MLB Player News

The Astros optioned Murray to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Houston will replace Murray on the active roster with Colton Gordon, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move and would appear to be a strong candidate to make a start during the team's upcoming three-game series versus the Rockies after the Astros lost three rotation members to the injured list within the last week. Murray was unlikely to be available out of the Houston bullpen for at least another day or two after he was pressed into long relief in Sunday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners. He tossed two innings and 38 pitches in his 2026 big-league debut, giving up two earned runs on two hits and three walks while striking out three batters.

The Astros placed Imai on the 15-day injured list Monday with right arm fatigue.

Imai recorded just one out in his last start and looks to be going through a "dead arm" phase. The right-hander will be eligible for activation before the end of April, but it's unclear at this juncture whether he will be ready to go by that time. Houston's rotation depth is really being tested, as Imai joins Hunter Brown (shoulder) and Cristian Javier (shoulder) on the 15-day IL. The club also has Ronel Blanco (elbow), Hayden Wesneski (elbow) and Brandon Walter (elbow) on the 60-day IL.

The Astros recalled Gordon from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Mike Burrows is slated to start the Astros' series finale versus the Mariners on Monday, but assuming he's not needed in relief for that game, Gordon will be a strong candidate to start Tuesday's series opener versus the Rockies in Houston. The Astros could have as many as four openings in the rotation this week, as Hunter Brown (shoulder), Cristian Javier (shoulder) and Tatsuya Imai (arm) have all landed on the injured list within the last six days, and Cody Bolton (back) is also at risk of being shelved. Gordon has excelled over his three starts with Sugar Land this season, compiling a 1.76 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 13:4 K:BB In 15.1 innings.

The Astros recalled France from Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Houston had optioned France to Triple-A on Saturday, but because the Astros placed Tatsuya Imai (arm) on the injured list in a corresponding move, France won't have to wait the required 15 days to rejoin the big club. With Imai becoming the third Astros starter in six days to land on the IL and with Cody Bolton (back) also at risk of hitting the shelf, France could be a candidate to move into the rotation if he's not needed in relief in the next few days. France is already on the same schedule as Imai, having covered 2.2 innings in long relief in Friday's loss to the Mariners after Imai recorded just one out before departing.

The Astros placed Pena on the 10-day injured list Monday with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The Astros had previously referred to Pena's injury as right posterior knee tightness, but evidently the issue is concentrated more in his hamstring. A Grade 1 strain is the least severe and could allow Pena to return around the time he's first eligible, though the Astros will be careful since hamstring strains are prone to reaggravation. The Astros figure to roll with Carlos Correa at shortstop and Isaac Paredes at third base most days while Pena is out, but it will be Nick Allen handling shortstop Monday in Seattle.

The Blue Jays acquired Sosa from the White Sox on Monday in exchange for outfielder Jordan Rich and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

After leading the White Sox with 22 home runs during his age-25 season in 2025, Sosa had somewhat surprisingly fallen out of favor through the first two and a half weeks of the 2026 campaign. He had started in just eight of the White Sox's first 16 games, slashing .212/.212/.303 across 33 plate appearances. Though he'll be joining a Blue Jays squad with more established hitting talent, Sosa could capture a more meaningful role in the short term while the club navigates some injuries. Toronto may give him a look as its primary designated hitter in place of George Springer, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to a fractured left big toe.

Canzone is not in the lineup for Monday's game versus the Astros.

Right-hander Mike Burrows will toe the rubber for the Astros, but the left-handed-hitting Canzone will be absent from the lineup for just the second time against a righty this season. Cal Raleigh is getting a start at designated hitter and Mitch Garver will do the catching for Seattle.

The Blue Jays transferred Bieber (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Bieber's timeline for a 2026 debut remains murky, as the Blue Jays have been bringing him along slowly, but a move to the 60-day IL ensures that he'll remain on the shelf through at least late May. The veteran right-hander wasn't cleared to throw off a mound in spring training after experiencing inflammation in his surgically repaired elbow, but this past weekend, he completed his third bullpen session since the start of the season, per MLB.com. He could soon graduate to facing hitters, but Bieber still looks to be at least a couple weeks away from beginning a minor-league rehab assignment.

Gonzales is slashing .276/.344/.517 with two home runs and a 21.9 percent strikeout rate in 32 plate appearances for High-A Greenville.

Gonzales' inability to consistently lift the ball in the air has been the one thing holding him back from ascending way up prospect lists, and so far his 45.5 percent groundball rate and 31.8 percent flyball rate are career-best marks. These early adjustments have allowed him to produce a career-best .241 ISO and .517 SLG through this tiny sample. Gonzales is the second-youngest hitter at High-A, behind Rainiel Rodriguez, so he could climb into a lofty spot on prospect rankings by season's end if he can maintain these early batted-ball trends.

Kremer was present at Camden Yards on Sunday and could be formally recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to start Monday's game against the Diamondbacks, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

The right-hander was unable to win a rotation spot with the Orioles coming out of spring training, but he looks like he won't have to wait long for a promotion to the big leagues. Zach Eflin (elbow) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery last week, but Kremer -- who accrued a 4.19 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 142:45 K:BB across 171.2 innings with the big club in 2025 -- may only be getting a spot start as Baltimore navigates a stretch of 13 games in 13 days, given that Cade Povich looked very good in his first start of the year Sunday. Kremer has performed well himself in his first two outings with Norfolk, however, covering 9.1 innings and striking out 12 while allowing three earned runs on eight hits and two walks.