MLB Player News

Cecconi did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out two.

Cecconi was sharp Thursday, blanking the Reds until Jeimer Candelario's solo home run in the fifth inning. It was a nice bounce-back outing from the 24-year-old right-hander after he gave up six runs in 4.1 innings during a loss to San Diego in his previous outing. Overall, Cecconi is 1-2 with a 4.15 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB through his first four starts (21.2 innings). He figures to remain in the rotation while Merrill Kelly (shoulder) and Eduardo Rodriguez (shoulder) are sidelined. Cecconi's currently in line for a home rematch with the Reds in his next outing.

Lopez (4-2) earned the win Thursday over the Mariners, allowing one run on four hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out 10.

Lopez was excellent Thursday, holding Seattle to a lone second-inning run while recording a season-high 10 strikeouts. After an inconsistent start to the campaign, Lopez looks to be settling in -- he's won his last three starts while holding opponents to one run in back-to-back outings. He lowered his ERA to 3.89 with a 0.98 WHIP and a stellar 55:8 K:BB across eight starts (44 innings) this year. Lopez is currently slated for a home matchup with the Yankees in his next outing.

Gilbert (3-1) took the loss Thursday against the Twins, allowing eight runs on nine hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

Five of Minnesota's runs came in the first inning, including three on a Manuel Margot double. Gilbert hadn't allowed more than two earned runs in his previous five starts, recording quality starts in six of his previous seven outings. His ERA went from 1.69 to 2.94 after Thursday with a 0.94 WHIP and 54:15 K:BB across 52 innings. Gilbert will look to get back on track in his next turn in the rotation, currently scheduled for next week against Kansas City.

Rom underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder last week, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

It sounds as though the operation wound up being less invasive than initially anticipated, with a return before the end of the season for Rom not totally ruled out. The left-hander had been plagued by shoulder issues since mid-March before finally opting for surgery.

Woo (elbow) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Athletics, Shannon Drayer of Seattle Sports 710 AM reports.

Woo has been on the injured list all year due to right elbow inflammation, but he has now been given the green light to make his season debut with the Mariners. The 24-year-old righty did not give up a run through 11.1 innings during his three rehab starts at Triple-A Tacoma, and he managed to strikeout 17 batters while walking none. Emerson Hancock is expected to be optioned to Tacoma once Woo is activated.

Gasser will be promoted from Triple-A Nashville to start Friday's game against the Cardinals, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers were forced into a six-man rotation after Freddy Peralta was hit with a five-game suspension, and the team will now call upon one of its top pitching prospects to fill the open spot. The 24-year-old Gasser got off to a late start after a bone spur in his elbow sidelined him for the first several weeks of the season, and he has posted a 5.25 ERA and 1.50 WHIP alongside a 17:6 K:BB through 12 innings in Triple-A since returning. Gasser may be sent back to Nashville after making his MLB debut Friday, though a strong start could allow him to stay in Milwaukee, as the Brewers have struggled with rotation depth to begin the year.

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.