MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Yarbrough (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment Thursday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the Yankees signed off on Yarbrough beginning a rehab assignment after he threw two simulated innings of live batting practice Monday without issue. Yarbrough has been sidelined since late June with a right oblique strain, and he'll likely be in line for a longer buildup as he aims to regain stamina following his extended absence. The Yankees are likely to have Yarbrough get stretched out for a starting role during his rehab program, though it's unclear if the southpaw will have a rotation spot waiting for him once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.

The Astros optioned Gordon to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

The writing had been on the wall for Gordon's demotion, as the Astros skipped his turn in the rotation this past Sunday against the Yankees and instead had Jason Alexander start that game, even though the rookie left-hander hadn't pitched since Aug. 2. With Cristian Javier (elbow) returning from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Red Sox, the Astros now have a full five-man rotation, so Gordon will head back to Sugar Land to remain on a starter's schedule. Gordon had struggled mightily in his three starts since the All-Star break, going 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA and 1.57 WHIP across 14.2 innings.

The Astros reinstated Javier (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Monday versus the Red Sox in Houston.

Houston optioned lefty Colton Gordon to clear room in the rotation as well as to open up a spot on the active roster for Javier, who is slated to make his first appearance for the big club since May 21, 2024. The right-hander is back to full health after completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he endured a rocky five-start minor-league rehab assignment in which he posted a 5.14 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 15:15 K:BB in 14 innings. In his final rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land last Tuesday, Javier covered 3.2 frames and tossed 77 pitches, so expect the Astros to monitor the 28-year-old's workload carefully as he re-enters the big-league rotation.

Cole (elbow) began his throwing program Monday by tossing around 20 pitches on flat ground, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports.

The right-hander has begun what will be a months-long ramp-up period as he works his way back from UCL reconstructive surgery on his right elbow, which he underwent in March. Though Cole's surgery involved the insertion of an internal brace that will hopefully accelerate his timeline to return to game action, the right-hander admitted back in May that he anticipated a 14-month recovery. As such, Cole is unlikely to be ready to go for Opening Day in 2026, but the Yankees aren't completely ruling him out from being available for the start of the season if his rehab goes more smoothly than expected.

Reds manager Terry Francona said he met with Burns on Monday to discuss how to handle workload restrictions with the pitcher down the stretch, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

What exactly those workload restrictions will look like is not clear, but with Hunter Greene (groin) rejoining the rotation Wednesday and Nick Lodolo (blister) possibly back next week, Burns could be booted from the Reds' rotation soon. The team doesn't want to completely shut Burns down, so it might have to get creative with his usage. Burns has totaled 100.1 innings this season between the majors and minors after throwing an even 100 last year at Wake Forest. The young righty's next start is tentatively lined up for Friday against the Brewers.

Hamm (undisclosed) struck out two and allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks over four innings Friday in his start for Double-A Erie after being reinstated from the 7-day injured list.

Hamm made his return to the Erie rotation after an unspecified injury kept him out of action for the Double-A club for nearly two months. Before being activated, Hamm ramped up his pitch count by making two rehab starts with Single-A Lakeland. Hamm has now made 14 starts for Erie this season, registering a 4.57 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 62:22 K:BB in 61 innings.

Cavalli is slated to start Monday's game against the Royals in Kansas City, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

The 26-year-old right-hander will make his second straight turn through the rotation after he enjoyed an impressive return to the big leagues last Wednesday in what was his first MLB appearance since Aug. 26, 2022. Cavalli took a no-decision in his start against the Athletics, striking out six batters while allowing three hits and one walk over 4.1 scoreless innings. Despite Cavalli's excellent outing, fantasy managers may want to tread carefully with the rookie in what shapes up as a two-start week, with a second start likely to come during this weekend's series against the Phillies. Before rejoining the big club last week, Cavalli had logged an unremarkable 6.09 ERA and 1.55 WHIP in 65 innings at Triple-A Rochester for the season, though he had posted a 14:0 K:BB in his final two starts prior to his call-up.

Morris (forearm) struck out three and issued one walk while allowing no hits over two shutout innings Saturday after being reinstated from Triple-A St. Paul's 7-day injured list.

Morris made his first appearance for St. Paul since June 19 after completing his recovery from a right forearm strain. The 23-year-old holds a 4.27 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 63:25 K:BB in 65.1 innings over his 14 starts with the Triple-A club this season.

Ohl didn't record a strikeout and allowed one hit and one walk over 2.2 scoreless innings of relief in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Royals in 11 innings.

Ohl made a 2.2-inning start in his previous appearance Wednesday against the Tigers before moving back to the bullpen this weekend. He entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and was able to preserve the Twins' one-run lead before being lifted midway through the seventh, enabling him to come away with his first career hold. The Twins still have an open spot in the rotation that will need to be filled Tuesday against the Yankees, but given his usage Sunday, Ohl is unlikely to serve as anything more than an opener if he draws the start that day.

The Rockies recalled Dollander from Triple-A Albuquerque on Monday.

Dollander will rejoin the Colorado rotation on Monday with a start in St. Louis. The right-hander posted a 6.68 ERA over 68.2 innings in 15 starts with the Rockies this season and held an 8.74 ERA and 1.85 WHIP in three starts with Albuquerque after being demoted in July. Those numbers make Dollander a risky fantasy proposition, even in more favorable matchups like the one he'll have Monday against the Cardinals.