MLB Player News

Mikolas and the Cardinals won't face the Royals on Wednesday, as the game was postponed due to rain, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Wednesday's game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Thursday, and Mikolas will likely take the mound at some point during the twin bill. The veteran right-hander has already made a start against the Royals this season, during which he twirled six shutout innings while giving up just two hits and two walks while striking out four batters on May 17.

Cameron and the Royals won't play the Cardinals on Wednesday, as the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The two teams will play each other twice Thursday to make up for Wednesday's contest, and Cameron will get the nod for Game 1 of the doubleheader, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com. The 25-year-old southpaw has been extremely effective through his first four MLB starts, logging a 1.05 ERA and 0.82 WHIP alongside a 16:8 K:BB across 25.2 innings.

Manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Nola (ankle) will be shut down from throwing for a couple days due to right side stiffness, Jordan Horrobin of MLB.com reports.

Nola was slated to throw another bullpen session Thursday as the next step in his recovery from a sprained right ankle, but the Phillies will instead push his next mound session back a few days. Thomson described the right-hander's side injury as "very mild," so it shouldn't impact his return timeline too much.

The Tigers activated Gipson-Long (elbow/hip) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Gipson-Long is slated to start Wednesday's contest versus the White Sox in what will be his first outing at the major-league level since he had Tommy John surgery in April 2024 and then a hip operation last July. The righty posted a 2.20 ERA and 16:2 K:BB over 16.1 innings on his rehab assignment, tossing 53 pitches in his most recent outing. He'll have a relatively limited workload against the White Sox.

Javier (elbow) is throwing bullpen sessions but is not ready to face hitters, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Javier began throwing off a mound nearly a month ago as he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery, but he has yet to be cleared for live batting practice. The right-hander will not be an option for the Astros until after the All-Star break.

France (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Friday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

It appears to be the first time France has faced hitters since he underwent surgery last July to repair a torn right shoulder capsule. He is not expected to be an option for the Astros until sometime after the All-Star break.

The Rangers activated Rocker (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Rocker is slated to rejoin the rotation Wednesday with a start against the Rays after being sidelined since late April with a right shoulder impingement. He threw only 53 pitches and four innings in his final rehab outing, so Rocker is likely to have a limited workload versus Tampa Bay.

The White Sox claimed Cusick off waivers from the Tigers on Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte.

Cusick has struggled at the Triple-A level this season, posting a 6.32 ERA and 11:14 K:BB over 15.2 innings. However, the 25-year-old was a first-round pick back in 2021, so the White Sox will see if they can coax more out of him.

The Phillies recalled Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Toronto.

Zack Wheeler (personal) was placed on the paternity list in a corresponding move, but Abel will be taking over the rotation spot that had previously been occupied by Taijuan Walker, who has been moved to a relief role. Walker had been filling in for Aaron Nola (ankle), who has resumed throwing off a mound and should eventually take the rotation spot back from Abel once he's activated from the 15-day injured list. Nola will likely need to make a rehab start in the minors before being reinstated, so Abel should be in good position to get at least two turns through the rotation while he's up with the big club. The 23-year-old righty was highly impressive in his MLB debut back on May 18 against the Pirates, covering six shutout innings and scattering five hits while striking out nine batters.

Festa has been scratched from his scheduled start Wednesday with Triple-A St. Paul and appears likely to enter the Twins rotation Sunday against the Blue Jays in place of the injured Pablo Lopez (lat), Declan Goff of SKOR North reports.

Lopez exited his start Tuesday against the Athletics due to a right lat strain, and while he has not yet been officially placed on the 15-day injured list, the transaction is considered imminent. Festa missed some time at St. Paul in May with right arm fatigue, but he's looked strong in two starts since returning, allowing just one run with a 12:2 K:BB over 8.2 innings. The 25-year-old has also pitched well in three starts with the Twins this season, collecting a 1.38 ERA and 15:5 K:BB across 13 frames. Festa could be needed for multiple starts with the big club, pending the results of the tests on Lopez's lat.