MLB Player News

Javier (elbow) threw two simulated innings Tuesday during his most recent live batting practice session, MLB.com reports.

Javier followed up the two-inning live BP by throwing a bullpen session Friday. The right-hander will presumably face hitters again at some point within the next few days, and if all goes well, the Astros could clear Javier to head out on a rehab assignment at some point shortly after the All-Star break. Javier is working his way back from June 2024 Tommy John surgery and is likely to require close to a full 30-day rehab window in the minors before the Astros bring him back from the 60-day injured list.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Friday that Arrighetti (thumb) is expected to complete one more bullpen session before he faces live hitters, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Arrighetti completed 15- and 20-pitch bullpen sessions June 24 and June 27, respectively, so he'll presumably build on that pitch count while mixing in all of his offerings during his next side session. The right-hander will likely need to throw multiple live batting practice sessions before then heading out on a rehab assignment, perhaps shortly after the All-Star break. Arrighetti appears to be tracking toward a late-July or early-August return from the 60-day injured list, but a more precise target date won't come into focus until he's out on the rehab assignment.

Kirby (3-4) earned the win in Sunday's game against the Pirates, allowing four hits and no walks across 6.1 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.

The Seattle right-hander bagged his third consecutive quality start, as he generated an impressive 19 whiffs out of his 93 total pitches. Kirby completely controlled the Pittsburgh lineup, who never threatened to do damage, tallying just four singles. With this effort, Kirby lowered his ERA from 4.85 to 4.22 across 49 total frames while managing to push his K/9 up to 9.2. The 27-year-old is currently slated to make his next start at Detroit next weekend.

Skenes pitched five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and no walks in a no-decision Sunday at Seattle. He struck out 10.

Despite a short 78-pitch outing, the Pittsburgh ace managed to notch his first double-digit strikeout performance of the season. Skenes completely dominated the Mariners lineup to mark his fifth walk-free start of the season while allowing just one extra-base hit -- a Julio Rodriguez double in the third. Skenes now sports a stellar 1.94 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 125:30 K:BB across 116 frames. The 23-year-old was named to his second consecutive All-Star team Sunday and is currently scheduled to make his last appearance before the break at Minnesota next weekend.

Sheehan did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 5-1 loss to the Astros. He allowed one run on five hits and one walk over five innings with four strikeouts.

The 25-year-old right-hander looked sharp in this 80-pitch outing, as he averaged 96.1 mph on his fastball after sitting at 95.2 mph in his only other appearance June 18 against San Diego. The only run Sheehan allowed came on a sacrifice fly by Jose Altuve in the third. After dominating Triple-A with a 43.0 percent K-BB across 17.2 frames, Sheehan looks set to stick in the Los Angeles rotation. He'll carry a 2.00 ERA and 10:1 K:BB across nine big-league innings into his next start, which is currently scheduled to be at San Francisco next weekend.

Gusto (6-3) allowed one run on four hits and one walk over six innings to pick up the win in Sunday's contest against the Dodgers. He struck out one.

The Houston right-hander was favored over Colton Gordon to start the series finale at Los Angeles. Gusto impressed in this 80-pitch appearance, generating a solid 13 whiffs despite striking out just one. The only blemish on his outing came in the second inning via a Dalton Rushing RBI double, as Gusto notched his second quality start of the season. Given this solid performance against the league's top scoring offense, the 26-year-old is likely to garner another turn in the rotation before the All-Star break. If Gusto continues to start, his next outing would line up to come against the Rangers at home next weekend.

Lorenzen (5-8) earned the win in Sunday's game at Arizona, allowing two hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.

The Kansas City right-hander produced an astounding 17 whiffs in this 82-pitch outing to tally his first win since June 8. With this performance, Lorenzen notched his seventh quality start of the season and matched his season best with seven Ks, a mark he reached four times prior to Sunday. The 33-year-old lowered his season ERA from 4.95 to 4.61 across 99.2 frames to go with a 1.30 WHIP and 85:29 K:BB. Lorenzen currently lines up to make his next start against the Mets at home next weekend.

Nola (ankle, rib) threw a bullpen session prior to Sunday's series finale against the Reds, per MLB.com.

Nola came away with no issues and is expected to continue his throwing progression through the All-Star break in mid-July. The veteran right-hander is rehabbing from a sprained right ankle and subsequent stress fracture in his right rib, and he'll have been on the injured list for over two months by the time play resumes following the Midsummer Classic. Fantasy managers shouldn't anticipate having Nola available until sometime in early-to-mid August at this point, as the hurler will likely need to make a handful of minor-league rehab starts before rejoining Philadelphia's rotation.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said that Darvish (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's contest against the Diamondbacks in San Diego, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Darvish will make his season debut after missing the entirety of the 2025 campaign to date while recovering from right elbow inflammation. Though he hasn't pitched in a competitive setting since making a rehab start at Triple-A El Paso on May 14, Darvish has been able to get stretched out recently through a series of simulated games. He tossed 64 pitches in his most recent sim game Tuesday, so he should be capable of providing the Padres with around 75-to-90 pitches in his season debut. Over his 16 starts with San Diego in 2024, Darvish posted an impressive 3.31 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 78 strikeouts over 81.2 innings.

Blackburn (shoulder) played catch out to 75 feet Sunday, MLB.com reports.

After being placed on the injured list Thursday due to a right shoulder impingement, Blackburn was cleared to initiate a throwing program just three days later. Blackburn should have a chance at returning from the IL when first eligible shortly after the All-Star break, but he could be in store for a bullpen role upon his activation. The Mets currently have just three healthy rotation members, but Kodai Senga (hamstring) and Sean Manaea (elbow) both appear poised to return from the IL next weekend in Kansas City.