MLB Player News

Matz will pitch out of the bullpen going forward, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Matz has given up 11 earned runs in just 4.2 combined innings between his last two starts, so the Rays will pull him out of the rotation and move him to the bullpen until he rights the ship. Mason Englert is expected to step into the rotation, either as a starter or bulk reliever, and Joe Boyle might be a candidate down the line since he's already started three games for the Rays this season and owns a spot on the 40-man roster.

Brown (shoulder) will make his next start at Triple-A Sugar Land on Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Manager Joe Espada said Friday that the Astros were debating whether to have Brown make another start in the minors, and they've officially decided to keep the right-hander in Triple-A for one more tuneup outing before activating him. Starting Wednesday would line him up to return from the 60-day IL on June 15 to face the Tigers at home.

Bennett is the top candidate to replace Brayan Bello in Boston's starting rotation, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Bello was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, and Boston will need to fill his spot next Tuesday against Tampa Bay. Bennett is the most logical option, given that he's made a couple of starts for Boston already this season. He last pitched Tuesday for the WooSox and will be on extra rest against the Rays.

Sandoval (biceps) walked one over 1.1 innings for Triple-A Worcester on Friday.

Sandoval had been scheduled to throw one inning, but he went back out after cruising through his first inning, per Triple-A Worcester's official site. The left-hander restarted a rehab assignment that was scrapped in April. At that time, he was rehabbing from an internal brace procedure on his elbow but was set back by the biceps.

Reds manager Terry Francona told reporters Saturday that Greene (elbow) could return from the 60-day injured list prior to the All-Star break, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Greene continues to recover from a procedure in mid-March to remove bone chips from his right elbow. He was cleared to throw in bullpen sessions in late May, and the Reds will have a better sense of the right-hander's recovery timeline once he's been given the green light to embark on a rehab assignment.

Scherzer (forearm) gave up three runs on five hits and a walk over 3.2 innings for Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. He struck out five.

While the results weren't great, the 41-year-old right-hander topped out at 95.7 mph with his fastball while throwing 73 pitches (44 strikes), per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Scherzer has dealt with a litany of healthy issues in the early part of the season, including right forearm tightness, but he's closing in on returning to the Blue Jays' rotation for the first time April 24. It's not yet clear whether the organization will activate him from the IL next week for a home series against the Phillies, or have Scherzer make one more rehab start.

McKenzie allowed just one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings in his debut for Single-A Augusta on Friday. He struck out eight.

A fourth-round pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft who got a well-above-slot $3 million signing bonus to buy him out of a commitment to LSU, McKenzie made only three starts in the Florida Complex League this season to begin his pro career before earning a promotion, delivering a 0.79 ERA and 9:2 K:BB over 11.1 innings in the FCL. The 19-year-old lefty sports a mid-90s fastball, a promising changeup and a curveball that's already flashing plus, and his frame and portside delivery have drawn early comparisons to Rangers southpaw MacKenzie Gore.

Luzardo didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-6 win over the White Sox, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two.

The ball was flying out of Citizens Bank Park on Friday night, and three of the seven hits off Luzardo left the yard, including a pair of solo shots by Randal Grichuk. Even so, the southpaw left the mound in line for his fifth win of the season, but Chicago was able to tie it up in the top of the seventh inning. Luzardo hadn't served up a homer in any of his prior four starts, but erratic performances are nothing new for the 28-year-old. He'll take a 4.56 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 80:21 K:BB through 73 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road in Toronto.

Kay didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies, surrendering six runs on seven hits and two walks over four-plus innings. He struck out four.

The left-hander was taken off the hook for a loss when the White Sox tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning, but Kay still stumbled to one of his worst starts of the season, with homers by Brandon Marsh in the second inning and Adolis Garcia in the fourth accounting for a big part of the damage off him. Kay will take a 4.40 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 46:26 K:BB through 61.1 innings into his next outing, which is set to come at home against Atlanta.

Burke is expected to pitch in bulk relief behind opener Brandon Eisert during Saturday's game in Philadelphia, Brooke Fletcher of Chicago Sports Network reports.

The top half of the Philadelphia lineup often features three tough left-handed hitters in Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Brandon Marsh, so the White Sox will have the left-handed Eisert open the contest in an effort to avoid an early deficit. Once Eisert works the first inning or two, Burke should take over in relief and handle something close to the workload he would typically handle as a starter. The right-hander has been solid out of the front end of the Chicago rotation this season, delivering a 3.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 60:18 K:BB in 65.1 innings across 12 appearances (10 starts).