MLB Player News

McCullers is not listed among the Astros' probable pitchers for this weekend's series in Cleveland, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

McCullers' next turn comes up Sunday, but the team is listing TBA in that slot for now. Manager Joe Espada did not rule out McCullers ultimately taking the ball that day, but it appears Tuesday versus the White Sox is likelier for the righty after McCullers went six innings in each of his last two outings. McCullers hadn't pitched in the majors since 2022 due to various injuries before rejoining Houston's rotation in early May.

Bubic is not listed among the Royals' probable pitchers for this weekend's series against the White Sox, as the team plans to give him extra rest before his next start, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic appears lined up to start Tuesday at home versus the Yankees, which would mean more than a week in between outings after he last took the ball this past Sunday against the Tigers. It will result in a much more difficult matchup for the lefty, but it makes sense for the Royals to manage Bubic's workload after he totaled less than 90 innings between the majors and minors over the previous two seasons, including the playoffs.

Holmes did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 11-10 loss to the Diamondbacks, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings.

Holmes faced the minimum through three innings but fell apart in the fourth, allowing three runs before being pulled at just 64 pitches. He generated nine whiffs but also surrendered five hard-hit balls in his shortest outing since making his season debut in a one-inning relief appearance March 27. The 29-year-old had completed at least five frames in nine straight starts, so this may have simply been a quick hook during a tough frame. He'll carry a 3.99 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 68:29 K:BB across 67.2 innings into a road matchup with the Brewers next week.

Pfaadt did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 11-10 win over Atlanta, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts over three innings.

Pfaadt endured a five-run third inning highlighted by three consecutive Atlanta doubles. The 26-year-old has allowed at least four earned runs in four of his seven starts since the calendar flipped to May, including 13 over his past two outings. Those back-to-back rough starts have inflated the righty's ERA from 3.90 to 5.51, and he now owns a 1.36 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 65.1 innings. He'll try to get back on track in a home matchup with the Mariners next week.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Stroman (knee) threw another live batting practice session Thursday and could begin a rehab assignment soon, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Boone also noted that Stroman is being built up as a starting pitcher rather than being shifted to relief. That suggests Stroman's rehab assignment could be a lengthy one, given that he hasn't pitched in a game since mid-April. There's no guarantee Stroman will join the Yankees' rotation once activated, but the club wants to keep its options open.

Imanaga (hamstring) threw a 39-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Imanaga faced hitters for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list in early May due to a strained left hamstring. Whether Imanaga will require a rehab assignment is not yet clear, but he still has some stamina to rebuild before being considered for a return to the Cubs rotation.

The Padres reinstated Groome from the suspended list and non-tendered him Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Groome has completed his year-long ban for violating the league's gambling policy, but the Padres have elected to cut the lefty loose rather than put him back on their 40-man roster. In his last full season at Triple-A El Paso in 2024, Groome posted an 8.55 ERA and 137:112 K:BB over 134.2 innings covering 30 starts.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that there's a "good possibility" Kopech (shoulder) will rejoin the active roster this weekend, Benjamin Royer of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kopech has been sidelined all season, first with right forearm inflammation and more recently a right shoulder impingement. After some initial struggles on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kopech has been unscored upon in four of his last five appearances. The hard-throwing righty is likely to be eased into high-leverage situations.

Woodruff was diagnosed with a right elbow contusion Thursday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Woodruff took a line drive off his elbow during his most recent rehab start at Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday. Although it seems he escaped the incident without suffering any structural damage, the Brewers will pause his minor-league assignment while he recovers from his latest setback. The 32-year-old righty began his rehab assignment in mid-April as the final step in his recovery from October 2023 shoulder surgery, but ankle tendinitis and now a bruised elbow have extended his stay on the injured list significantly. Woodruff owns a 2.11 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 38.1 frames across his nine rehab outings, and it remains unknown when he'll make his season debut for the Brewers.

Basso (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Stockton on Sunday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Basso has been sidelined all season with a left shoulder strain and made just two appearances during spring training before the injury, so it will take time for him to build back up. There are spots in the Athletics' rotation to be had, however, so Basso could grab one if he pitches well and gets sufficiently stretched out.