MLB Player News

Hernandez (biceps) expected to throw 45-to-50 pitches in his first rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Hernandez has reached the final phase of his recovery program for right biceps inflammation, an injury that cropped up during his first start of the season April 3. The Marlins will likely want Hernandez to get stretched out to around 80 pitches before bringing him back from the 10-day injured list, so he'll presumably require an additional rehab start beyond Tuesday. If he emerges from his rehab assignment setback-free, Hernandez could slot back into the Miami rotation in the second half of next week.

Perez was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

Perez has thrown 14 innings of relief for the Reds this season but hasn't had much success. His 7.71 ERA doesn't come as much of a surprise, as he's walked 14 batters while striking out just 12. Mark Payton was recalled in a corresponding move.

The Diamondbacks are expected to recall Martin from Triple-A Reno this week to start one of the remaining three games of the team's series with the Dodgers, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.

Martin's expected call-up was foreshadowed by Reno scratching him from his scheduled outing Monday for non-injury reasons. He'll end up joining the rotation as a replacement for Luke Weaver (shoulder), who is expected to be placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. Martin made his MLB debut with the Astros in 2019, but he underwent Tommy John surgery that July and was dealt to Arizona soon after, so he has yet to make his Diamondbacks debut. Prior to being scratched from Monday's start, Martin had permitted only two earned runs while holding opposing hitters to a .143 average over his 9.2 innings with Reno.

Howard owns a 1.00 ERA and 38.2 percent strikeout rate through his first three starts of the year for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, including an eight-strikeout performance in his most recent outing Sunday.

The Phillies' plan all along seemed to be to manage Howard's innings carefully in the minors during the early part of the season before calling him up as a major-league rotation member later in the year. He's back on that path after making three big-league relief appearances in April when the team needed an extra arm. The young righty still isn't close to a true starter's workload, as he faced just nine batters in his first two Triple-A outings and 16 in his most recent one, so a promotion doesn't appear imminent, but the Phillies haven't gotten much from their fifth starter spot, meaning there won't be anyone blocking Howard once he's ready to go.

Martin was scheduled to start for Triple-A Reno on Monday but was not in the lineup for Aces, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

A source indicated Martin is healthy, which suggests the Diamondbacks plan to have him start a game this week or are keeping that option open. Arizona has not declared a starter for Tuesday or Wednesday. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA and 14:6 K:BB in 9.2 innings across two starts for Reno.

Jansen recorded his eighth save of the season Monday against the Diamondbacks. He allowed one hit and one walk with no strikeouts across 1.1 innings.

Jansen entered the game to record the final out of the eighth inning following a groundout of Domingo Leyba, and while things got complicated in the ninth when he had runners on first and second with one out, he closed things out with a double play. Jansen has gone 8-for-10 in save opportunities this season.

Alzolay (2-3) allowed three runs on five hits across five innings to record the win Monday against the Nationals. He struck out three and did not issue a walk.

Alzolay wasn't particularly sharp, allowing home runs to Trea Turner and former teammate Kyle Schwarber, but he was still able to outduel Jon Lester. It was Lester's offseason departure that created one of several openings in the Chicago rotation, and the 26-year-old Alzolay has helped fill the void. He now has a 4.62 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 39 strikeouts across seven starts (37 innings). Alzolay will look to build on the win his next time out Saturday against St. Louis.

Diaz picked up the save after allowing one walk in a scoreless ninth inning Monday against the Braves.

Diaz issued a walk to Freddie Freeman with one out in the ninth inning, but he was able to quickly retire the next two batters to nail down the save. The right-hander is a perfect 6-for-6 in save situations this season despite an unimpressive 3.86 ERA across 16.1 innings.

Rogers picked up the save after allowing a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Monday against the Reds.

Rogers gave up a single to begin the frame, but he induced a ground ball for a double play and retired the final batter on a flyout to center field. The right-hander has been locked in of late, piecing together 10 consecutive scoreless outings, giving up five hits and fanning three over that stretch (10 innings). Rogers was called on to get his second save in as many days after Jake McGee blew a save and took a loss in his two most recent outings.

White was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

White has appeared in just four games in the month of May, surrendering eight runs (one earned) while fanning three over four innings of relief work. He'll head to the minors to make room for the activation of David Price (hamstring) off the injured list.