MLB Player News

Barco was removed from Thursday's start at Triple-A Indianapolis in the first inning with an undisclosed injury, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Barco was lifted in the middle of an at-bat after delivering his 23rd pitch of the frame. It's unclear what injury the left-hander is dealing with, but an update on his condition could be available later Thursday. Barco was making just his second start for Indianapolis following a promotion earlier this month from Double-A Altoona. Heading into action Thursday, the southpaw had allowed just one run with a 39:10 K:BB in his first 30 innings this season.

The Orioles optioned McDermott to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday.

McDermott was up as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Twins, starting the second game and allowing four runs over three innings. The right-hander will rejoin the rotation at Norfolk and wait for another opportunity with the big club.

Strider (hamstring) threw 65 pitches over five innings in a simulated game Wednesday, but after sitting around 95-to-96 miles per hour with his fastball in the first frame, his velocity declined for the rest of the workout, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander hadn't faced hitters in any setting in nearly a month after straining his hamstring while playing catch April 21, and manager Brian Snitker indicated the reduction in velocity was due to that inactivity, not any health concerns. Atlanta has yet to decide if it wants to send Strider for a rehab start before activating him from the 15-day injured list, and rejoining the big-league rotation for a road series against the Nationals early next week remains on the table.

The Twins optioned Woods Richardson to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.

Rather than sending the 27th man from Wednesday's doubleheader (reliever Kody Funderburk) back to Triple-A, the Twins will instead demote Woods Richardson, who struggled mightily in his start in the second game of the twin bill. Woods Richardson coughed up a season-high six earned runs over four innings in an 8-6 win over Baltimore, leaving him with a 5.02 ERA and 1.54 WHIP over 37.2 innings on the season. The 24-year-old righty will presumably get another look in the Minnesota rotation later on in the season, but the Twins will likely turn to David Festa or Zebby Matthews to replace Woods Richardson the next time a fifth starter is needed this weekend in MIlwaukee.

Blackburn (knee) is expected to make two more rehab starts before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Joe Pantorno of AMNY.com reports.

Blackburn reached 60 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday and is aiming for the 75-pitch mark Friday with Double-A Binghamton. He's expected to make an additional rehab start after that. There doesn't appear to currently be room for Blackburn in the Mets' rotation, so he could be slotted into long relief when he's activated later this month. Blackburn has been out all season with right knee inflammation.

Hicks (1-5) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering five runs on seven hits and a walk over two-plus innings as the Giants fell 8-7 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out one.

Three of the hits off Hicks went for extra bases, including a Ketel Marte solo shot in the first inning and a Lourdes Gurriel double to lead off the third that helped chase the right-hander from the game. It was Hicks' shortest outing of the season after he'd given San Francisco at least five innings in five straight trips to the mound, and Marte's blast was the first long ball he'd served up since April 6. Hicks will carry a 6.55 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB through 45.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Royals.

Rodriguez came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 8-7 win over the Giants, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.

The veteran southpaw didn't serve up a homer for the first time since April 17, but there wasn't much else encouraging about this performance from Rodriguez. He tossed 41 of 76 pitches for strikes before getting the hook, and he's been tagged for three or more runs in five straight trips to the mound, stumbling to a 9.93 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB through 22.2 innings over that stretch. Rodriguez will try to right the ship in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

McDermott came away with a no-decision in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Twins, giving up four runs on four hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out five.

Called up from Triple-A Norfolk earlier in the day for the twin bill, McDermott tossed 65 pitches (34 strikes) before being lifted in favor of Charlie Morton to begin the fourth inning. Following this appearance, McDermott is expected to return to Norfolk's rotation where he's had a little more success, allowing just one run with a 7:3 K:BB over eight innings in his last two starts.

Kremer (3-5) took the loss in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Minnesota, giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

After blanking the Twins for three innings, the right-hander watched both Brooks Lee and Christian Vazquez launch curveballs over the fence in the fourth to put Minnesota in the lead for good at 4-3. Kremer had been taken deep only once in total over his prior three outings, but long balls have been an issue for him overall in 2025 -- he's been tagged for 10 homers in 50.1 innings, fueling his 5.36 ERA. He'll try to get back on track in his next start, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Milwaukee.

Woods Richardson didn't factor into the decision in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader sweep of the Orioles, coughing up six runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander got tagged for all six of his runs in the third inning, serving up homers to Cedric Mullins and Heston Kjerstad. The two long balls, six runs and eight hits were all season highs for Woods Richardson, and he continues to tax the Twins' bullpen -- he's failed to last five frames in four of his last five trips to the mound. He'll carry a 5.02 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 35:14 K:BB through 37.2 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Guardians.