MLB Player News

Manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Eflin (lat) is scheduled to throw a side session Friday or Saturday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Eflin has recently been ramping up his throwing distance and has now been cleared to return to the mound for the first time since suffering a mild lat strain April 7. The right-hander is already eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list, but it'll likely be another couple of weeks before he's potentially ready to return.

Harvey (shoulder) played catch Wednesday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Harvey landed on the 15-day injured list April 11 due to a right teres major strain. He's progressed enough in his recovery to start a throwing program, and he'll continue to ramp up his activity over the coming weeks. Harvey tossed 5.1 scoreless innings across six outings prior to going on the IL, allowing one hit and striking out seven batters without issuing a walk over that span.

High-A Winston-Salem placed Batista on its 7-day injured list April 9 due to an unspecified injury.

Batista likely sustained the injury or was pitching through it in his 2025 debut April 6, when he allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. The 21-year-old struggled mightily with his control in the outing, spotting just 42 of his 77 pitches for strikes and throwing three wild pitches.

Leclerc was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday due to a right lat strain.

The right-hander departed Tuesday's contest with what was originally labeled shoulder soreness, but he's since been diagnosed with a lat strain. Leclerc will be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks, but a lengthier absence wouldn't be surprising given the nature of the injury. Justin Sterner and Tyler Ferguson should serve as the Athletics' high-leverage relievers ahead of closer Mason Miller.

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

Muncy made the A's Opening Day roster after producing a .289 average in spring training. He's struggled at the plate in the majors with a .176/.211/.279 slash line with one home run, four RBI and a 29.6 percent strikeout rate in 71 plate appearances, but Muncy could return to the big club if there is a need of depth in the infield. The move corresponds with the Athletics selecting Nick Kurtz's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas.

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

Lopez has pitched 4.1 scoreless innings across three appearances since being recalled from Triple-A on Friday, but the 27-year-old will be sent back down to the minors in favor of fresh arms Hogan Harris and Grant Holman. Lopez also owns a 2.45 ERA through 14.2 minor-league innings this season, and there's a good chance he'll end up back in the Athletics' bullpen at some point.

The Athletics recalled Holman from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Holman and southpaw Hogan Harris will bolster the A's bullpen after Jacob Lopez was optioned to Triple-A and Jose Leclerc (lat) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Holman hasn't yielded a run over nine innings of work in Las Vegas, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out nine. He appeared in 18 games for the Athletics in 2024 and finished with a 4.02 ERA, 1.66 WHIP and 16:9 K:BB in 15.2 innings.

The Athletics selected Kurtz's contract from Triple-A Las Vegas, and he's starting at first base and batting seventh in his MLB debut against the Rangers on Wednesday.

Reports first surfaced Monday indicating that Kurtz was on the move to the big leagues, but the Athletics waited until they had a matchup Wednesday with a right-handed starting pitcher (Kumar Rocker) before making the 22-year-old's call-up official. Despite the brief delay in his promotion, the left-handed-hitting Kurtz is expected to be given the chance to play regularly against both right- and left-handed pitching as he begins his major-league career. In leagues where he's still available on the waiver wire, Kurtz is worthy of a look for teams in need of power production after he slashed an impressive .321/.384/.655 with seven home runs and seven doubles over 20 games with Las Vegas prior to his call-up.

The Athletics recalled Harris from Triple-A Las Vegas on Wednesday.

With Jacob Lopez heading down to the minors and Jose Leclerc (lat) landing on the injured list, the A's will promote Harris and Grant Holman to replenish their bullpen depth. Harris has made six appearances at Las Vegas this season, giving up five earned runs across 9.1 innings while striking out 12 batters and walking five. He'll presumably work in middle relief while with the big club.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde confirmed Wednesday that Young will start Friday in Detroit, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

The Orioles had left open the possibility that Kyle Gibson could take the ball Friday, but the club has ultimately sided with Young. The rookie right-hander made his major-league debut last weekend against the Reds, permitting three runs over four innings. Young is not guaranteed any additional starts with the big club beyond Friday.