MLB Player News

Lauer is slated to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Yariel Rodriguez in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Though he won't be deployed in a traditional starting role while he makes his first big-league appearance since 2023, Lauer is built up to handle 90 pitches and should have a better chance at qualifying for a win while working out of the bullpen. With Max Scherzer's (thumb) return from the injured list not yet imminent, Lauer could end up taking over as the fifth member of the Toronto rotation if he performs well in his team debut. The 29-year-old southpaw supplied a 4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB in 24 innings with Triple-A Buffalo prior to his call-up Wednesday.

Swanson is headed back to Toronto to be examined after being scratched from a scheduled rehab appearance Tuesday with Single-A Dunedin due to right forearm soreness, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The righty had been slated to make his first game appearance after being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, but he felt more discomfort in his forearm while warming up. A plan will be mapped out for Swanson after he is re-evaluated, but his absence is likely to extend into at least mid-May.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Morton will work out of the bullpen moving forward, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

In lieu of re-signing Corbin Burnes or bringing aboard another frontline starter via trade or free agency this offseason, the Orioles brought Morton aboard on a one-year, $15 million deal with the hope that he would serve as a stable contributor in the middle of the rotation. That gambit has backfired, as Father Time appears to have finally caught up with Morton in his age-41 season. The Orioles deployed Morton in bulk relief in his last two appearances with the hope that the arrangement would yield better results, but the right-hander gave up four earned runs on six hits and six walks over six innings between those outings and now owns a 9.45 ERA and 2.17 WHIP for the season. Hyde hasn't closed the door on Morton starting again at some point down the road, but the veteran may need to turn in a few quality low-leverage appearances out of the bullpen before the Orioles insert him back into the rotation.

Schneemann will start at second base and bat seventh in Wednesday's game against the Twins.

At least temporarily, Schneemann seems to have supplanted the struggling Brayan Rocchio for a regular spot in Cleveland's middle infield. For the second straight day, Rocchio finds himself on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher (Pablo Lopez), while Schneemann has now been included in the lineup in five of the last six matchups with righties. According to Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, manager Stephen Vogt implied the hotter bat is Schneemann, who is slashing .379/.419/.586 dating back to April 13.

Rocchio is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins.

After going 0-for-4 in Monday's series opener to bring his average down to .205 on the season, Rocchio finds himself on the bench against a right-handed starting pitcher for the second day in a row. According to Chris Assenheimer of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, manager Stephen Vogt didn't explicitly say that Rocchio has been removed from his everyday role at shortstop, though the skipper noted that Gabriel Arias and Daniel Schneemann are playing better at the moment. With that in mind, Arias and Schneemann seem likely to operate as the Guardians' primary double-play tandem for the time being, though Rocchio could spell the left-handed-hitting Schneemann when the Guardians face left-handed pitching.

The Red Sox placed Bernardino on the bereavement list Wednesday.

He's exiting the roster to make room for Lucas Giolito (hamstring), who was activated from the 15-day injured list and will start Wednesday in Toronto. Bernardino will miss the next 3-to-7 games while on the bereavement list.

The Red Sox activated Giolito (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Giolito is set to make his Red Sox debut Wednesday in Toronto after missing last season following an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and getting a late start to the 2025 campaign because of a left hamstring strain. The right-hander held a 5.19 ERA and 17:13 K:BB over 17.1 innings across five rehab starts. Giolito threw 85 pitches during his final rehab outing, so he should be able to handle a relatively normal workload versus the Blue Jays.

The Athletics transferred Leclerc (lat) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.

Leclerc landed on the IL one week ago with a right lat strain and had been slated to receive a second opinion on the injury this week. The Athletics haven't revealed the findings of his recent medical evaluations, but Leclerc clearly wasn't expected to be ready to pitch anytime soon. The veteran righty had struggled in a setup role for the Athletics prior to getting hurt, as he gave up six earned runs on 13 hits and five walks over nine innings in his first 10 appearances of the season.

The Athletics optioned Lopez to Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

While making a spot start Tuesday against the Rangers, Lopez was touched up for three runs on six hits and four walks in 2.2 innings. He wasn't going to be available for a few days, so the Athletics will replace him on the 26-man active roster with a fresh bullpen arm in Carlos Duran, who was called up from Triple-A.

The Athletics selected Duran's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Acquired earlier this month from the Dodgers in the trade that sent outfielder Esteury Ruiz to Los Angeles, Duran has posted a 6.75 ERA and 18:12 K:BB over 16 frames at the Triple-A level this season. He'll provide the Athletics with a multi-inning option out of the bullpen while he's up with the big club.