MLB Player News

The Red Sox returned Houck (elbow) from his rehab assignment Friday, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Although Houck's 30-day rehab window is now closed, the fact that Boston has yet to activate him indicates he isn't quite ready to return. The 29-year-old righty posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across 15.2 innings during his five-start assignment, though he gave up only one run in his final two outings (9.1 IP). He also owns a hefty 8.04 ERA through 43.2 frames in the majors this year, so there's no guarantee he'll have a place in the Sox's rotation whenever he is activated.

The Athletics activated Waldichuk (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Saturday and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Waldichuk underwent Tommy John surgery last May and had spent all season on the injured list up to this point. He kicked off a minor-league rehab assignment in late June and tallied a 7.63 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 17:16 K:BB over 15.1 innings spanning six appearances between Single-A Stockton and Las Vegas. The lefty threw 141 frames for the Athletics in 2023 and could certainly make his way back to the big club in due time, but he'll likely first need to harness his control issues in the minors before getting a look in the MLB rotation.

The White Sox placed Smith on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a left ankle sprain.

It's not clear when Smith hurt his ankle, though the move is retroactive to July 16 -- one day after the All-Star Game, during which the rookie hurler threw 10 pitches over one-third of an inning. With Smith landing on the IL, Chicago recalled reliever Wikelman Gonzalez from Triple-A, but it's uncertain who (if anybody) will slide into the rotation in the short term. The White Sox have opted for bullpen games on a few occasions this season and could go that route again until Smith is ready to return, which won't be until the beginning of August at the earliest.

The Twins reinstated Matthews (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

After missing more than a month with a shoulder strain, Matthews will return from the IL and start Saturday's game versus Colorado. The 25-year-old is coming off a brilliant minor-league start, during which he struck out nine batters in four shutout frames, and he'll be welcomed back to the big leagues by a Rockies offense that ranks 27th in MLB with a .673 OPS this season. Travis Adams was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

The Yankees recalled Winans from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday.

Winans owns a 1.19 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through 60.2 innings in the minors but has given up six runs in 6.1 MLB frames. He will fill the void in New York's bullpen left by Rico Garcia, who was DFA'd in a corresponding move.

Montero is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Rangers in Arlington.

After getting called up from Triple-A Toledo on July 7 and notching a quality start in a win over the Rays later that day, Montero shifted to the bullpen for the Tigers' final series before the All-Star break, covering three innings and allowing three runs in an appearance against the Mariners last Saturday. Montero will move back into the rotation to begin the second half, though his hold on a starting role could be tenuous. Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck) is in the midst of a rehab assignment and could bump Montero from the rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.

Manaea came away with a no-decision in Friday's 8-4 loss to the Reds, allowing one run on one hit and two walks over four innings. He struck out six.

Making his first start and second appearance of the season after a lengthy recovery from a spring oblique strain and then elbow trouble in June, Manaea was sharp but got lifted after only 69 pitches (42 strikes), as the Mets prioritize his long-term health and having him available for a playoff push later in the year. The decision to give the 33-year-old lefty the hook cost New York, as the bullpen immediately coughed up a 2-1 lead. Manaea should get stretched out enough to at least work five innings and qualify for a win in his next outing, which lines up to come at home next week against the Angels.

Lodolo (7-6) picked up the win Friday, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk over seven innings in an 8-4 victory over the Mets. He struck out seven.

It was lucky 7s all around for Lodolo to begin the second half, as he racked up 32 called or swinging strikes on 97 pitches (62 total strikes) en route to his third straight quality start and 12th of the season. The 27-year-old southpaw hasn't given up more than three runs in a start since June 11, posting a 2.34 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 34:7 K:BB over his last six outings and 34.2 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road next week against the Nationals.

Sheehan is slated to start Saturday's game against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

After tossing 4.1 innings in bulk relief behind starter Shohei Ohtani in his most recent appearance July 12, Sheehan will pick up his third start of the season with the Dodgers for his first outing of the second half. Over his three big-league appearances to date, Sheehan has maintained a tidy 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB in 13.1 innings, but he could nonetheless find himself at risk of losing his spot in the rotation once Blake Snell (shoulder) likely returns from the 60-day injured list in late July or early August.

Bassitt (10-4) picked up the win in Friday's 4-0 victory over the Giants, allowing 10 hits over 6.1 scoreless innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The veteran righty dealt with runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings and again in the sixth and seventh, but Bassitt wriggled off the hook each time to record his eighth quality start of the year. In the process, he became the first pitcher to give up double-digit hits without being charged with a run since 2015. Bassitt has a 1.89 ERA in July while winning three straight starts, and he'll look to extend that streak in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next week against the Yankees.