MLB Player News

Leiter will start Thursday's game against the Pirates in Chicago.

Despite getting lit up for seven earned runs over 3.1 innings in his Cubs debut last weekend in Colorado, Leiter will make a second turn in the rotation while starting pitchers Wade Miley (elbow) and Alec Mills (back) remain on the injured list. Once one of those two pitchers are healthy, Leiter will likely lose his spot in rotation, and potentially his spot on the 40-man roster, too.

Kahnle (elbow) pitched two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one.

This was Kahnle's first rehab appearance at the Triple-A level following three outings with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. The right-hander has struck out four batters over 3.2 innings combined while issuing just one walk. He's expected to be ready to return to the big club in early May.

Gilbreath allowed two earned runs on one hit and one walk across two-thirds of an inning Wednesday against the Phillies.

Gilbreath was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Monday, so this outing marked his season debut. He entered the game in the seventh inning with the bases loaded and the score tied. He hit the first batter he faced to force in a run, but the big blow came two hitters later when he allowed a three-run home run to Johan Camargo. Gilbreath was solid out of the Rockies' bullpen in 2021, maintaining a 3.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 42.2 frames while also tallying four holds. He should hold a similar role in 2022.

Chavez was traded from the Cubs to Atlanta on Wednesday in exchange for Sean Newcomb and cash considerations.

Chavez signed a split deal with Chicago in March but will now return to Atlanta, where he spent the 2021 campaign. He had a 2.14 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 36:11 K:BB over 33.2 innings for the reigning champs last year.

Reed (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Reed was held out of Grapefruit League play due to his left oblique strain, and he spent the first two weeks of the regular season on the IL. Although he's now healthy, he'll head to Syracuse since the Mets don't have room in their big-league bullpen. The right-hander made 26 relief appearances at the Triple-A level last year and posted a 5.04 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 30.1 innings.

The Pirates activated Howard (back) from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The transaction comes one day after Howard made his first appearance for Indianapolis and the second of his rehab assignment after he opened the season the shelf due to a back strain. He recorded five outs in Tuesday's relief outing, so Howard looks like he'll face no restrictions moving forward. If he performs well over an extended stretch at Indianapolis, Howard could put himself on the radar for a call-up to the big club.

Castano was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Castano was sent down Sunday, but he'll rejoin the big-league bullpen after Paul Campbell (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list. In his first pair of big-league appearances of the year, Castano struck out two in two scoreless innings.

Perez was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Wednesday.

Perez joined the major-league roster as an extra man for Tuesday's doubleheader against Arizona, and he'll remain in the major-league bullpen after Sean Doolittle (elbow) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. He's made five relief appearances in Rochester this year and has struck out seven in five scoreless frames.

Sims (elbow) is slated to rejoin the Reds' bullpen Friday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Sims has been on the injured list since the start of the regular season after dealing with back and elbow injuries during camp, but he made his final rehab appearance Wednesday and struck out one in a scoreless inning at Triple-A Louisville. The right-hander made a career-high 47 relief appearances for the Reds last year and converted seven of 10 save chances with a 4.40 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 47 innings. Once he's officially activated, Sims will join a crowded late-inning mix in the Reds' bullpen that also includes Tony Santillan, Art Warren and Hunter Strickland.

Garcia (1-1) took the loss in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Mets. He allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk in one-third of an inning.

With the Giants' presumed closer committee deployed between the seventh and ninth innings, Garcia was tasked with the 10th. He wasn't able to stop the Mets from completing their comeback, allowing a walkoff single to Francisco Lindor. This was the first run allowed by Garcia in 3.2 innings this season, though it won't damage his ERA since it was the extra-inning automatic runner that crossed the plate. The southpaw has added a 1.36 WHIP and 4:4 K:BB in four outings, though he should be able to regain his command as the season progresses. Garcia probably won't see many save chances, but he'll remain an important part of the high-leverage mix.