through five scoreless frames in the outing, although he issued a season-high five walks. Miller also noted that he dealt with some arm soreness earlier this month, saying that it's been "one thing after another that hasn't been major, but just been nagging." The right-hander is scheduled to face the Athletics on Monday and it does not appear at this point that he's in any danger of missing that start.

Batista was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right elbow Sunday and is expected to be sidelined 2-to-3 months, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander landed on the shelf at High-A Winston-Salem in early April and will be sidelined for at least the next couple months. Batista had a 3.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 87:33 K:BB across 84.2 innings at the Single-A level last year and made just one start this season before suffering the injury.

The Astros selected Blubaugh's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Tigers in Houston.

Blubaugh will be making his MLB debut Wednesday, but with Lance McCullers (forearm) seemingly on track to return from the 15-day injured list next week, the 24-year-old is likely headed back to Sugar Land regardless of how he performs versus Detroit. The young right-hander has struck out 28 batters and has allowed just one home run over 21 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this season, but walks have been an issue (10.8 BB%).