MLB Player News

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.

Underwood (hamstring) threw a side session Monday and is expected to join the Pirates for their weekend road trip in Chicago to face hitters in live batting practice, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Pitching in the live batting practice will likely be the final hurdle Underwood needs to clear in his recovery from a sore right hamstring before the Pirates send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment. As a reliever, Underwood won't require much ramp-up time, so he could be ready to return from the 10-day injured list before the end of April or in the first week of May.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Kranick (forearm) threw a side session at Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Kranick made his first rehab start for Low-A Bradenton on April 12, but he may have suffered a minor setback coming out of that outing, as he hasn't pitched since. The fact that he hasn't been shut down from throwing can be viewed as a positive sign, and he looks poised to throw again this weekend. If all goes well, Kranick could make his second rehab start at some point during the upcoming week for Indianapolis.

Ottavino (1-0) walked one in a scoreless 10th inning Tuesday to pick up the win in the first game of a doubleheader against the Giants.

It was far from a sharp effort, as Ottavino threw only eight of 17 pitches for strikes, but he escaped danger thanks to a great defensive play at first base by Pete Alonso to snag a wide throw from Francisco Lindor, who subsequently atoned for the miscue by singling home Brandon Nimmo for the winning run in the bottom of the frame. Ottavino has yet to collect a save or a hold through his first five appearances for the Mets, but he's otherwise had a solid start to the season with a 0.00 ERA and 6:2 K:BB through 4.2 innings.

May recorded his first save of the season in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning to secure a 3-1 win over the Giants.

In the matinee, Edwin Diaz worked the ninth inning with the score tied 4-4 while Seth Lugo handled the eighth and Adam Ottavino the 10th, leaving closing duties in May's hands for the nightcap. May stumbled out of the gate to begin the season but has now delivered two straight clean appearances, leaving him with a 4.50 ERA and 2:1 K:BB through four innings. However, he's still looking for his first win or hold.

Finnegan picked up a hold in both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader sweep of the Diamondbacks.

After walking one and striking out one in a scoreless eighth inning in the matinee, Finnegan worked a perfect eighth in the nightcap while fanning another Arizona batter. The right-hander now has three holds and a win through six appearances to begin the season with a 4.76 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 6:2 K:BB through 5.2 innings, and should Tanner Rainey falter as the closer -- something he nearly did in the second game Tuesday before escaping a no-out, bases-loaded, ninth-inning jam -- Finnegan would likely be the next man up for save chances.