MLB Player News

The Tigers plan to use Cobb (hips) as a reliever once he's activated from the 60-day injured list, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Cobb pitched out of the bullpen with Triple-A Toledo on his rehab assignment Tuesday, striking out four and not allowing a hit over three innings. The appearance was the eighth of his rehab assignment and first as a reliever. Manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday that the Tigers want to keep Cobb "stretched out to 30, 40, 50 pitches," so Cobb likely won't be asked to build much further on three-inning workload he handled Tuesday. Cobb has been on the shelf all season while recovering from inflammation in both hips, but he's pitched well on his rehab assignment (1.53 ERA, 23:11 K:BB in 17.2 innings), so there's a chance he can still help the Tigers down the stretch.

The Red Sox will recall Fitts from Triple-A Worcester prior to Thursday's game against the Yankees, Sean McAdam of MassLive.com reports.

He'll be a replacement on the active roster for Isaiah Campbell, who was optioned to Worcester on Wednesday. All 17 of Fitts' appearances between the majors and minors this season have been as a starting pitcher, but the Red Sox plan to deploy him as a reliever during his upcoming stint with the big club. The big righty posted a 3.00 ERA and 16:7 K:BB over 15 frames covering his last three starts with Worcester.

The Guardians selected Messick's contract from Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday.

Messick will make his major-league debut Wednesday with a start on the road against the Diamondbacks. The left-hander has put up a 3.47 ERA and 119:42 K:BB over 98.2 innings covering 20 starts with Columbus this season. Messick gets by on pitchability rather than raw stuff, but the 24-year-old should get an opportunity to stick in the major-league rotation for the remainder of the season if he pitches well Wednesday.

Jones (elbow) will meet with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, in early September and could be cleared to begin a throwing program if all goes well during his checkup, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Nearly four months removed from surgery to repair a UCL tear in his right elbow, Jones thus far hasn't hit any snags in the early stages of his recovery and could soon take his first major step forward by beginning to play catch. At the time Jones' surgery was performed May 21, the Pirates estimated that he would be ready to pitch in games approximately 10-to-12 months later, so the right-hander would appear to have an outside chance of being ready for Opening Day in 2026. Jones' outlook for next season likely won't become clearer until spring training, when the Pirates should have an update regarding where he stands in his throwing program.

The Pirates recalled Oviedo from Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Oviedo is set to rejoin the Pirates rotation with a start Wednesday against the Blue Jays. The right-hander was tagged for two runs over just one inning in a start earlier this month for Pittsburgh but had permitted four runs (three earned) with a 15:3 K:BB across 8.2 frames in his last two outings with Indianapolis.

Alexander will start Thursday's game against the Orioles at Camden Yards, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Though Houston will get Lance McCullers (finger) back from the injured list to start Friday, Alexander will at least temporarily stick around in a starting role while the Astros run out a six-man rotation this week. Houston could keep the six-man setup in place when the team begins a stretch of 13 games in 13 days Tuesday, but Alexander may need to perform well in his start in Baltimore to ensure he remains in the rotation over Luis Garcia (elbow), who could be ready to return from the 60-day IL next week. Alexander has fared well over his last four starts, logging a 1.59 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB in 22.2 innings.

The Pirates will select Chandler's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday and are expected to use him in a long-relief role, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Chandler's long-awaited arrival to the majors will finally occur, though it won't be in the role fantasy managers were hoping for. Alex Stumpf of MLB.com likens the Pirates' expected usage of Chandler down the stretch to how they've deployed Braxton Ashcraft, who pitched as a multi-inning reliever before moving into the rotation earlier this month. It will be difficult for Chandler to churn out fantasy value in such a role, unless his ascension to the rotation occurs much quicker than Ashcraft's. Chandler has had an up-and-down season with Indianapolis, collecting a 4.05 ERA and 121:53 K:BB over an even 100 innings. He holds a 7.79 ERA and 17:12 K:BB across 17.1 frames in his last four outings with the Pirates' top minor-league affiliate.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Lauer will be available out of the bullpen for this weekend's series in Miami, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Shane Bieber (elbow) is poised to make his Blue Jays debut Friday, which means Lauer will be booted out of the rotation, despite logging a 2.76 ERA and 87:25 K:BB over 88 innings covering 20 appearances (14 starts). Schneider added that it's "not a [permanent] move to the bullpen" for Lauer, so the left-hander could still make some starts for Toronto down the stretch.

Lopez (shoulder) will make his first rehab start Thursday for Triple-A St. Paul, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.

Lopez began throwing live batting practice last week and appears to have avoided any setbacks in his recovery from a Grade 2 teres major strain, so the Twins will clear the way for him to kick off a rehab assignment. Given that he's been on the shelf with the injury since June 5, he'll likely need an additional rehab start or two after Thursday's outing before being activated from the 60-day injured list.

Susana struck out 13 over five innings for Double-A Harrisburg on Tuesday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks.

The 13 Ks were a career high for the 21-year-old right-hander, and per Jesse Borek of MLB.com, Susana's fastball topped out at 103 mph in the outing. Over six starts since returning from a UCL sprain in late July, Susana has posted a 2.28 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 44:8 K:BB in just 23.2 innings. If he can stay healthy, he seems ticketed for a big-league debut in 2026, potentially adding another building block to a Nationals rotation that already features two young pitchers with ace-level upside in MacKenzie Gore and Cade Cavalli.