MLB Player News

Diaz was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Friday.

Diaz has just a single big-league appearance on his resume, so he was never particularly likely to break camp on the active roster. That outing, in which he walked four of the seven batters he faced and allowed two runs as a Blue Jay back in 2019, was his only one above Double-A, so he'll need to prove himself at the Triple-A level before pushing to return to the highest level.

Howard (back) could throw a bullpen session Sunday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Howard was scratched from his scheduled outing Monday against the Yankees due to back spasms and remains shut down, but the Phillies are hoping he'll be able to throw again soon. In addition to Howard, Zach Eflin (back) and Vince Velasquez (oblique) are also dealing with injuries, so it's possible the healthiest of the trio opens the year in the rotation. If none of the three are ready to go, non-roster invitee Ivan Nova could win a temporary job.

Perdomo was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The 26-year-old delivered four scoreless frames during spring training, but it wasn't enough to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster. Perdomo should have a big-league opportunity at some point this season as the Brewers shuffle their bullpen pieces.

White (shoulder) threw his first bullpen of camp earlier this week and expects to get into game action before spring training ends, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

White was delayed early in camp by a shoulder impingement. It looks as though he's past the worst of the problem, but it doesn't sound like he'll be fully up to speed by Opening Day.

Pop topped out at 97.9 mph with his fastball, averaging 96.2 mph with the pitch, during a scoreless Grapefruit League appearance Thursday against the Cardinals, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Rule 5 pick hasn't given up a run over three innings this spring with a 3:1 K:BB. The Marlins have a lot of options for their bullpen, but Pop has put himself firmly in the mix with his performance, and his fastball/slider combo could earn him a high-leverage role and potentially even ninth-inning work down the road given the team's unsettled closer situation. Expect the 24-year-old right-hander, who has yet to pitch above Double-A in his career, to be eased into high-pressure spots early in the season if he does make the big-league roster.

May has posted a 3.60 ERA and 5:1 K:BB through five Grapefruit League innings so far this spring.

The right-hander has looked good in the exhibition schedule to begin his tenure with the Mets. Dellin Betances and Jeurys Familia have both struggled through the early part of March, and with Seth Lugo (elbow) expected to begin the season on the IL, May figures to be the team's primary setup man in front of closer Edwin Diaz.

Strahm (knee) will be out past Opening Day, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Strahm is still recovering from the patellar tendon surgery he underwent on his right knee last October. Though there was initially hope that he'd be able to ramp up by Opening Day, it is now clear that the left-hander will need to miss the start of the campaign. When he does return to action, Strahm should immediately fill an important spot in a Padres bullpen that has already been reduced by injuries.

Morejon allowed two runs over 3.2 innings in Thursday's Cactus League contest versus Oakland, yielding four hits and two walks while striking out one. He is the "clear favorite" to grab the fifth starter role at the beginning of the campaign, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com.

Morejon is among a group of pitchers vying for a rotation spot that is looking likely to open as a result of Dinelson Lamet's (elbow) probable absence at the start of the campaign. Morejon appears to have an inside track on the role thanks to a solid spring in which he has notched a 3.38 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and 11:8 K:BB over 10.2 innings. The 22-year-old also has an advantage by virtue of already having started six games in his brief big-league career.

Pomeranz did not suffer any structural damage to his forearm, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Pomeranz has been held out of game action since March 9 after feeling tightness in his left forearm. However, he appears to have dodged serious injury, and he hopes to retake the mound within the next few days.

Hicks allowed an unearned run on two walks and a hit batsman over two-thirds of an inning in a Grapefruit League tie with the Astros on Wednesday.

Making his second appearance of spring after a 22-pitch battle of wills against the Mets' Luis Guillorme encompassed the first Sunday, Hicks once again put together a rather unusual performance. The flamethrowing right-hander worked himself into trouble with an error on a comebacker and some notable control issues, but manager Mike Shildt kept things in perspective when evaluating Hicks' second taste of game action in 21 months. "I think it's just getting back into competition in over a year," Shildt said. "I thought it was a fantastic outing. Ton of soft contact, around the plate again. I was really, really, really pleased with Jordan."