HOUSTON — New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon is scheduled to make a rehab start with High-A Hudson Valley on Friday night.

Rodon opened the season on the 15-day injured list as he recovered from left elbow surgery last October. He suffered a setback in late March when he felt tightness in his right hamstring while throwing at the Yankees’ complex in Florida.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Friday night’s game in Houston against the Astros that he thought the 33-year-old left-hander would have a pitch count in the mid-60s.

Rodon is recovering from surgery on Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur. He’s in his fourth year with the Yankees after going 18-9 with 3.09 ERA in 33 starts last season.

Rehab assignment

HOUSTON — Astros rookie pitcher Tatsuya Imai threw his second bullpen session in his return from the injured list and will go on a rehabilitation assignment, manager Joe Espada said Friday.

The Japanese right-hander was put on the 15-day IL on April 12 with right arm fatigue. Espada said Imai will start with one rehab assignment and go from there. Imai threw his first bullpen session since going on the injured list on Monday. Espada said Imai has looked good in the bullpen sessions.

Bullpen demotion

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins says the team is moving Jeff Hoffman out of the closer’s role.

Hoffman is 1-2 with three saves in six chances and a 7.59 ERA in 12 games this season, his second with Toronto. Hoffman blew the save in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series when he gave up a game-tying home run to the Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas.

Cubs hurting

LOS ANGELES — The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Caleb Thielbar on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain on Friday, the eighth pitcher to be injured this season.

The Cubs also transferred right-hander Porter Hodge to the 60-day injured list while infielder Scott Kingery was designated for assignment.

The Cubs selected the contracts of infielder Nicky Lopez and right-hander Vince Velasquez from Triple-A. Thielbar is 2-2 with two saves and a 3.12 ERA in 11 appearances. He was removed from Thursday’s game against Philadelphia after facing one batter.