MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that McCullers (finger) has resumed throwing off a mound and is scheduled for "another bullpen or two" before he starts facing live hitters, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

McCullers was placed on the injured list July 22 after developing a blister on his pitching hand and will wind up missing more than the minimum 15 days. Based on Espada's comments, McCullers could be ready to face hitters by next week, though it's unclear if the right-hander would be cleared to immediately return from the IL after that or if he would first have to go out on a minor-league rehab assignment. With a 6.90 ERA and 1.74 WHIP over 44.1 innings in his 11 starts with Houston this season, McCullers could be at risk of moving to the bullpen upon his activation, as the Astros could get starters Spencer Arrighetti (thumb), Christian Javier (elbow), Luis Garcia (elbow) and Brandon Walter (elbow) back from the IL before him or around the same time.

Walter (elbow) resumed playing catch Tuesday, and Astros manager Joe Espada relayed Sunday that he could throw off a mound in "the next few days," Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Walter shouldn't be in line for an extended stay on the injured list given that he was able to start throwing again five days after being shelved with elbow inflammation. He still appears likely to be out for longer than the minimum 15 days, however. Through nine starts with Houston this season, the southpaw owns a 3.35 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 52:4 K:BB in 53.2 innings, but in spite of his impressive numbers, he may be on the outside looking in for a rotation spot upon his return. Spencer Arrighetti (thumb), Cristian Javier (elbow) and Luis Garcia (elbow) are all in the midst of rehab assignments and could beat Walter back from the IL.

Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed Sunday that Arrighetti (thumb) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start either Tuesday or Wednesday in Miami, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Arrighetti is finally ready to rejoin the Houston rotation after he had been on the shelf since April 8 due to a right thumb fracture, which he sustained when he was struck by a flyball during batting practice. The right-hander kicked off a rehab assignment July 19, and over his three outings between Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land, Arrighetti turned in a 5.73 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 11:5 K:BB in 11 innings. He got stretched out to 4.2 innings and 79 pitches in his final rehab outing with Sugar Land this past Thursday, so Arrighetti is unlikely to face any major workload restrictions in his return to the Astros.

Grisham went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in a loss to Miami on Sunday.

Grisham gave New York a promising start when he led off the contest with a 412-foot solo shot, but the team didn't score again until the seventh inning despite Grisham reaching three times in total. It's been a career-best year for the veteran outfielder -- his 20 home runs are already a career high, and he's on pace for a career-best .830 OPS as well. That production has helped Grisham hold down the starting job in center field, and he's become a fixture atop New York's batting order as well.

The Guardians are expected to promote Rosario from High-A Lake County to Double-A Akron this week, SI.com reports.

Rosario will move up to Double-A after slashing .268/.362/.490 with 16 home runs and 11 stolen bases over 354 plate appearances for Lake County. The 21-year-old has split time between center field and right field this season but will likely find himself in a corner spot on a full-time basis once he matriculates to the majors.

Montgomery went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an RBI single during Sunday's 8-5 loss to the Angels.

Montgomery headlined a four-run first inning for the White Sox, launching a three-run home run. He followed up the long ball with an RBI single in his second at-bat. The 23-year-old shortstop has been mashing since the All-Star break, going 15-for-58 (.259) with seven home runs, 21 RBI and nine runs scored. All seven of his homers have come in his last 11 games. Montgomery has an .851 OPS on the year.

Burke didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the Angels, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out seven.

Burke blanked the Halos through five innings, but he got into trouble immediately in the sixth inning. He allowed a solo homer to Zach Neto and then allowed a single, double and single to consecutive batters. Burke was pulled following the second single, but a runner he had put on scored later in the inning on a wild pitch. The 25-year-old hasn't completed more than five innings in five consecutive outings, but he's fanned more than six batters in back-to-back appearances. On the year, Burke has a 4.23 ERA and a 100:50 K:BB across 110.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Guardians next weekend.

Kochanowicz didn't factor into the decision Sunday against the White Sox, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out two.

Kochanowicz made his second start since rejoining the active roster following a stint at Triple-A Salt Lake. While he improved upon his control - Kochanowicz walked six batters in his previous outing - he yielded his most runs in a start since May 10. Most of the damage came from the bat of Colson Montgomery, who launched a three-run homer in the first inning and hit an RBI single in the third. Kochanowicz will carry a 5.85 ERA into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come in Detroit.

Ward went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and an RBI single during Sunday's 8-5 win over the White Sox.

Ward broke a stalemate in the bottom of the ninth inning by launching a three-run home run off Tyler Alexander. The long ball was Ward's 26th of the campaign and his third in his last eight outings. During that eight-game stretch, Ward is 7-for-31 (.226) with six RBI and a 3:14 BB:K.

Neto went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a two-RBI double during Sunday's 8-5 win over the White Sox.

Neto had gone 17 consecutive games without a round tripper, a dry spell that tied his season long, before tagging Sean Burke for a solo shot in the sixth frame Sunday. The performance marked Neto's first game since June 24 with multiple RBI. In his last 10 games, Neto is 10-for-37 (.270) with nine RBI and three runs scored.