MLB Player News

Rockies pitcher John Axford returned to action and threw 12 pitches, including eight strikes in an inning of work in a Triple-A game against the Diamondbacks, according to MLB.com. Axford was away from the for nearly a week after his son was bitten by a rattlesnake in Arizona during spring training.

Phillies reliever Ken Giles said Thursday he remains on track to be ready for Monday's season opener against the Red Sox, per MLB.com. Giles, who left Tuesday's spring game with a mild mid-back strain, played catch Thursday.

"I let it loose," Giles said. "No pain. No nothing."

The Phillies have said they would like to see Giles throw off a mound at least once before finalizing their roster. The Phillies have exhibition games against the Pirates on Friday and Saturday.

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale acknowledged again Thursday the team is still considering Archie Bradley for the rotation, even after announcing its rotation plans earlier this week, per The Arizona Republic. The Diamondbacks' Opening Day rotation consists of Josh Collmenter, Jeremy Hellickson, Rubby De La Rosa, Trevor Cahill and Chase Anderson.

Hale said Bradley has "really made the decision tough on us" following a strong spring campaign. Bradley went 3-2 with a 1.61 ERA in six spring outings (four starts). He had 14 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings.

Hale added the team has not talked about a six-man rotation. Also, putting Bradley in the bullpen as a long reliever remains an option as well.

Bradley was a consensus top-10 prospect heading into 2014, but struggled last season and has taken a slight tumble down the rankings this season. Baseball America has him ranked as the 25th-best prospect and MLB.com has him at No. 15 heading into the season.

With the surprising demotion of reliever Sam LeCure to the minors Thursday, the Reds' Opening Day bullpen is set.

It will feature closer Aroldis Chapman, Burke Badenhop, Kevin Gregg, Jumbo Diaz, Tony Cingrani, Manny Parra and J.J. Hoover, per MLB.com.

Gregg was the only non-roster invitee among the group.

Phillies reliever Ken Giles, who has a mild mid-back strain, told reporters he expects to be ready for Opening Day after playing catch on Thursday, per MLB.com.

"I let it loose," Giles said. "No pain. No nothing."

The Padres reassigned reliever Chris Rearick to minor-league camp on Thursday, per U-T San Diego. The move leaves Frank Garces as the lone left-handed reliever left in San Diego's active roster.

Mets pitchers Vic Black and Bobby Parnell were both able to throw in a minor league game Wednesday as a part of their rehab assignments. 

Black lasted 1/3 of an inning with one walk and hit a batter. Parnell, who is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, gave up two doubles and a home run before finishing his inning of work.

"I felt really good," Black said to ESPN.com.

Black will remain in Florida but only believes he will miss the first road trip of the season while working off elbow and hamstring injuries.

The Mets have picked Dillon Gee over prospect Rafael Montero for the fifth spot in the rotation, sources told ESPN.com. New York went with Gee despite a late push from Montero, as the team sought a replacement for the injured Zack Wheeler, who is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery.

Gee was the Mets' Opening Day starter in 2014. He was headed for a bullpen role before Wheeler hurt his elbow this spring. Gee will likely make his first start of the season April 11 against the Braves.

Even though Gee will open the season in the rotation, sources told ESPN.com the Mets still might look to trade him early in the season.

Montero will likely open the season in the Mets bullpen.

Phillies reliever Ken Giles met with the doctor after leaving Tuesday's spring game with a back injury, per MLB.com. While Giles said the injury isn't serious, he doesn't know if he will be back pitching immediately.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said Giles has been diagnosed with a mild mid-back strain. Amaro added a stint on the disabled list probably isn't necessary since the injury is being described as "milder" than third baseman Cody Asche's back injury. Asche missed only four spring training games due to back tightness.

Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman was believed to have suffered a slight hamstring injury in Tuesday's game against the Brewers, but manager Bryan Price may have misunderstood the pitcher, reports MLB.com.

"We went out there to check on him and the hamstring came up, and just with that history we were extra cautious," Price said. "And by the sounds of it, it may be a non-issue completely."

Chapman was visibly upset with Price when he decided to remove him from the game after facing just one batter.

"By the time the smoke cleared, Chappy was back in the dugout and Brayan got back in the dugout after the half-inning, I just think there might've been a misunderstanding," Price said. "So it's fine. It's frustrating for Chappy but in the big picture, nothing critical."