News
Angels optioned RHP Michael Darrell-Hicks to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted the team will “take a look at” whether or not to remove Tanner Houck from the starting rotation.
After his brutal start on Monday, Houck admitted this is “probably the most lost [he’s] ever been.” The struggles really began in the second half of last season, but Houck now has an 8.04 ERA and has allowed double-digit runs in less than three innings twice this season already. Houck does have minor league options remaining, so the Red Sox could simply send him to Triple-A and give him time to figure out what’s going out. If they were to do so, that would allow Hunter Dobbins to stay in the rotation even after Walker Buehler returns next week.
MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy suggests that the Brewers could call up Logan Henderson to start on Wednesday against the Guardians.
Milwaukee has pushed Jose Quintana’s start back to Saturday against the Twins, which means they currently don’t have a starter for Wednesday’s game. Henderson is already on the 40-man roster, so he would make some sense and be an intriguing streamer in deeper formats.
Austin Slater (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.
SLater had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee back on April 16th. He was given a four-to-six week timeline at the time, so he remains on track in his recovery. He could need multiple weeks of rehab games before returning to the White Sox lineup.
Richard Fitts (pectoral) has progressed to throwing up-and-downs.
Up-and-downs simulate a multi-inning game scenario where Fitts will face hitters and then rest as if it were the half inning that his team was hitting, and then face more hitters. It’s used to test stamina and recovery. The next step would be for Fitts to progress to a rehab assignment.
Astros are reportedly calling up LHP Colton Gordon to start on Wednesday against Kansas City.
The 26-year-old has been lights out at Triple-A for the Astros, pitching to a 2.55 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 43 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings. Gordon doesn’t have tremendous velocity on his fastball, but he has a low release point, which allows his fastball to seemingly rise at the top of the zone. He pairs that with a good sweeper that is primarily effective versus lefties. With Ryan Gusto struggling on Monday, there’s a chance for Gordon to stick in the rotation for a bit if he pitches well on Wednesday.
Eury Pérez (elbow) is set for a pitch design session on May 14 in Miami.
Pérez threw three scoreless innings for Low-A Jupiter on Sunday and will now start work with the Marlins’ pitching development team to analyze his pitch shapes and movement and start honing his pitch mix. This is a positive step for the 22-year-old. The first rehab outings were mainly about health and rhythm, so Pérez can now start taking more deliberate steps towards getting back onto an MLB mound.