MLB Player News

Rusin was designated for assignment by the Braves on Tuesday.

Rusin spent just three days on the team's big-league roster, allowing three runs in 3.1 innings in his lone appearance. Chad Sobotka and Huascar Ynoa were recalled Tuesday to bolster the bullpen.

Marlins manager Don Mattingly said that Hernandez will start Wednesday in one of the team's doubleheader games in Baltimore, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins will play as the "home" team in the second game of the twin bill, but regardless of which contest he takes the hill for, Hernandez will still have the disadvantage of making his first start of 2020 in hitter haven Camden Yards. Hernandez struck out more than a batter per inning last season and did a decent job at limiting walks (7.4 BB%), but he struggled mightily at keeping the ball in the yard (2.19 HR/9). He was particularly ineffective at limiting long balls on the road, with his rate spiking to 2.61 HR/9 away from the more pitcher-friendly Marlins Park.

Smith (illness) threw live batting practice Monday and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Wednesday, putting him on track to join the Atlanta bullpen this weekend, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

"Everything went well," Braves manager Brian Snitker said after Monday's session. "He threw the ball really well. It was good to get him out there. I think he threw 25 pitches. He was turning it loose. We got done what we needed to." While the team's rotation is in tatters, the bullpen at least appears close to getting back to full strength. Smith should slot immediately into a high-leverage role once he comes off the injured list.

Yates earned the save Monday against the Dodgers. He gave up one run -- on a solo home run -- while striking out three across one inning.

Yates entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead and gave up a solo homer to Cody Bellinger, but he settled down after that and struck out the next three batters he faced to close the game out. This was Yates' first save of the season -- he is enduring a tough start to the campaign with five runs allowed in 3.1 innings across four appearances.

Graterol (1-2) was tagged with the loss in Monday's 5-4 defeat against the Padres. He gave up two runs on two hits while striking out one in two-thirds of an inning.

Graterol replaced Walker Buehler ahead of the sixth inning, but he wasn't as dominant as he had been in past outings. Despite the fact he threw 11 of his 18 pitches for strikes, he gave up an RBI single to Jake Cronenworth, who would later score on an RBI single from Abraham Almonte. Graterol had allowed just one earned run in 4.1 innings across five appearances before this outing, so he should remain a trusted arm in Dave Roberts' bullpen moving forward.

Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth inning with two strikeouts against Cleveland on Monday to earn his first save of the season.

He struggled in a pair of non-save situations to begin the year, continuing a trend from 2019, but Iglesias can turn it on when has a lead to protect. The right-hander was dialing it up to 96 mph seemingly with ease Monday, inducing six swinging strikes on 14 pitches. Iglesias has pitched three of the last four days after appearing just once over the first week of action.

Kimbrel was not used in a save opportunity Monday against the Royals, as Rowan Wick tossed 1.1 scoreless innings to close out a 2-0 win.

Over the weekend, manager David Ross was noncommittal when asked whether Kimbrel would remain the Cubs' closer going forward, and Monday's bullpen usage would seem to suggest Ross has more confidence in Wick. Kimbrel hadn't pitched since Friday, so he was fresh, and no injury has been reported. It simply seems that Kimbrel will be at best sharing the role for now, though it's possible that Wick and Jeremy Jeffress will take the reins in the ninth, with Kimbrel moving to a lower-leverage role for now. The veteran reliever turned in a career-worst 6.53 ERA for Chicago last season and has a 27.00 ERA through two appearances in 2020.

Kinley fired one scoreless inning and earned a hold in Monday's win against the Giants. He didn't allow any hits or walks and failed to record a strikeout.

Kinley has been dominant over his first four appearances with the Rockies after being claimed off waivers during the offseason. He hasn't allowed any runs or hits while posting a 5:2 K:BB over 3.1 innings. Despite his productive start to the season, the right-hander likely won't work in save situations since Jairo Diaz has been effective in that role recently.

Howard could start Sunday's game against the Braves, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

One of the top pitching prospects in baseball, Howard may have made his MLB debut already this season if not for all of the Phillies' postponements. He should be sufficiently stretched out to go deep enough to get the win if he does get the call for this start. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler are going to pitch in Wednesday's doubleheader, and without an off day between then and Sunday, the Phillies will need a sixth starter. Now that the team has secured an extra year of control by keeping Howard in the minors for over a week, he could stick in the rotation over the rest of the season if he impresses in his debut.

Guzman will be added to the Marlins' 30-man roster ahead of Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Manny Navarro of The Athletic reports.

Despite working mainly as a starter in the minors, Guzman will work out of the bullpen during the start of his time with the Marlins. Manager Don Mattingly didn't rule out the possibility of using him as a starter amid the team's COVID-19 outbreak. "Our guys are going to have to be flexible," Mattingly said. The 24-year-old spent the 2019 season with Double-A Jacksonville and posted a 3.50 ERA and 127:71 K:BB over 138.2 innings.