MLB Player News

Minnesota placed Mahle (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

The Twins recalled Louie Varland from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move, and he'll slot into Mahle's spot in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Mahle was diagnosed last week with a right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain and won't be cleared to resume a throwing program for another four weeks. Even if Mahle experiences no setbacks and is cleared to start throwing again by the end of the month, he'll still likely need another two weeks beyond that to get his arm reconditioned for a starting role.

Minnesota recalled Varland from Triple-A St. Paul ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday versus the White Sox.

The right-hander is sliding into the rotation spot vacated by Tyler Mahle (elbow), who was placed on the 15-day injured list due to a flexor pronator strain. Varland registered a 4.20 ERA and 25:4 K:BB over 15 innings with St. Paul prior to the promotion, and he's worth consideration for those looking for a streaming option for Wednesday.

Lynch (shoulder) covered 2.1 innings and struck out six while allowing two earned runs on four hits and one walk in his first rehab start Tuesday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Lynch has resided on the Royals' 15-day injured list all season with a left shoulder strain, so his appearance Tuesday was his first at any level during the 2023 campaign. Aside from serving up a two-run, two-out home run in the second inning, Lynch was generally sharp while tossing 59 pitches (37 strikes) in the outing. He'll likely need one or two more rehab starts to build his pitch count up to the 75-to-90 range before he's cleared to rejoin the big-league rotation.

Cueto (biceps) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday.

The two-time All-Star has been on the shelf since suffering a right biceps injury in his Marlins and season debut April 3. Cueto reportedly threw 60 pitches in a start at extended spring training last week, so if he can build on that workload when he takes the hill for Jacksonville on Saturday, he may not require any further rehab outings beyond that. Once the Marlins decide that he's ready to return from the IL, Cueto will likely replace Bryan Hoeing in the rotation.

The Mets recalled Butto from Triple-A Syracuse and designated him as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader in Detroit, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Butto previously served as the 27th man for Monday's doubleheader with Atlanta, but he went unused after being called up prior to the second game of the twin bill. After being returned to Triple-A on Tuesday, Butto will be back with the big club a day later as the 27th man once again. He'll be available for both games of the doubleheader this time around before heading back to Syracuse.

Houck didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-6 win over the Blue Jays, surrendering six runs on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander cruised through four innings before suddenly falling apart in the fifth and getting tagged for all six of Toronto's runs, including a three-run shot by Daulton Varsho. Houck made it through one more frame before exiting after 96 pitches (57 strikes), and Boston's bats were able to get him off the hook for his second loss of the year. He'll take a 5.34 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 29:13 K:BB through 32 innings into his next outing, likely to come this weekend in Philadelphia.

The Rays acquired Anderson from the Reds on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Tampa Bay already has three starting pitchers on the injured list (Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs and Tyler Glasnow) and another (Josh Fleming) sustained a foot injury Tuesday, so the addition of the 35-year-old Anderson should improve the organization's rotation depth. Anderson will presumably slot into the Triple-A Durham rotation after logging a 4.30 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 19:13 K:BB across 23 innings over his five starts with the Reds' top affiliate in Louisville.

Kikuchi didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 7-6 loss to the Red Sox, coughing up five runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out two without walking a batter.

The southpaw got hit hard, as five of the nine hits off him went for extra bases including homers by Christian Arroyo and Masataka Yoshida. Kikuchi is once again having trouble keeping the ball in the park -- after serving up 23 homers in 100.2 innings in 2022 (a 2.06 HR/9), he's already been taken deep eight times in 31.1 innings to begin 2023 (a 2.30 HR/9), and only some good fortune has kept his 4.02 ERA from being closer to his 5.44 FIP. He could be a risky play in his next outing, likely to come this weekend on the road against the surprising Pirates.

Williams didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs, allowing four hits and a walk over 5.1 scoreless innings. He struck out four.

The journeyman right-hander produced his best start so far in 2023, tossing 55 of 87 pitches for strikes and exiting with the Nationals ahead 1-0, but his second win of the year got snatched away when the Cubs tied it up in the top of the seventh. Williams will take a respectable 3.41 ERA and 1.23 WHIP into his next outing. likely to come this weekend in Arizona.

Cole didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Guardians, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out eight.

The right-hander fired 69 of 108 pitches for strikes and generated 32 called or swinging strikes en route to his sixth quality start in seven outings this season, with Cole missing the seventh by only one out. He'll take a dazzling 1.35 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 52:14 K:BB through 46.2 innings into his next start, likely to come at home early next week against the A's.