MLB Player News

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that deGrom (triceps) responded "really well" to playing catch Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

DeGrom is working through right triceps fatigue, which forced him out of his most recent start in Thursday's 7-0 loss to the Angels after just two innings. With an MRI earlier in the week revealing no major red flags, deGrom looks like he could avoid a stint on the injured list, but the Rangers have yet to lock him in for his next start. The fact that he played catch without issue is a promising sign, but deGrom may need to make it through a bullpen session Monday before the Rangers confirm him for his next turn through the rotation, which comes up Wednesday against the Nationals.

McClanahan (back) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's series finale versus the Orioles at Tropicana Field, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McClanahan has received the green light to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation after he struck out two batters over three perfect innings during his lone rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Durham. Considering that McClanahan tossed just 30 pitches in that outing, he'll likely be in line for a restricted workload Monday, when he'll be making his first start for the Rays since July 30 before hitting the shelf with left mid-back tightness.

The Astros optioned Blanco to Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.

The 32-year-old right-hander has struggled to return to form since making his 2026 debut for the Astros in late July after completing his recovery from his June 2025 Tommy John surgery with an internal brace. After posting a 6.98 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through his first four starts with Houston, Blanco was shifted to a relief role and was promptly roughed up for five earned runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings in his first appearance out of the bullpen in Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Mariners. The Astros recalled right-hander Miguel Ullola from Triple-A to take Blanco's spot in the bullpen.

Kikuchi (shoulder) said Sunday that he expects to join the Angels on their upcoming six-game road trip and believes he'll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list during that time, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The veteran southpaw hasn't been informed that he's on track to be activated, but he'll meet with the Angels' brass Sunday to determine whether he'll be sent for another rehab start or not. Kikuchi certainly hasn't looked like a pitcher ready to return to the big leagues, as he was roughed up for eight earned runs over 4.2 innings in his latest outing Saturday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and has posted a 15.63 ERA, 2.37 WHIP and 24:8 K:BB over 12.2 innings in four starts between Single-A and Triple-A Salt Lake. If the Angels are comfortable adding Kikuchi back to the rotation during their road trip, he would likely start either Friday or Saturday in Arlington versus the Rangers.

The Rangers could bring Leiter (ankle) back from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week if Jacob deGrom (triceps) is unavailable to make his next scheduled start Wednesday versus the Nationals, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.

Imaging on deGrom's injured right triceps confirmed revealed nothing concerning, but the right-hander's availability for his next turn through the rotation is still in doubt. Leiter -- who has been on the shelf June 21 while recovering from surgery to remove a loose body from his right ankle -- was able to make his first rehab start this past Thursday for Triple-A Round Rock, during which he covered 2.2 scoreless innings and 48 pitches. The Rangers had initially placed for Leiter to make at least one more rehab start and build up his pitch count before coming back from the IL, but the banged-up state of the big-league rotation -- both deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi (elbow) are recovering from injuries -- could accelerate Leiter's timeline to return.

Toronto optioned Tiedemann to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.

After striking out two batters and allowing one run in 1.2 innings of relief in his major-league debut during Saturday's 4-1 win over the Yankees, Tiedemann will head right back to Buffalo. He'll give up his spot on the active roster to reliever Brendon Little, who was reinstated from the paternity list. Tiedemann is likely to continue working out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season, but the Blue Jays could revisit developing the left-hander as a starter next spring.

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said that imaging on deGrom's injured right triceps Saturday revealed encouraging news, but the right-hander may not make his next scheduled start, Theo DeRosa of MLB.com reports.

The imaging revealed nothing concerning, validating deGrom's original diagnosis of right triceps fatigue, which forced him out early in his most recent start Thursday against the Angels. While deGrom appears to have avoided any sort of major setback, the Rangers aren't yet ready to commit to him being ready to go for his next turn through the rotation, which is expected to come up Wednesday against the Nationals in Arlington. Options to replace deGrom next Wednesday would include Jack Leiter (ankle), Jordan Montgomery and Cal Quantrill.

Pecko was scratched ahead of his scheduled start with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, potentially signaling that the Astros are planning to call him up, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

No injury was behind the decision to scratch Pecko, who has yet to make an appearance in the big leagues. The Astros seemingly have a spot available in the rotation for Pecko, as Ronel Blanco was used in long relief during Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Mariners and has submitted a 7.71 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in five appearances (four starts) since returning from the injured list in late July. Regarded as one of the organization's top pitching prospects, the 23-year-old Pecko has submitted a 4.94 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB over 74.2 innings this season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Ginn (8-7) allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Rangers.

Ginn had allowed just one run through five frames, but he faded in the sixth. Wyatt Langford's two-run home run ultimately cost Ginn not only a chance at the win but also took him out of contention for a quality start. Ginn has allowed 10 runs (eight earned) over 18 innings since he returned from a finger blister. On the year, he has a 3.53 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 114:53 K:BB through 127.1 innings over 25 games (22 starts). His next outing is projected to be on the road in Kansas City.

Gore (7-9) allowed three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Athletics on Saturday.

Gore wasn't as sharp as he has been lately, but he did well enough to pick up his first win in five starts. The damage on his line came from a Henry Bolte three-run home run in the second inning. Gore has earned quality starts in two of his last four appearances, allowing seven runs over 24 innings in that span. For the season, he has a 4.45 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 154:51 K:BB through 139.2 innings over 26 starts. The strikeout upside is encouraging, and the Rangers will need Gore to stay sharp as they battle for a playoff spot. His next start is projected to be at home in a favorable matchup versus the Angels.