MLB Player News

Astros manager Joe Espada said Valdez (elbow) played catch Friday and could throw off a mound as soon as Saturday or Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The left-hander quickly resumed throwing after landing on the injured list April 9 with elbow inflammation, and his return to mound work will be another encouraging step. Valdez won't be ready to return from the injured list when first eligible next week, but given his current progression he could seemingly be back with the Astros sometime in early May.

Walsh is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Walsh will sit for a third consecutive contest, as Atlanta will start left-hander Chris Sale on Friday. The righty-hitting Ezequiel Duran will start at first base and bat sixth in the lineup.

Carter is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Atlanta.

Carter will head to the bench with Atlanta sending left-hander Chris Sale to the mound. Wyatt Langford will start in left field, while the righty-hitting Davis Wendzel will fill in at DH.

White was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

The 24-year-old will take the roster spot of Jack Leiter, who was sent down after making his MLB debut Thursday. White hasn't pitched well in three starts for Round Rock this season with a 7.30 ERA across 12.1 innings, but he should fill a bullpen while up with the Rangers.

Hancock and the Mariners will not play Friday after their contest against the Rockies was postponed due to inclement weather, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday. Hancock and Dakota Hudson had been slated to start Friday but will be pushed back at least one day to Saturday.

Winckowski is a likely candidate to start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Manager Alex Cora held off officially naming Winckowski his starter for that day, perhaps in case he is needed in relief before then. He would be filling in for Garrett Whitlock (oblique) and could be asked to make an additional start while Whitlock recovers. Winckowski was stretched out as a starter in spring training, but all seven of his appearances so far in 2024 have come in relief with his longest outing being 2.2 innings, so he may not provide much length Sunday.

Verlander (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and is starting Friday against the Nationals.

Verlander missed the first few weeks of the season rehabbing from a shoulder issue but will make his 2024 debut Friday in Washington. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said the Astros plan to limit the veteran right-hander to around 80-85 pitches, which would be a minor increase on the 77 pitches Verlander threw in his final rehab start.

The Rangers optioned Leiter to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

The right-hander surrendered seven runs over 3.2 frames in his major-league debut Thursday versus the Tigers. Michael Lorenzen (neck) recently made his season debut to fill out the Rangers' rotation, but Leiter seems likely to receive another look with the big club later in the year.

Schanuel is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Reds, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Schanuel went 4-for-7 over the previous two games, doubling his hit total from his first 14 contests of the season, but he will take a seat for Friday's series opener in Cincinnati. Miguel Sano will man first base while Brandon Drury (hamstring) returns to the lineup as the designated hitter.

Martin is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers.

Martin has a modest five-game hit streak going but will head to the bench for Friday's contest. Trevor Larnach will take over in left field and bat cleanup in the series opener versus Detroit.