MLB Player News

Luzardo (forearm) will make his second rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Luzardo, who has resided on the injured list since May 15 with a left forearm strain, made his first rehab appearance July 16 with Single-A Jupiter, covering three innings and striking out three while allowing one earned run on two hits and no walks. In addition to getting a stiffer test for his second rehab start, Luzardo is also expected to build up to four innings Friday. Luzardo will probably need at least one additional rehab start beyond Friday before slotting back into the Miami rotation in early August. Prior to getting hurt, Luzardo was off to a solid start to the season with a 4.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 41 strikeouts over 29 innings.

Cabrera (elbow) will make his second rehab start with Double-A Pensacola on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera is expected to work four innings Friday after he covered three perfect frames in his initial outing for Pensacola on July 16. The right-hander has been on the shelf since mid-June with elbow tendinitis and may need one additional rehab outing beyond Friday before coming off the 15-day injured list. It's unclear if the Marlins will have room in the rotation for Cabrera once he's ready to return, as fellow starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (forearm) is also trending toward his return from the IL.

Dunning (ankle) is in line to return from the 15-day injured list to start the Rangers' game in Seattle on Tuesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Dunning was placed on the IL on July 11 with a right ankle impingement, but he'll end up spending the minimum amount of time on the shelf due to the injury. The right-hander is scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday for the Rangers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate, and assuming he comes out of that outing unscathed, he shouldn't face any major workload restrictions in his return to the Texas rotation next week. Before being shut down prior to the All-Star break, Dunning went 1-6 with a 4.42 ERA and 84:37 K:BB in 95.2 innings over his 18 starts.

Paxton (elbow) remains limited to throwing bullpens and has yet to resume facing live hitters, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

According to Cotillo, Paxton suggested just under a month ago that he planned on throwing live batting practice around the All-Star break or the week after, so he could be poised to take the next step forward in his rehab from Tommy John surgery within the next few days. Paxton has previously said that he's eyeing a mid-August return, though that may be ambitious at this point since he has yet to start a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Yankees plan to activate German (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list to start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Astros, Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610 Houston reports.

Jordan Montgomery will take the hill for the opening game of the twin bill before the Yankees turn to German in Game 2 for what will be the latter pitcher's season debut with the big club. German was placed on the 60-day injured list in mid-March after he had shoulder troubles crop up during his offseason throwing program, but the right-hander was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in late June and looks to be back to full health. He ended his rehab assignment on a high note last weekend, tossing six scoreless innings in a 65-pitch outing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Though the Yankees likely won't want to push German past 80 or 90 pitches Thursday, the 29-year-old looks like he'll have some temporary security as the team's No. 5 starter while Luis Severino (lat) is likely sidelined until at least early-to-mid-August.

The Astros recalled Bielak from Triple-A Sugar Land and designated him as their 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader with the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Bielak has been working as a swingman for Sugar Land this season, but he'll be available as a multi-inning option in relief for either end of Thursday's doubleheader. The right-hander is expected to report back to Sugar Land immediately following the twin bill.

The Yankees recalled Sears from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and designated him as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader in Houston.

Sears will be available as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen for both ends of the twin bill before likely returning to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday. Though the Yankees have an opening in the rotation with Luis Severino (lat) recently landing on the injured list, the team is expected to turn to Domingo German (shoulder) -- who is on the 60-day IL but is ready for activation -- rather than Sears when a fifth starter is needed for the first time coming out of the All-Star break.

The Diamondbacks designated Keuchel for assignment Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

Keuchel caught on with the Diamondbacks after he was DFA'd by the White Sox earlier this year, but he will once again find himself a free agent after he likely clears waivers following his removal from the 40-man roster Wednesday. The left-hander owns a 8.53 ERA and 2.03 WHIP with 38 strikeouts over 50.2 innings in 12 starts with Chicago and Arizona this season.

Rodon (finger) is listed as the Giants' starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Following his most recent start last Thursday against the Brewers, Rodon relayed that he was dealing with a blood blister and a split nail to a finger on his pitching hand. Though neither issue was viewed as a major concern, Rodon still chose to err on the side of caution by withdrawing from Tuesday's All-Star Game and using the break to heal up. He appears to be feeling fine as the Giants begin their second-half schedule, as the team could have pushed his next start back to later in the four-game series with the Dodgers if there was truly any worry about his health.

Milone is expected to work out of the bullpen to begin the Mariners' second-half schedule, as Seattle intends to call up George Kirby from Triple-A Tacoma to take the hill when a fifth starter is first needed Tuesday against the Rangers, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

The veteran lefty had already made his last appearance before the All-Star break out of the bullpen, though he had been deployed as the primary pitcher behind an opener in a July 13 doubleheader matchup with the Nationals. Milone will now serve in a more traditional relief role following the break, with most of his opportunities likely to come in mop-up situations.