MLB Player News

Okert (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Jacksonville on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Okert is eligible for activation April 11. While he might not quite be ready on that day, he does seem to be tracking toward a mid-April return.

Nance (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Nance is working his way back from a shoulder issue and has finally progressed to mound work. He shouldn't be too far off from a rehab assignment.

Minter (1-0) picked up the win in Thursday's 7-6 victory over the Padres, giving up a hit and a walk in a scoreless ninth inning while striking out one.

The southpaw walked the first batter he faced in the top of the ninth and put runners on first and second with one out, but Minter coaxed a double play out of Xander Bogaerts to escape the jam. He was then rewarded with the win after Orlando Arcia's walkoff single in the bottom of the frame. Minter hasn't allowed a run through four innings to begin the season, collecting a win and and save in his four appearances, and with Raisel Iglesias (shoulder) still not throwing, his stint as Atlanta's closer should last at least another couple weeks, if not right on into May.

Vargas allowed two walks and hit a batter over a scoreless ninth inning in Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.

Vargas managed to escape with his first scoreless outing despite loading the bases with one out. All three of the hard-throwing right-hander's appearances have come in Diamondbacks' losses. Vargas has given up two runs on three hits (one HR) and three walks while striking out six over three games.

Weathers is likely to make one more spot start for the Padres before Joe Musgrove (toe) returns, MLB.com reports.

Weathers pitched well in his season debut versus the Diamondbacks and is lined up for another turn Monday against the Mets. After Musgrove's return, the left-handed Weathers will slide back to a long-relief role or perhaps join the Triple-A El Paso rotation.

Junis (2-0) allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four over four scoreless innings Thursday to earn the win over the White Sox.

Junis has won both of his appearances this season, allowing just one run over 6.1 innings. He was efficient Thursday, throwing 44 of 69 pitches for strikes after starter Alex Wood needed 71 pitches to complete three frames. Junis' role as a swingman is clearly paying off when he can vulture some wins, but that's not a particularly reliable source of fantasy value. He's unlikely to be called upon for a few days after this long-relief assignment.

Graterol wasn't available for Thursday's game against Arizona due to back tightness, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed after the team's 5-2 win that he didn't use Graterol in the contest because the reliever's back tightened up in the middle of the game. Evan Phillips ended up nabbing his second save of the campaign, and he may be emerging as the team's first choice in closing situations. It's unclear if Graterol's back issue will cause him to miss additional time.

Phillips earned a save against the Diamondbacks on Thursday, striking out one batter in a perfect inning of work.

Phillips got the call with Los Angeles up by three runs heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, and the right-hander retired the side in order to notch his second save in three days. It's worth noting that Brusdar Graterol was unavailable due to a tight back, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com, but manager Dave Roberts implied that he would have used Graterol in the eighth frame. It would be premature to label Phillips as the Dodgers' full-time closer, but he's earned both of the team's single-inning saves thus far and has has yet to allow a run through three innings this season.

Johnson picked up a save against the Nationals on Thursday, striking out two batters in a perfect ninth inning.

Johnson was called upon in the ninth inning to close out a rare 1-0 Coors Field game, and he succeeded with ease, needing just nine pitches -- eight of which were strikes -- to retire the side in order. The right-hander struck out two in the frame, giving him seven punchouts over three innings so far this season. Daniel Bard was expected to open the season as the Rockies' closer, but he's currently on the injured list while he deals with anxiety. Johnson has stepped in to notch both of Colorado's saves thus far, and he has an opportunity to dig his heels into the closer role with Bard's timeline for a return uncertain.

Iglesias (shoulder) had yet to resume throwing as of Thursday, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.

Iglesias remains in rest and treatment mode two weeks after being diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation. The hope had been that he could join Atlanta's bullpen around mid-April, but now it would appear that the veteran closer might miss the entire month. A.J. Minter seems to have the strongest current hold on Atlanta's ninth-inning gig. Jesse Chavez got a save Wednesday at St. Louis, but Minter was presumably unavailable after pitching the two previous days.