MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Friday's loss to the Cardinals that Hendricks is likely to take Jordan Wicks' (oblique) spot in the rotation, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

Hendricks came on in relief for the injured Wicks in the second inning Friday and tossed 4.1 scoreless frames. The veteran right-hander has been disastrous on the whole this season with an 8.20 ERA, but he hasn't been scored upon over his last 8.2 innings out of the bullpen. Hendricks would tentatively be lined up to start Wednesday at home versus the Giants.

The Cubs placed Wicks on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor reports.

Wicks had to be pulled from Friday's start against the Cardinals in the second inning due to the injury. It's unclear what grade the strain is, so it's difficult to project a return date. Typically, even low-grade oblique strains result in absences beyond the minimum 15 days. Kyle Hendricks will slide into Wicks' rotation spot.

The Orioles placed Bradish (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right UCL sprain.

Bradish pitched five frames in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Phillies before leaving the contest with right elbow discomfort. Upon further examination, the 27-year-old was diagnosed with a UCL sprain, the same injury that kept him out for the first month of the season. Bradish avoided surgery the first time around, but a procedure could become a more distinct possibility if the rest and rehab isn't deemed a viable treatment plan after his latest setback. Even if Bradish receives a more favorable prognosis in the coming days, fantasy managers should still prepare for Bradish to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Left-hander Nick Vespi was called up from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday to replace Bradish on Baltimore's major-league roster in a corresponding move.

Henry is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Scott McGough in Saturday's game against the White Sox, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

After being called up from Triple-A Reno last Sunday, Henry worked behind McGough and picked up a win against the Padres, despite giving up two earned runs over three hits and two walks over 2.1 innings. Henry hasn't been used since that relief outing, so he should be able to give Arizona plenty of length once McGough exits Saturday's contest.

Verlander was scratched from his start Saturday versus the Tigers due to neck discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander was geared up to face his former team Saturday, but he'll now likely have to have his turn in the rotation skipped completely as a result of the neck issue. With Sunday's scheduled starter Spencer Arrighetti now pushed up to toe the rubber Saturday, Houston will likely have to look outside the major-league roster for a fill-in starter Sunday. Left-hander Eric Lauer is with Triple-A Sugar Land and could be an option to be called up. It's unclear whether or not Verlander's injury will require a stint on the injured list, but for now the 41-year-old's next opportunity to return to the mound appears to be next weekend in Baltimore at the earliest.

Arrighetti will draw the start in Saturday's matchup with the Tigers, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Arrighetti was originally set to start Sunday's series finale, but with Justin Verlander (undisclosed) being a late scratch, Arrighetti will have his start pushed up a day. The 24-year-old has produced a 1.23 ERA with 18 strikeouts over 14.2 innings in his last three outings and he'll look to keep it up against Detroit.

Verlander (undisclosed) will no longer start Saturday's contest against the Tigers, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.

Verlander was set to return to the mound Saturday, but he has now been scratched for an undisclosed reason. More information on his status will likely be provided ahead of the contest, but Spencer Arrighetti will now toe the rubber for the Astros against Detroit. Arrighetti was originally expected to start Sunday's series finale, so Houston may need to find a fill-in option if Verlander is sidelined with an injury.

The Yankees are expected to decide this weekend whether Cole (elbow) will need another rehab start or if he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Cole was dominant in his third rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, pitching 4.1 innings during which he allowed an unearned run on two hits and no walks while striking out 10 batters. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner tossed 70 pitches in the outing, so he'd likely have his workload managed to some extent if his next trip to the mound is with the big club. If it's determined that Cole needs another rehab start, it would be for ramp-up reasons rather than due to effectiveness -- he's dominated minor leaguers in his three appearances, posting a 19:0 K:BB while allowing just one earned run over 12.1 frames. Should Cole next move back into the Yankees' rotation, his season debut could come during the team's three-game set versus Baltimore next week.

Manaea (4-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five-plus innings in a 2-1 victory over the Padres. He struck out seven.

The veteran southpaw did serve up a homer for the fifth straight start, a solo shot in the fifth inning by Jackson Merrill, but it was the only damage Manaea surrendered. It was a strong bounce-back effort after he'd been tagged for 11 earned runs in 9.1 frames over his prior two outings, and Manaea will take a 4.11 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 67:26 K:BB through 65.2 innings into his next start, which lines up to come on the road next week against the Rangers.

Strider (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Strider is already set to miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign after undergoing elbow surgery in April, so the move to the 60-day IL doesn't affect his outlook. The right-hander will still have his sights set on a return at some point early in the 2025 season; in the meantime, Saturday's transaction opened a spot on the 40-man roster for Ramon Laureano, who had his contract selected from Triple-A Gwinnett.