MLB Player News

Means (elbow) has begun throwing off a mound, MLB.com reports.

Means is attempting to come back from a second Tommy John surgery and could return late in the 2025 regular season. He'll continue his throwing progression but has not yet taken the mound for a bullpen session, and there's no timeline yet for the 32-year-old southpaw to begin a rehab assignment.

Bieber (elbow) has resumed playing catch, MLB.com reports.

Bieber was given the good news that he could resume throwing, and playing catch is the first step toward resuming the rehab assignment that began May 31. The assignment was paused when the right-hander felt soreness in his elbow, but tests revealed it was merely normal post-surgery discomfort. The next step in his build-up should be a bullpen session, before the Guardians restart Bieber's rehab stint.

Yamamoto (6-6) allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out five over 6.1 innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Padres.

Yamamoto turned in a quality start, but his rough June continued. He's 0-3 over four starts this month, allowing a total of 12 runs and four homers over 20.2 innings in that span. Yamamoto now has a 2.76 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 95:30 K:BB across 84.2 innings over 15 starts. All of his opponents this month have been north of .500, so that can explain some of the struggles. Yamamoto's next start is projected to be at Colorado -- even factoring in Coors Field, it's an opportunity for him to return to dominance against one of the league's weaker lineups.

Gordon allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk while striking out four over five innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Thursday.

The long ball was again a problem for Gordon, who gave up solo home runs to Willie MacIver and Lawrence Butler in the second inning. This was the third time in four starts where Gordon has given up multiple homers, though he's done a decent job of limiting the damage when he can keep the ball down. He's yet to give up more than four runs in any start, but he's also pitched into the sixth inning just twice. He's at a 4.54 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 34:5 K:BB through 35.2 innings, and it's that sharp control that could eventually help him find success. Gordon has a tough matchup ahead, as his next start is projected to be at home versus the Phillies.

Lopez allowed one run on four hits and three walks while striking out nine over six innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Thursday.

Lopez earned his third quality start of the year, and he's allowed just two runs (one earned) over 16 innings across his last three appearances. He's struck out nine batters in three of his last four starts. Lopez is now at a 4.25 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 49:16 K:BB through 36 innings over 10 appearances (six starts) this season. The southpaw has pitched well enough to maintain a spot in the Athletics' rotation, but he's projected for a tough road matchup versus the Tigers next week.

Rasmussen (6-5) allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five over 5.1 innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Orioles.

Rasmussen pitched well for the most part, but he allowed a leadoff single to Gunnar Henderson in the sixth inning that sparked Baltimore's rally. Reliever Edwin Uceta couldn't stop the bleeding, and after he allowed the inherited runner to score, Rasmussen ended up taking his first loss since May 11. He had allowed just six runs over 34 innings across his previous six starts, and Thursday's effort was by no means a bad performance. The right-hander has maintained a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 67:18 K:BB over 79.1 innings through 15 starts this season. Rasmussen is projected for a road start in Kansas City his next time out.

Morton (4-7) allowed one run on six hits and struck out seven without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win Thursday over the Rays.

Morton gave up the opening run, a Danny Jansen RBI single in the third inning, but that was it. This was Morton's third quality start in his last five outings since rejoining the rotation May 26 versus the Cardinals. During that span, the veteran right-hander has earned all of his wins on the year while allowing just eight runs (seven earned) over 26 innings. His ERA is down to 5.64 with a 1.60 WHIP and 74:32 K:BB through 67 innings over 17 appearances (11 starts) this season. Morton is projected to make his next start at home versus the Rangers.

Montero did not factor into the decision in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.

It was a solid outing for Montero, who came out of the bullpen in the second inning, with the lone blemish coming on an Andrew McCutchen solo home run in the third. The 24-year-old Montero has allowed just three runs over 10 innings in his last two appearances. His ERA is down to 4.02 with a 1.39 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB across 56 innings this season.

Tidwell will be called up from Triple-A Syracuse to start Friday's game against the Phillies, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

After being recalled from Syracuse on Thursday, Justin Hagenman was originally expected to be saved for Friday's game to either start or work in bulk relief, but he was pressed into action in New York's series finale in Atlanta, covering 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in the Mets' 7-1 loss. With Hagenman no longer available for Friday, the Mets will turn to Tidwell to fill the vacancy in the rotation. Tidwell will be getting his second career MLB start after he surrendered six earned runs across 3.2 innings in his debut outing May 4 against the Cardinals.

Skenes did not factor into the decision Thursday in the nightcap of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers. He allowed two runs on three hits and five walks over six innings. He struck out nine.

It's the third straight no-decision for Skenes, who held the Tigers scoreless until Gleyber Torres' two-run double in the fifth inning despite issuing a season-high five walks. The 23-year-old Skenes has held opponents to two runs or fewer in each of his last nine outings. Overall, he's 4-6 with an MLB-best 1.85 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 106:27 K:BB across 16 starts (102 innings). Skenes is currently scheduled to face the Brewers in his next outing.