MLB Player News

The Blue Jays activated Bieber (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

Bieber is set to make his 2026 debut Tuesday with a start at home against the Astros. The right-hander got a late start to the season as he worked his way back from an elbow issue that had nagged at him since last season. Bieber had an up-and-down showing on his rehab assignment, posting a 6.88 ERA, 1.88 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB across 17 innings. He went five innings in each of his last two rehab starts and reached 80 pitches in his final outing, so Bieber should be ready to handle around 90 pitches versus Houston.

Hancock will be used out of the bullpen in Saturday's game in Cleveland as part of the latter half of a piggyback arrangement with starter Logan Gilbert, Cameron Van Til of 710 AM Seattle Sports reports.

Manager Dan Wilson announced last week that the Mariners would maintain a five-man rotation through the All-Star break but keep all six of their starters involved by using two in a piggyback arrangement every sixth game. After Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo worked in tandem last Friday versus Boston, Gilbert and Hancock will be paired together this weekend. Assuming their usage mimics that of Miller and Castillo from last week, Gilbert will likely cover around five innings and 70-to-80 pitches, while Hancock steps in to handle the final four frames. The setup will likely lessen Hancock's fantasy appeal this week, though managers may have already been leaning toward keeping him on their benches anyway. After submitting a 2.74 ERA and 0.95 WHIP through his first 13 starts, Hancock turned in his worst outings of the season in his last two starts, giving up a combined 11 earned runs on 13 hits and two walks in 9.1 innings while taking losses against the Nationals and Red Sox.

Gilbert said Tuesday that he'll make his next start Saturday in Cleveland and will be piggybacked by Emerson Hancock in the game, Cameron Van Til of 710 AM Seattle Sports reports.

Manager Dan Wilson announced last week that the Mariners would maintain a five-man rotation through the All-Star break but keep all six of their starters involved by using two in a piggyback arrangement every sixth game. After Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo worked in tandem last Friday versus Boston, Gilbert and Hancock will be paired together this weekend. Assuming their usage mimics that of Miller and Castillo from last week, Gilbert will likely cover around five innings and 70-to-80 pitches, while Hancock steps in to finish out the game. Though Gilbert's workload will be suppressed Saturday more than it would be in his typical starts, he'll still be lined up for a win as long as he reaches five innings and departs with a lead.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Tuesday in a radio appearance that he doesn't expect Steele (elbow) to rejoin the major-league rotation this season, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Steele underwent UCL revision surgery last May and then encountered a setback in late April, when he was diagnosed with a flexor strain. The lefty resumed a throwing program Monday, and while Hoyer didn't rule Steele out as a bullpen option for the Cubs later this season, he's not expected to be a candidate for the rotation in 2026. Instead, Steele will be brought along slowly as the Cubs prepare him to be healthy heading into the 2027 campaign.

High-A Cedar Rapids reinstated Bohorquez (forearm) from its 7-day injured list Monday.

The 21-year-old righty posted an 11.25 ERA and 2.50 WHIP in eight innings across three starts for Cedar Rapids to begin the season before landing on the shelf April 20 due to a right forearm strain. Bohorquez was activated after making a pair of one-inning rehab appearances in the rookie-level Florida Complex League, so he could be limited from a workload perspective as he slots back into the Cedar Rapids rotation.

Reilly (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Orioles' Florida Complex League affiliate Tuesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Reilly is ready to pitch in games following a long rehab from last year's right elbow UCL reconstruction. The right-hander was pitching at Double-A Chesapeake last year before getting hurt, and he will likely return there once his rehab assignment is over.

Ober (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday of approximately 40 pitches, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Ober got back on a mound Saturday for the first time since landing on the injured list May 31, completing a 25-pitch bullpen session that apparently went off without a hitch. The right-hander is working his way back from a mild flexor strain and will still need to face hitters in live batting practice before the Twins send him out on a rehab assignment. Ober remains without a definitive timeline for a return, but he could have a chance at rejoining the Minnesota rotation during the final week before the All-Star break if he steers clear of any setbacks or delays in his throwing progression.

Littell will be used in bulk relief Tuesday against the Phillies, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

He's fared better this season as a bulk reliever (3.20 ERA) than traditional starter (6.31 ERA). The right-handed Littell will be preceded Tuesday by left-handed opener PJ Poulin.

Bennett did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing four hits and no walks over six scoreless innings against the Rockies. He struck out nine.

Tasked with pitching at the notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field, Bennett took the challenge in stride, allowing no runs while recording a season-high nine strikeouts in what can easily be considered the best outing of his young career. A blown save by Aroldis Chapman, however, denied Bennett the win. Through five big-league starts, the 25-year-old owns a 1-3 record with a 3.71 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB across 26.2 innings. His next start is projected for Saturday against the Yankees.

Feltner did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out two.

Feltner was a bit wild, surrendering a season-high four walks, but he limited the damage to just two runs in the sixth inning. The elevated walk totals and lack of strikeout stuff remain concerns for the right-hander, but there's no denying he has yielded improved results since returning from right ulnar nerve inflammation at the end of May, compiling a 3.67 ERA and 1.15 WHIP across 27 innings over his past five starts. Feltner will carry a 2-2 record with a 4.79 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 35:20 K:BB across 47 innings (10 starts) into his next outing, tentatively scheduled for Sunday against the Twins.