MLB Player News

The Royals reinstated Ragans (groin) from the injured list Thursday.

Ragans is set to take the mound Thursday in St. Louis for the second part of a doubleheader. This will be the southpaw's first start since May 16 when he injured his groin. In a corresponding move, the Royals designated Thomas Hatch for assignment.

Mize did not factor into the decision in Thursday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the White Sox, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings.

Mize limited the damage to a two-run fourth inning despite generating only four whiffs on 93 pitches and issuing a season-high four walks. After completing at least five frames in each of his first eight starts, the 28-year-old has logged just eight total innings over his past two outings. He'll take a 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 48:16 K:BB across 55.2 innings into a road matchup with the Orioles next week.

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.