MLB Player News

Hernandez (elbow) landed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

Hernandez looked to have a chance to close games this season before being diagnosed with a UCL sprain in early March. His return timeline remains unclear, but he'll be out until the end of May at the earliest. There's still a chance he picks up saves in the back half of the season with Jose Leclerc ruled out for more than a year due to Tommy John surgery, but he'll have to prove his health and effectiveness before reentering that conversation.

Scrubb (shoulder) is expected back in mid-April, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Scrubb will start the season on the injured list after developing shoulder soreness in mid-March, but he's apparently avoided any long-term injury. He could join the big-league bullpen a few weeks into the season.

Lovelady was optioned to the Royals' alternate training site Tuesday.

Lovelady hasn't shown much of note in his 21 major-league innings thus far, struggling to a 7.71 ERA. He could join the active roster when the Royals need another lefty in the bullpen, but he's unlikely find himself in a high-leverage role.

The Red Sox designated Schreiber for assignment Tuesday.

Boston booted Schreiber from the 40-man roster to clear a spot for outfielder Franchy Cordero, who was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move. A waiver pickup from Pittsburgh in February, Schreiber didn't make a serious run at winning a spot in Boston's Opening Day bullpen this spring.

Manager Alex Cora said Andriese rejoined the team Tuesday and is slated to begin the season in the bullpen, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Andriese had been away from the team for only a few days due to COVID-19-related contact-tracing concerns, so he should be ready to go for Opening Day. Though Eduardo Rodriguez (arm) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Red Sox are expected to turn to Tanner Houck rather than Andriese to fill in as the fifth starter to begin the season.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Brasier will likely open the season on the injured list after suffering a left calf strain while pitching in a "B" game Monday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Due to his delayed arrival to camp, Brasier was already at risk of being excluded from the Opening Day roster, but the injury he suffered Monday appears to have the decision an easy one for Boston. With Brasier likely out for at least the first week of the season, Cora said that Darwinzon Hernandez and Josh Taylor would be pushed into more higher-leverage work behind closing options Adam Ottavino and Matt Barnes, per Koch.

Rodriguez (ankle) threw batting practice Monday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez continues to progress from a sprained ankle. He's setting a target date to return about two weeks into the season. He could emerge as part of the team's end-game strategy along with Ian Kennedy and Matt Bush.

Yarbrough allowed two earned runs on three hits over 5.1 innings in a Grapefruit League win over Atlanta on Sunday. He struck out four and also hit a batter.

The left-hander accomplished his solid line against a lineup full of Atlanta regulars, turning in a much better performance than when he faced them a week earlier. Yarbrough finished Grapefruit League play allowing two runs or less in three of his four trips to the mound and posted an impressive 11:2 K:BB across 13.2 innings.

Cleveland will use a committee of Clase, James Karinchak and Nick Wittgren for save chances this season, manager Terry Francona told MLB.com.

Clase had a 4.32 ERA this spring with 11 strikeouts and no walks in 8.1 innings. Karinchak entered spring as the leading candidate for the closer role, but struggled with a 6.52 ERA and 10 walks in 9.2 innings. Wittgren looked sharp with a 1.08 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8.1 innings. It sounds like the closer situation could be in flux early in the season.

Cleveland will use a committee of James Karinchak, Emmanuel Clase and Wittgren for save chances this season, manager Terry Francona told MLB.com.

Wittgren had a strong spring with a 1.08 ERA and nine strikeouts in 8.1 innings with one walk. It sounds like the closer situation could be flux early in the season, but Wittgren could get a larger share of save chances if he continues his spring performance.