MLB Player News

Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic surgery Wednesday on his right shoulder and will be sidelined 4-to-6 months, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Rodriguez was placed on the injured list prior to Opening Day after experiencing shoulder tightness toward the end of Cardinals camp this spring. After undergoing surgery, the Rule 5 Draft pick looks likely to miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign. He logged three rehab appearances at Triple-A Memphis last month before his shoulder began barking again.

Nelson (hamstring) made the fourth appearance of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Reading, tossing five innings and striking out four while allowing an unearned run on six hits and no walks.

Nelson has made all but four of his 69 career MLB appearances as a reliever, but the Phillies have been getting him stretched out a starter since he began his rehab assignment April 18. He's scheduled to make another rehab start Sunday, likely with either Reading or Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The Phillies don't have a rotation spot available for him at the moment, so Nelson will likely be optioned to Triple-A once his 30-day rehab window closes and he's officially activated from the 15-day injured list.

Bellatti (triceps) threw live batting practice Tuesday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson relayed that Bellatti looked good while throwing around 25 pitches Tuesday. Bellatti is in line to head to the Phillies' spring training complex in Lakeland, Fla. for two throwing sessions over the weekend before he begins a rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley next week.

The Marlins selected Smeltzer from Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami designated Smeltzer for assignment Friday and outrighted him to Triple-A on Tuesday, but he'll be back with the big club after the Marlins placed first baseman Garrett Cooper (ear) on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The lefty has a brutal 6.75 ERA in 12 innings this season, but he has held opponents scoreless over his last pair of appearances.

The Marlins designated Quezada for assignment Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Quezada vacates the 40-man roster after a woeful performance Tuesday in which he walked five and allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning in a loss to Atlanta. The appearance marked Quezada's first big-league action since 2020, when he pitched in three games for the Marlins.

The Diamondbacks optioned Solomon to Triple-A Reno following Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Rangers.

Solomon wasn't needed in relief Tuesday, but he'll lose his spot on the 26-man active roster in any case after the Diamondbacks promoted right-hander Brandon Pfaadt from Triple-A in a corresponding move in advance of his scheduled start in Wednesday's series finale in Texas. During the three-plus weeks he was up with the big club, Solomon made five relief appearances and was blitzed for 18 earned runs on 17 hits and 11 walks over 13.1 innings.

Harvey (1-0) picked up the win in Tuesday's victory over the Cubs, giving up one hit and one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings while striking out one.

The right-hander entered the game in the top of the seventh inning after Mason Thompson had served up a game-tying homer to Patrick Wisdom, and Harvey then benefitted from a three-run rally by the Nats in the bottom of the frame. The 28-year-old continues to be sharp in a high-leverage role, posting a 2.13 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 14:6 K:BB through 12.2 innings with six holds, plus Tuesday's win, in 12 appearances. Should Kyle Finnegan be removed from the closer role, Harvey appears to be the likeliest candidate to take over the ninth inning, although Finnegan is also pitching well right now.

The Dodgers optioned Vesia to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Los Angeles selected Gavin Stone's contract from Triple-A in a corresponding move, with the young right-hander replacing the lefty reliever on the 26-man active roster. Vesia has posted consecutive scoreless appearances but has struggled considerably this season with a 7.84 ERA and 2.81 WHIP in 10.1 innings. The southpaw will surely get another opportunity with the Dodgers this season, but he'll need to perform significantly better to pitch in high-leverage spots like he did in 2022.

The Marlins outrighted Smeltzer to Triple-A Jacksonville after he cleared waivers Tuesday.

Smeltzer was designated for assignment last week after the Marlins selected the contract of Johan Quezada from Jacksonville. In 12 innings with Miami prior to being removed from the roster, Smeltzer registered a 6.75 ERA and 1.83 WHIP.

Finnegan gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Cubs.

The right-hander got rocked early this season, but he's settled down since. Finnegan has converted five straight save chances and been scored upon only once in his last nine appearances, posting a 1.04 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through 8.2 innings over that stretch. His numbers on the year still look shaky, but with the Nats' offense not capable of running up the score on many opponents and likely to produce narrow wins when the team does manage to come out on top, Finnegan's fantasy value could be underrated right now.