MLB Player News

Mize (hamstring) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

It will be his first time facing hitters since going on the injured list in early July with a strained left hamstring. Mize will not be eligible for activation until early September after being shifted to the 60-day IL earlier this week.

Rodriguez (shoulder) has joined the Diamondbacks in Pittsburgh and appears on track to make his season debut next week in Cleveland, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Rodriguez had been slated to throw a four-inning, 65-pitch simulated game Wednesday and it appears he came out of that with no concerns. The left-hander could make his season and Diamondbacks debut as soon as Monday, although the club might choose to keep Zac Gallen on turn that day and give Rodriguez the ball Tuesday. If Rodriguez starts either of those days, he would be in line for a two-start week.

The Mets optioned Megill to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

He's clearing out to make room on the roster for trade-deadline acquisition Paul Blackburn, who has officially been added to the roster. Megill will join the rotation at Syracuse to stay stretched out in case he's needed for a start in the majors during the final two months.

Bradford could make a spot start Saturday against the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The Rangers will likely turn to Bradford or Dane Dunning for the start, or they could deploy the two in a piggyback arrangement if neither is needed in relief during Friday's game. Bradford returned from a long stint on the injured list earlier this week and was roughed up for five earned runs in two innings in a relief outing Tuesday.

Dunning is an option to make a spot start Saturday versus the Red Sox, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

McFarland lists Dunning and Cody Bradford as the most logical options to make the start and the decision could hinge on whether either of them are needed in relief Friday. Whoever makes the start is likely to return to the bullpen after, as Tyler Mahle (elbow) is due to return next week. Dunning has made two relief appearances since returning from a shoulder injury last week, allowing four runs over 4.1 innings.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that King won't make his scheduled start Sunday against the Rockies due to a lingering left calf soreness after being hit by a comebacker in his last start this past Saturday in Baltimore, Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan reports.

Shildt suggested that King just needs a couple extra days of rest and will be ready to take the hill early next week, but the Padres are still discussing their options to fill in for him Sunday. Carl Edwards has been stretched out as a starter at Triple-A El Paso since he signed a minor-league deal last month and last pitched Sunday, so he could be a possibility for a spot start. Edwards would need to be added to the 40-man roster, however.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Wednesday that Verlander (neck) will throw a bullpen session in the next few days before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment, MLB.com reports.

Espada said Verlander faced hitters for "between 27 and 30 pitches" Tuesday in Houston, with the right-hander's fastball velocity peaking around 94 miles per hour. Verlander looks poised to throw again Friday or Saturday, and if all goes well, he'll likely report to an affiliate shortly thereafter. The 41-year-old has been on the injured list since June 18 with neck stiffness, but he may need just one start in the minors before Houston is comfortable reinserting him into its rotation.

Pepiot (knee) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports.

Pepiot has thrown a pair of bullpen sessions since landing on the injured list July 21 following a brief hospitalization due to a right knee infection, which is believed to have stemmed from a spider bite. The right-hander experienced significant swelling to his knee as a result of the infection, but he was cleared to resume throwing last week once the inflammation subsided. Pepiot is now in the process of building back up, and if Friday's side session goes well, he could be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice. Given the brevity of his stay on the IL thus far, Pepiot could get the green light to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation as soon as next week without the need of a rehab assignment.

Bradford (rib/back) gave up five earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 8-1 loss to the Cardinals.

Bradford had started in each of his first three appearances of the season with the Rangers before he landed on the injured list in mid-April with a stress fracture in his rib as well as a lower-back strain. With the Rangers set to get some reinforcements to their rotation in August with the expected returns of Tyler Mahle (elbow) and Jacob deGrom (elbow) from the IL, Bradford prepared for a relief role during his rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 60-day IL on Monday. The Rangers turned to Bradford out of the bullpen a day later, and he had an outing to forget versus the Cardinals, with Tommy Pham's grand slam representing most of the damage against the right-hander. After Jon Gray's (groin) surprise placement on the IL on Monday, the Rangers will have an opening in the rotation this weekend in Boston, but Bradford's poor showing out of the bullpen Tuesday was enough to take him out of consideration. Jose Urena will instead be called upon to make a start Friday.

The Phillies remain hopeful that Suarez (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to make a start during the club's four-game series in Arizona that begins next Thursday, MLB.com reports.

Suarez is first eligible to come off the IL next Wednesday after he was deactivated July 27 due to lower-back soreness. The Phillies seemingly placed Suarez on the IL as a matter of precaution more than anything else, given that he had already been dealing with spasms on the right side of his back heading into the All-Star break. The lefty hasn't been shut down from throwing, so assuming he's able to complete a bullpen session and/or face hitters without issue this weekend or early next week, he should be cleared to rejoin the rotation in Arizona.