MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that Woodford will be available out of the bullpen beginning with Thursday's game against the Angels, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Woodford's demotion to the bullpen comes with Adam Wainwright (groin) in line to return from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday against the Tigers. Woodford had struggled to a 5.72 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB through 28.1 innings (six starts) this season for St. Louis.

Houck will remain in the Red Sox's rotation for now and start Sunday in Philadelphia, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

While manager Alex Cora committed to Houck making his next scheduled start, he did not guarantee anything beyond that. Notable is that James Paxton's (hamstring) rehab assignment window runs out May 8, one day after Houck's start. Houck has been roughed up for 10 runs (nine earned) over 11 innings in his last two starts.

Whitlock (elbow) could return after a minimum-length stay on the 15-day injured list, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Whitlock has been cleared to resume throwing as he makes a swift recovery from right elbow ulnar neuritis. He'll be eligible for activation May 9, and he looks as though he'll have a chance to return that day or shortly thereafter.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Rodon (back) will undergo more testing Thursday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rodon no longer has any issues with his pitching arm, but his back is still bothering him and the Yankees are trying to get a better handle on it. Apparently the back issue is affecting the lefty's mechanics. Rodon remains on the 15-day injured list, but given his recent setback, he could be a candidate to shift to the 60-day IL, which would make him ineligible to make his 2023 debut until May 29.

Severino (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Tampa on Thursday, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that he hoped to get Severino back in 2-3 weeks, so expect the right-hander to make two and possibly three rehab starts. He's been on the shelf all season with a strained right lat muscle.

Cole's next start will be moved up a day to Sunday against the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Nestor Cortes will be pushed back due to a recent bout with strep throat. It will be normal rest for Cole after he held the Guardians to two runs over six innings Tuesday.

Lucchesi didn't factor into the decision Wednesday in the Mets' 6-5 loss to the Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader after he gave up four runs on five hits over four innings. He struck out one and issued no walks.

Though Lucchesi served up three extra-base hits (including two home runs) on the day, he was relatively efficient in the start, as he needed only 46 pitches to record 12 outs. Under normal circumstances, the Mets would have left Lucchesi in for at least another inning or two, but manager Buck Showalter told Tim Healey of Newsday after the game that the southpaw was pulled early so he could be better preserved for a start Sunday against the Rockies on three days' rest. Because of the doubleheader, the Mets will close the week with six games in five days, and Showalter apparently views Lucchesi on short rest as the team's best option for Sunday rather than delving into the minor-league ranks for a spot starter. The Mets are likely to scale back to a five-man rotation next week and Carlos Carrasco (elbow) also appears to be on track to return from the injured list, so Lucchesi could end up getting optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse immediately following Sunday's outing.

Cortes is no longer scheduled to make start this weekend at Tampa Bay, with manager Aaron Boone noting that the southpaw's next turn has been pushed back to Monday against the Athletics after Cortes recently overcame a bout with strep throat, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

Cortes is feeling fine now, but the illness interrupted his between-starts preparation, which prompted the Yankees to push him back in the pitching schedule. Gerrit Cole will be moved up from Monday to start Sunday on normal rest.

The Royals transferred Bubic (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Austin Cox, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Omaha. Bubic underwent Tommy John surgery in late April and isn't expected to be ready to return to game action for the Royals until at least the middle of the 2024 campaign.

The Nationals recalled Irvin from Triple-A Rochester ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Cubs.

Just as manager Dave Martinez said would be the case following Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs, Irvin will step into the rotation Wednesday for what will be his MLB debut. The 26-year-old right-hander supplied a 5.64 ERA and 1.54 WHIP while striking out 20 over 22.1 innings at Rochester, but he could nonetheless have a chance to stick around as the Nationals' No. 5 starter with a solid showing against the Cubs.