MLB Player News

Hancock could be shifted to a relief role next week when Bryce Miller (oblique) returns, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Hancock has put together a breakout season in the early going, posting a 2.59 ERA and 46:6 K:BB over 41.2 innings in his first seven starts. He struck out a career-high 14 batters against the Royals in his last trip to the hill. However, while Hancock has been the Mariners' best starter so far this season, he also has bullpen experience. Hancock is slated to start Friday's game versus the White Sox, and the Mariners will make decisions on the roles for Hancock, Miller and Luis Castillo in the coming days.

The Mariners could remove Castillo from the rotation when Bryce Miller (oblique) returns next week, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

It's just one option the team is mulling, as Miller and Emerson Hancock are also being considered for the bullpen or piggyback roles. It would be an easy decision to bump Castillo from the rotation if it were based purely on performance, as he's posted a 6.29 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 31:13 K:BB over 34.1 innings in his first seven starts. However, Castillo has never pitched in relief at the major-league level, while Miller and Hancock both have. A six-man rotation is also under consideration. Castillo will start Saturday in Chicago against the White Sox in what could be his final opportunity to convince the Mariners he should remain in the rotation.

The Mariners are leaning toward activating Miller (oblique) from the 15-day injured list next week in Houston, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times reports.

Miller threw 61 pitches over five shutout innings in his last rehab start with High-A Everett on Wednesday and declared himself "ready to go" after the outing. The Mariners haven't ruled out giving Miller one more rehab start to get further stretched out, but Jude hears it's likelier Miller's next outing is in the majors. Rejoining the rotation is just one of the scenarios the Mariners are considering for Miller, as the club is also mulling using him in the bullpen or in a piggyback role. Shifting Luis Castillo or Emerson Hancock to the bullpen is also possible, as is a six-man rotation. Seattle will make a decision on its rotation in the coming days.

Narvaez is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest against the Rays.

It's a routine day of rest for Narvaez, who started three of the previous four tilts. Connor Wong will do the catching and bat eighth for the Red Sox in Thursday's series opener.

Anthony (wrist) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rays.

Anthony will miss a third straight start as he continues to recover from a sprained right wrist. The Red Sox have been optimistic that Anthony can avoid the injured list, but the more this drags out, the likelier an IL stint becomes. Masataka Yoshida is grabbing another start at designated hitter Thursday.

Dominguez is in concussion protocol and will undergo an MRI on his injured left shoulder, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Dominguez was removed from Thursday's game against the Rangers after crashing into the outfield wall following a catch. The Yankees are saying he will be monitored for the next several days, so it sounds like he's destined to land on the 7-day concussion injured list even if the imaging on his shoulder comes back clean. More will be known about Dominguez's status in the coming days. With Giancarlo Stanton (calf) also still out, the Yankees could give more playing time to Paul Goldschmidt and/or Amed Rosario.

The White Sox optioned Leasure to Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday.

The 27-year-old will be kicked out of the White Sox's bullpen in order to make room for Trevor Richards, whom Chicago acquired in a trade with the Phillies on Tuesday. Leasure has accumulated a 6.06 ERA and 1.22 WHIP through 16.1 innings this season. If he's able to turn things around in the minors, he may be welcomed back into the big-league pen.

The Athletics designated Wynns for assignment Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Shea Langeliers is back from paternity leave, and the A's have elected to keep new acquisition Jonah Heim around as his backup instead of Wynns. The 35-year-old Wynns is just 3-for-39 at the plate this season.

The Athletics activated Langeliers from the paternity list Thursday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Langeliers was away from the club for a few days while welcoming a new addition to the family, but he's back in time for Thursday's series finale in Philadelphia. Austin Wynns has been designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Skubal could return in as little as 4-to-6 weeks following surgery Wednesday to remove a loose body from his left elbow, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

The operation went as well as it could have, with Heyman noting Skubal had just one relatively small loose body extracted from his pitching elbow. Skubal was given an approximate two-month timetable prior to the surgery, but it seems he has a chance to beat that timeline. A clearer picture of the two-time Cy Young winner's potential return date won't be known until he starts ramping up a throwing program, but the early indications for Skubal and the Tigers are encouraging.