MLB Player News

Houck (elbow) tossed a live bullpen session to batters Tuesday, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.

It's a significant step in the right direction for Houck, as Tuesday was the first time he faced hitters since undergoing Tommy John Surgery in August 2025. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters that Houck is "in the picture" for a major-league role toward the tail end of the regular season, if the right-hander is cleared to return from the 60-day IL.

Miller (shoulder) struck out three and allowed two hits and one walk over three scoreless innings in a rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Miller has made all but one of his 37 career big-league appearances as a starter, but he looks to be preparing for a relief role during his rehab assignment. While he's covered multiple innings in each of his first three rehab outings, he's been used out of the bullpen for the last two appearances. The 27-year-old righty has been on the shelf all season while recovering from shoulder and back injuries and may need another tune-up outing or two in the minors before potentially joining the Los Angeles bullpen.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Fried (elbow) could return from the injured list immediately after he completes the required 15-day stay, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Fried landed on the 15-day IL on Monday with a left elbow bone bruise, which is the same issue that caused him to miss more than two months earlier this season. It seems the injury is less serious this time around, with Boone indicating the IL move was precautionary. Fried played catch Tuesday and will ramp up his throwing as tolerated. It's unclear at this point whether the left-hander will make a rehab start before rejoining the Yankees' rotation.

Taillon (forearm) resumed a throwing program with some flat-ground work Tuesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Taillon landed on the 15-day injured list just one week ago due to right forearm tendinitis, so it's a good sign that he's already feeling well enough to throw. He has a chance to be back at the end of August when first eligible, though Taillon's role once reinstated looks uncertain.

The Dodgers recalled Sheehan from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Sheehan will be used in relief for the time being, giving some length to an overworked Dodgers bullpen. The right-hander struck out eight over 5.2 scoreless innings in his last start for Oklahoma City. Sheehan was sent down by the Dodgers earlier this month after collecting a 5.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 108:30 K:BB across 95.1 innings at the big-league level.

The Yankees reinstated Rodon (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game at Baltimore.

Rodon has been sidelined due to elbow inflammation since late June, but he's ready to rejoin New York's rotation after a two-outing rehab assignment. The left-hander threw just 58 pitches across 4.1 scoreless innings during his final rehab outing, so he'll likely have some workload limitations in his first few starts back with the Yankees.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Jax (elbow) is expected to make a rehab start for Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The right-hander threw live batting practice with no issues and is now on the cusp of returning to game action. Jax landed on the injured list Aug. 9 due to the elbow issue and received an injection a couple days later. He was only briefly shut down from throwing and may need just one outing in the minors before being cleared to rejoin Tampa Bay's rotation.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Schmidt (elbow) will be preparing to return from the 60-day injured list as a reliever, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports. "That can always change as the weeks and month unfolds, just depending," Boone said, regarding Schmidt's potential role. "But that's kind of how we're looking at."

Since Boone made those comments, the Yankees have placed Max Fried back on the IL with a bone bruise in his elbow, but with Carlos Rodon (elbow) returning from the IL on Tuesday, the team will have a five-man rotation intact. As such, the Yankees' plans for Schmidt may not have changed, but the 30-year-old right-hander will still need to complete his throwing progression and a rehab assignment before being available for the big club in any capacity. Schmidt has been limited to throwing off flat ground since cutting a live batting practice session short Aug. 4 after experiencing some forearm cramping, but Boone expects Schmidt to get back on a mound at some point this week.

Hagenman (rib) was sent to Single-A St. Lucie on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment, Michael Mayer of MetsmerizedOnline.com reports.

Hagenman has been on the shelf all season after suffering a fractured rib during spring training. He's finally ready to pitch in games again and could be an option for the Mets bullpen in September.

Gray (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fredericksburg on Tuesday, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.

Gray will be making his first appearance in a game since spring training and his first regular-season action since he made three rehab starts late in the 2025 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in July 2024. The righty suffered a flexor strain in March and opened the season on the 60-day injured list, but he's finally been cleared to pitch in games again. Gray could make some starts for the Nationals in September if he can avoid further setbacks as he gets stretched out in the minors.