MLB Player News

Cease (hamstring) is expected to throw a bullpen session this weekend, Ian Quillen of MLB.com reports.

The Blue Jays kicked off a four-game set in Baltimore on Thursday, and manager John Schneider indicated before it began that he was optimistic Cease would be able to get on a mound during the trip. A minimum-length stay on the IL is still possible for Cease, who suffered a mild hamstring strain May 24. Over his first 11 starts for Toronto, he's produced a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB in 62 innings.

Bloss is showing improved stuff during his rehab assignment as he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.

The 24-year-old right-hander underwent the surgery last May, and over three rehab appearances between the Blue Jays' Florida Complex League affiliate and Single-A Dunedin, Bloss has produced a 12:0 K:BB over 8.2 innings. In his most recent start for Dunedin on May 24, Bloss built up to 50 pitches and was comfortably sitting 95-96 mph with his fastball, a big step up from the 93.4 mph he averaged with the pitch in 2024. He's scheduled to make at least one more rehab start, but he could be an option for the big-league rotation in early June as Toronto deals with injuries to Dylan Cease (hamstring), Max Scherzer (forearm), Shane Bieber (elbow) and other starting pitchers.

Eovaldi (5-6) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Astros. He allowed five runs on four hits, including two home runs, and two walks while striking out six.

Eovaldi served up long balls to Jeremy Pena and Isaac Paredes, marking the third start this season in which he's allowed multiple homers. Keeping the ball in the yard has been an issue for Eovaldi this year, as he's given up 13 homers across 68.2 innings and 11 starts. This performance also snapped a streak of four straight quality starts for Eovaldi, who will aim to bounce back in his next scheduled outing against the Cardinals on the road next week.

Arrighetti (7-1) earned the win Thursday against the Rangers after tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and a walk while fanning three.

Arrighetti continues to thrive and has emerged as a key member of the Astros' rotation at a time when the unit desperately needed a boost. This was his fourth quality start of the season, and Arrighetti has yet to allow more than two earned runs in any of his eight outings. He'll take his 1.34 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 across 47 innings into his next start, scheduled for next week at home against the Pirates.

Fedde will server as the White Sox's primary pitcher in Friday's contest against the Tigers, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Chicago will deploy a lefty opener in Brandon Eisert before turning things over to the righty Fedde to handle the bulk of the innings. Fedde's last outing was as a bulk reliever and it didn't go well, as he was bludgeoned for eight runs on 10 hits and two walks over 3.1 innings in a loss to the Giants.

Skenes (6-5) was charged with the loss Thursday against the Cubs after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out 10.

Skenes tossed 62 of his 103 pitches for strikes and struck out double-digit batters for the second time in his last four starts, but he was the victim of subpar defense once again. The star hurler has been struggling of late, as Skenes has taken the loss his last three starts -- a stretch in which he's posted a 5.87 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 15.1 innings, albeit with an elite 19:5 K:BB. Skenes will aim to bounce back in his next start, scheduled for next week on the road against the Astros.

Rea (5-3) earned the win Thursday against the Pirates after allowing two runs on four hits and three walks across 5.1 innings. He struck out five and also hit a batter.

Rea allowed a solo homer to Bryan Reynolds and an RBI double to Tyler Callihan before departing the game in the sixth, but he was excellent in the opening five frames. Rea has been a mixed bag as a rotation option, but he's at least been serviceable. He's posted a 4.78 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP across six starts and 32 innings in May and is slated to make his next start next week at home against the Athletics.

Bassitt didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays after tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out two.

The veteran right-hander gave up a solo homer to Andres Gimenez in the third inning, but that would be the only damage he'd allow. Bassitt has been extremely inconsistent of late. Over his last six outings, he has three appearances with at least three earned runs allowed in five innings or fewer, and three in which he gave up just one run while pitching at least six frames, leaving him with a 3.94 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB in 32 innings over that stretch. Bassitt is slated to make his next start against the Red Sox at Fenway Park next week.

Corbin didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Orioles, allowing one run on four hits and a walk across five innings. He struck out four.

Corbin wasn't able to repeat his strong showing from May 23 against the Pirates, when he fanned seven over six innings of one-run ball. However, he continues to limit the damage and has been a reliable option on the mound. Since an April 10 debut for the Blue Jays in which he allowed four runs on four innings against the Twins, Corbin owns a 3.18 ERA in his last nine starts and 45.1 innings, posting a 33:13 K:BB and allowing more than two earned runs just twice over that stretch. However, things will get tougher for him in his next start, as he's scheduled to pitch on the road against Atlanta next week.

Bello is set to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Tyler Samaniego during Friday's game against Cleveland, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.

Bello will follow an opener for the fourth time in his last five outings, a strategy that has led to great success for the 27-year-old. He's posted a minuscule 0.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 17 strikeouts over 18.1 innings in his three appearances out of the bullpen so far this season.