MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said Thursday that Brown could be available out of the bullpen for the next few days, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Brown last pitched Sunday and had been on turn for a start Saturday in Detroit, but Cristian Javier (neck) is returning that day and Justin Verlander will move ahead of Brown to pitch Sunday on regular rest. Brown seemingly would be set up to make a start Monday versus the Athletics if he doesn't pitch in relief before then, but it doesn't appear that has been decided yet. Espada hasn't ruled out the possibility of using a six-man rotation for a while, which would leave room for both Brown an Spencer Arrighetti to keep making starts.

Urquidy (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Urquidy is slated for four innings and/or 60-to-65 pitches in the outing. It's a fairly substantial workload considering the right-hander has been on the shelf with a forearm strain since mid-March. Urquidy would seemingly need at least one additional rehab start after that before returning to the Astros.

The Guardians transferred Williams (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

The move clears a spot on the team's 40-man roster for the addition of Darren McCaughan. Williams resumed a throwing program a week ago after a brief shutdown period following a setback with his right elbow. It was going to take him a while to get ramped back up anyway, though, so this transaction shouldn't alter his timetable.

Freeland (elbow) played catch Thursday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

It's the first time the left-hander has done any throwing since he landed on the 15-day injured list in mid-April with a left elbow strain. Freeland will continue with a throwing progression as tolerated but it's too soon to say when he might be ready to re-enter the Rockies' rotation.

Lagrange is on the Florida Complex League Yankees' 7-day injured list with an undisclosed injury.

A 6-foot-7 righty with a monster fastball, Lagrange logged a 4.97 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 41.2 innings in the Florida Complex League last season. Given that he turns 21 later this month, Lagrange would ideally make his full-season debut at some point later this season, health permitting.

Lalane is on the Florida Complex League Yankees' 7-day injured list with an undisclosed injury.

One of the most electric teenage pitchers in the minors, Lalane seemingly mastered the complex league last year (0.97 WHIP, 34:4 K:BB in 21.2 innings), so this explains why he hasn't been assigned to a full-season affiliate yet. If it were a very serious injury, Lalane may have been put on the 60-day injured list, so perhaps he'll just need some time to rehab the injury at the Yankees' spring training complex before making his season debut.

Javier (neck) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday in Detroit, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Javier will have gone nearly a month in between starts for the Astros when he toes the rubber Saturday, having been sidelined with a neck problem. He's ready to roll now, following one rehab start with Double-A Corpus Christi in which he allowed three runs over 3.1 frames. Javier threw just 68 pitches in the outing, so he could be somewhat limited from a workload perspective against the Tigers.

Suarez (2-0) allowed two runs (one earned) on a hit and a walk while striking out one over two innings to earn the extra-innings win versus the Nationals on Wednesday.

This was Suarez's second outing since he was removed from the rotation following the returns of John Means and Kyle Bradish. Suarez gave up both runs in the 11th inning during Wednesday's game, squandering a two-run lead, but he ended up with the win when the Orioles took the lead for good in the 12th. The right-hander has been a pleasant surprise with a 2.29 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 17:4 K:BB over 19.2 innings this season across five appearances (three starts). Suarez is one of the multi-inning options in the bullpen for the Orioles, but he can also be an option for spot starts if necessary.

Oviedo (elbow) is expected to get clearance to resume throwing within the next week, MLB.com reports.

Oviedo will be out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early December of 2023. He'll build back up slowly and is unlikely to appear in any game action until spring training next year.

Pepiot (leg) was able to play catch Wednesday, MLB.com reports.

Pepiot was placed on the injured list the same day, so he'll be out until at least May 21. However, he has stated that he plans to return after the 15-day minimum, and his ability to continue to throw suggests he'll be back quickly.