MLB Player News

The Dodges optioned Bruihl (back) to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Bruihl pitched in 24 games for Los Angeles last season, recording a 3.80 ERA and 1.18 WHIP through 23.2 innings. The 25-year-old southpaw appeared to enter spring training in good position to break camp with the big club, but a bout with back spasms might have derailed his chances of securing a spot in the Dodgers' Opening Day bullpen. Bruihl at least appears to be healthy again, as he returned from a two-week absence from the Dodgers' pitching schedule to retire one of the three batters he faced in Tuesday's 12-1 loss to the Giants in Cactus League play.

Reds manager David Bell confirmed Wednesday that Sims (back) will open the season on the injured list, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Sims has been bothered by back spasms, and the reliever won't be ready for the start of the season. Bell also said that Sims along with Luke Weaver (forearm) will likely pitch in rehab assignments for Triple-A Louisville before they're ready to join the Reds. Assuming he has no further setbacks, Sims has a good chance to pitch in the late innings for Cincinnati in the middle of April.

The Padres optioned Knehr to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

San Diego also reassigned Eric Hanhold and Aaron Brooks in this round of cuts from major-league camp. Knehr, 26, holds a 4.64 ERA and 30:24 K:BB in 42.2 career innings at the MLB level.

Raley (hamstring) pitched in a minor-league game Wednesday and is on track to return to Grapefruit League action this weekend, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Raley suffered a low-grade strain of his left hamstring earlier this month as he was gearing up to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, but he has checked most of the necessary boxes in the weeks since and should be good to go for Opening Day. The left-hander could factor into the saves mix for the Mets in 2023 with Edwin Diaz (knee) already done for the year.

Okert was held out of action Wednesday in Marlins camp because of an adductor issue, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

It's something Okert has dealt with in the past and the Marlins didn't want to push him this close to Opening Day. It sounds like they feel he will be fine after a bit of rest and treatment. The 32-year-old right-hander projects to operate in a later-inning role for Miami this season.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Wednesday that Chargois is dealing with a stiff neck, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Chargois is already making progress with the neck trouble, and Schumaker believes he will be able to return to action for Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. The right-hander is expected to be a middle-innings option for Miami to begin the 2023 campaign.

Strahm could begin the season as the fifth starter or bulk reliever for the Phillies, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Strahm has been getting stretched out this spring in preparation for a multi-inning relief role, so the southpaw shouldn't be too taxed if he's called upon to make starts or serve as a primary pitcher to begin the regular season after manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Ranger Suarez likely won't be ready for Opening Day while contending with forearm inflammation. If Strahm is given the opportunity to make starts early on, he's unlikely to work deep enough into games to qualify for wins whenever his turn in the rotation comes up.

Rossman signed a minor-league contract Wednesday with the Mets.

Rossman made his MLB debut with the Phillies last year at age 30 and surrendered two earned runs over one inning before heading back down to Triple-A. The right-hander will function as minor-league bullpen depth for New York in 2023.

Santillan (back) is scheduled to pitch a minor-league game Wednesday for the Reds in Arizona, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

This will be Santillan's first appearance of the spring -- albeit on the minor-league fields -- as he has been sidelined with a back strain that also saw him miss action during the 2022 campaign. The right-hander is hoping to be ready for his 2023 debut by mid-April, and barring unforeseen circumstances, he'll open the regular season on the injured list.

Bird (oblique) allowed one hit in a scoreless inning of relief in Tuesday's 14-2 loss to the Padres in Cactus League play.

Bird faced four batters in his spring debut, which had been delayed after he suffered a left oblique strain early in spring training. The injury initially seemed to put him in line to open the season on the injured list, but as a reliever who never threw more than 43 pitches in any of his 38 appearances in 2022, he probably won't require much time to build up. Per Thomas Harding of MLB.com, Bird is listed among the Rockies' available relievers for Friday's game against Milwaukee.