MLB Player News

Maeda (illness) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Maeda has been dealing with a viral illness that landed him on the IL on May 11. He began throwing off a mound Wednesday and will now progress to a rehab start, putting Maeda in line to return to the rotation May 24 against the Blue Jays. The 36-year-old right-hander is 1-1 in seven starts this season with a 6.75 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB over 30.2 innings.

The Giants placed Winn on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right forearm strain, retroactive to Wednesday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Although manager Bob Melvin described Winn's injury as mild, the 26-year-old's MRI results seemingly told a different story. Winn will now be sidelined for at least 14 more days while Mason Black comes up from Triple-A Sacramento to fill the open spot in San Francisco's pitching staff.

The Giants recalled Black from Triple-A Sacramento to start Friday's game against the Rockies, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Black was lit up for five runs in 4.1 innings during his MLB debut May 6, but he managed to bounce back in his second start, giving up just one run in 4.1 frames against the Reds. He'll return to the Giants' rotation and start Friday as Keaton Winn (forearm) lands on the injured list.

Whitlock (oblique) reported soreness in his right elbow following his rehab start at Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Whitlock looked good during his outing Wednesday, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out five batters, but any trouble with his elbow could cause his return to the Red Sox to be postponed. The 27-year-old righty will be examined by team doctors in Boston on Monday. Whitlock has been on the shelf since mid-April due to a left oblique strain.

Hendricks (0-4) took the loss Friday against the Pirates, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.

Hendricks started the day well, allowing just one hit through two scoreless innings. However, Jared Triolo would snap a scoreless tie with a two-run homer in the third before the Pirates tacked on three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings. It's been a brutal start to the year for the veteran right-hander -- Hendricks has now allowed five or more runs in five of his first seven outings. His ERA is up to 10.57 with a 1.99 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB across 30.2 innings. Things won't get any easier for him in his next start -- he's currently set for a tough home matchup with Atlanta.

Skenes (1-0) earned the win over the Cubs on Friday, issuing just one walk while striking out 11 over six hitless, scoreless innings.

Skenes was lights out in his second big-league start -- he struck out the first seven batters he faced while holding the Cubs without a baserunner until Michael Busch's one-out walk in the fifth inning. Skenes has been as advertised to start his career, averaging 99.3 MPH with his fastball Friday and generating a 44 percent whiff rate with the pitch. The 21-year-old right-hander has allowed three runs through his first 10 innings while striking out 18. Skenes will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which tentatively lines up as a home matchup with the Giants.

Eovaldi (groin) will throw a bullpen session Friday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Friday will mark the first time Eovaldi has thrown off a mound since being diagnosed with a right groin strain May 3. He's eligible to return from the IL on Saturday, but considering the right-hander is just now resuming mound work, he may still be a week or two from returning to Texas' rotation. A clearer timeline for his return should emerge once he progresses to facing live hitters.

Francis (forearm) is scheduled to make a rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Francis covered two scoreless innings for Buffalo in his first rehab appearance Tuesday. The 28-year-old righty-hander will likely fill a long-relief role upon his return, so he could be deemed ready for activation following Saturday's outing.

Urquidy (forearm) will make another rehab start after his upcoming outing at Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Manager Joe Espada said Urquidy is slated for four innings (60-65 pitches) in Saturday's contest, so the Astros will keep him in the minors for an additional rehab appearance to stretch him out further. The 29-year-old righty struggled in his first rehab outing, giving up three earned runs across 2.2 innings with Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming his third start in the minors will be his last, Urquidy is in line to pitch again for the Astros in Seattle on May 29.

Cavalli (elbow) is ready for a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Once Cavalli makes his first start, his 30-day rehab clock will start. One of the Nationals' top pitching prospects, Cavalli underwent Tommy John Surgery in March of 2023 and is finally ready to pitch in-game. Assuming he can avoid any setbacks, he's on track for a June return.