MLB Player News

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said Tuesday that Stripling is being shifted to a long-relief role, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Stripling has a 5.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 40:16 K:BB across 72.1 innings (14 starts) this season, and he'll be removed from the rotation in favor of Oakland's younger arms. He didn't have much fantasy utility as a starter given the lack of effectiveness, and that's not likely to change in a long-relief role.

Thorpe (forearm) will begin a throwing program Thursday, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Thorpe has been shut down from throwing for nearly two weeks since he landed on the IL with a right flexor strain. It's unclear how long it will take for him to build up to a starter's workload, though the 29-91 White Sox won't need to worry about rushing him back.

The Angels optioned Daniel to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

Daniel will head back to the minors just a day after he surrendered four earned runs over five innings during his start Monday against the Blue Jays. Kenny Rosenberg will come up from Salt Lake to fill the open roster spot, though Jack Kochanowicz is the most likely option to fill the fifth spot in the Halos' rotation.

Varland is likely to be recalled from Triple-A St. Paul to start Wednesday's game against the Royals, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Varland was optioned to St. Paul on Saturday, but since he was the 27th man for the Twins' doubleheader against the Guardians this past Friday, he is eligible to return this week and was spotted in the clubhouse at Target Field on Tuesday. The right-hander could be needed for multiple more turns in the rotation while Joe Ryan (shoulder) and Chris Paddack (forearm) are on the injured list.

The Guardians activated Boyd (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Boyd is set to make his Guardians and season debut Tuesday against the Cubs after completing the long road back from Tommy John surgery. The left-hander's results during his rehab assignment were excellent, as he put up a 0.83 ERA with 27 punchouts over 21.2 innings. He threw 63 pitches in his final rehab start, so Boyd will probably be capped around 80 pitches Tuesday.

Further testing revealed Paxton's right calf is partially torn, and it's unclear whether or not he'll be able to return in 2024, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Paxton was initially diagnosed with a calf strain but the injury is more severe than anticipated. A timeline isn't available for Paxton's return and with roughly six weeks left in the regular season, so it's not a guarantee he'll be back prior to the playoffs or be available for any potential postseason starts. Per Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald the Red Sox plan on inserting Cooper Criswell (COVID-19 injured list) into the rotation in Paxton's place.

The Royals placed Wolters on the development list Aug. 5, Preston Farr of Royals Review reports.

Wolters has not pitched for Single-A Columbia since July 11. While it's good that Wolters isn't dealing with an injury, it's still been a disappointing season for the 6-foot-4 righty. He logged a 4.20 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 55.2 innings through 14 starts and will now work on skill development indefinitely at the team's spring training complex.

The Athletics recalled Boyle from Triple-A Las Vegas to start Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Boyle hasn't pitched for the Athletics since May 5 after stumbling to a 7.16 ERA in seven starts to open up the season. He hasn't fared much better at Triple-A, logging a 5.63 ERA across 38.1 innings. Boyle has yielded 57 walks across 66 combined innings between Oakland and Las Vegas. However, he's turned things around recently, allowing just two runs over his last three starts (15.2 innings) while posting a 30:7 K:BB.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday on SportsTalk 790 that Verlander (neck) will make his second rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi on Thursday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Verlander fared well in his first rehab outing with Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, throwing 52 pitches and yielding one run with three strikeouts over three innings. He'll ramp up the pitch count Thursday in what should be his final rehab start before rejoining the Astros' rotation next week. Verlander has been shelved since mid-June with neck problems.

Dunning struck out a batter and worked around two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Yankees.

After starting in his first 12 games of the season, Dunning has now made each of his last eight appearances out of the Texas bullpen. He's recorded at least four outs in each of his relief outings and has been able to stay relatively stretched out, as he tossed 61 pitches in an appearance back on Aug. 6 against the Astros. With Nathan Eovaldi (oblique) getting pushed back in the pitching schedule this week, the Rangers will have an opening in the rotation Wednesday in Boston, and Dunning could be part of the pitching plan for that day. However, since he tossed 28 pitches Sunday and would be working on two days' rest, Dunning likely wouldn't be asked to handle a traditional starter's workload if he's called on to pitch Wednesday.