MLB Player News

Kimbrel, who officially signed with the Cubs on Friday, is roughly two or three weeks away from being ready to join the big-league roster, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Kimbrel is understandably not ready to be thrown right into big-league action after enduring a seven-month offseason. He'll throw a bullpen session in Chicago on Saturday before heading to the team's spring training facility in Arizona. He'll be officially optioned to Triple-A Iowa for that period and could throw some tune-up innings at that level before taking over as the Cubs' closer.

Ponce de Leon is a candidate to make a spot start Monday against the Marlins, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ponce de Leon started Thursday for Triple-A Memphis against Tacoma, firing 53 pitches over three scoreless innings during which he allowed a hit and three walks while also recording a pair of strikeouts. The workload wasn't so taxing so as to take Ponce de Leon out of consideration for a start on three days rest Monday, and manager Mike Shildt has hinted he may make a final announcement on the matter Friday. The 27-year-old had worked at least five innings in nine of his previous 10 starts for the Redbirds this season, offering at least some reason to read into the abbreviated nature of Thursday's outing.

Mayers (lat) will throw a bullpen session either Friday or Saturday and could start a rehab assignment by the end of June, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Manager Mike Shildt labeled the rehabbing right-hander as "ahead of schedule" Thursday, certainly an encouraging sign considering Mayers has already missed close to two months of action. The reliever noted that he'd gotten his range of motion back recently after sticking to a set throwing routine over the last three weeks. "It's been a slow process, but I think I'm getting closer to the end," Mayers said. "The big thing they've stressed to me is one day at a time. A setback is way bigger than trying to cut a corner here and there. I know my schedule like a day or two ahead, but other than that, I don't know."

Yates picked up the save against the Nationals on Thursday, striking out one with no walks in a scoreless ninth inning to lock down a 5-4 victory for the Padres.

Yates' phenomenal season just keeps rolling along, as he's now a perfect 23-for-23 in save opportunities. He hasn't given up a run since May 4, lowering his ERA to 0.96 and his WHIP to 0.86 to go along with a 48:8 K:BB over 28 innings.

Hicks struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the save Thursday against the Reds.

Hicks didn't have much trouble slamming the door in this one, as he required just 13 pitches to retire the side in order. He was yanked early from his last save chance after surrendering a run against the Cubs on Sunday, but his skipper evidently still has confidence in him with the game on the line. The 22-year-old right-hander owns a 3.80 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 21.1 innings this season.

Hudson gave up one run on five hits and four walks while striking out three over 6.1 innings in Thursday's no-decision against the Reds.

Hudson cruised through the first three innings before allowing his only run on a sacrifice fly to left field in the fourth. The 24-year-old right-hander has been rock-solid recently, holding opposing teams to two or fewer runs in each of his last four outings. He owns a 3.70 ERA with a 45:31 K:BB over 65.2 frames following Thursday's quality start.

Hader struck out three across 1.1 innings Thursday against the Marlins to secure the save.

Hader was deployed in the eighth inning with two outs and the bases loaded, but he would strike out the final batter of the frame and then go on to retire the side in order in the ninth. The southpaw gave up a home run in his last outing Saturday against Pittsburgh, but he managed to redeem himself in a big spot Thursday afternoon. Hader has posted a 2.35 ERA with 60 punchouts across 30.2 innings this season for Milwaukee.

Lambert (1-0) picked up the win against the Cubs on Thursday, giving up one earned run on four hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking one in the Rockies' 3-1 victory.

Making his big-league debut, Lambert was excellent, fanning nine batters and allowing just a single run before exiting the contest after seven innings and 95 pitches. The Rockies need an arm to step up with Kyle Freeland's early-season struggles landing him in Triple-A Albuquerque, and Lambert couldn't have done much more to show he should continue to be the one to fill that spot.

Pomeranz is scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Dodgers, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Giants used Monday's off day to reshuffle their rotation, with Pomeranz getting pushed to the back of the pitching order as a result. The lefty will return to action Friday on six days' rest, but the extra two days off between starts hardly provides reason for fantasy managers to deploy Pomeranz with any confidence. He's failed to reach five innings in any of his last five outings, logging a 15.70 ERA and 2.72 WHIP during that span.

Lambert had his contract selected from Triple-A Albuquerque ahead of his scheduled start Thursday against the Cubs, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Lambert is poised to make his big-league debut after posting a 5.07 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 51:16 K:BB in 60.1 innings with the Isotopes. While the 22-year-old righty has yet to put things together at the highest level of the minors, he could make a case to stick in the Rockies' rotation for more than one turn with a strong performance given the team's starting pitching struggles this season. To make room for Lambert on the roster, Mike Dunn (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list, while Harrison Musgrave (elbow) was shifted to the 60-day IL.