MLB Player News

Manager Dave Roberts said that Graterol (shoulder) threw a "good" bullpen session Monday, MLB.com reports.

Graterol won't be available until around mid-May after the Dodgers initially placed him on the 15-day injured list March 19 before later transferring him to the 60-day IL, but the fact that the right-hander is already in the midst of a throwing progression suggests he should be ready to go around the time he's first eligible to return. He'll likely continue the ramp-up process with multiple bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions over the next couple of weeks before perhaps heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment later this month or in early May.

Bird (0-1) allowed one hit and one unearned run across two-thirds of an inning Monday against the Phillies.

Bird entered the game after other high-leverage options in the Rockies bullpen, most notably Justin Lawrence. With a runner starting the frame on second base, Bird got two quick outs before allowing a single that plated the game-winning run. The Rockies have shuffled reliever roles to begin the season, but Bird still has the only save for the team. It's unclear if he is truly in the mix for saves, as he has allowed at least one earned run in three of his nine appearances and has a 1.66 WHIP with a 4:3 K:B across 9.2 innings.

Lawrence allowed one hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning Monday against the Phillies.

Lawrence entered the game in the seventh inning of a tied game to face the Nos. 6-8 hitters in the Phillies lineup. He's made six appearances on the season and entered in non-traditional closer situations in three of his last four outings. Jake Bird has the only save to this point for the Rockies, and he also pitched the 10th inning of Monday's loss.

Simpson (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session later this week, MLB.com reports.

Simpson opened the season on the 15-day injured list while recovering from left elbow neuritis, but he appeared in line for close to a minimum-length stay on the shelf after he was able to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on April 6. However, he experienced a setback during that one-inning outing and hasn't pitched since. The setback doesn't appear to be a major one given that Simpson should get back on the mound soon, but he still may be around a week away from restarting his rehab assignment.

Yarbrough could be deployed as a bulk reliever in Tuesday's game against the Nationals or work as a multi-inning option as part of a bullpen day, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

In an effort to keep rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto on his normal schedule of five days' rest between starts, the Dodgers look to set to run with a six-man rotation this week. Since Walker Buehler (elbow) won't be ready to return from the 15-day injured list until next week and after Bobby Miller (shoulder) landed on the shelf over the weekend, the Dodgers will add two new pitchers to the rotation Tuesday and Wednesday. Yarbrough last pitched Friday, but he covered just one inning in relief and should be capable of covering four or five frames Tuesday, if needed to do so. The Dodgers are also planning to call up Kyle Hurt from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday to offer some extra length, so both Yarbrough and Hurt could be called upon to cover multiple innings if Los Angeles elects to use another reliever to open the game.

Ottavino (1-0) struck out two in a perfect eighth inning Monday to record a win over the Pirates.

The veteran right-hander fired 11 pitches (nine strikes) while shutting down the heart of Pittsburgh's order and preserving a 3-3 tie, and the Mets broke the game open in the bottom half of the inning. Ottavino has had an impressive start to the season, racking up a 12:0 K:BB through seven innings with a 2.57 ERA and 0.57 WHIP, and he has two holds in addition to Monday's win as one of Edwin Diaz's primary setup men.

Soriano (0-1) recorded his second hold of the season but was stuck with the loss Monday against the Giants, getting charged with three runs on one hit and two walks over two-thirds of an inning.

The right-hander entered the game in the top of the seventh to protect a 3-1 lead, but after giving up a run and leaving two runners on base after he got the hook, Soriano watched Andrew Nardi allow both inherited runners to score. Soriano has had a rough start to the season, but the same could be said about most of the Marlins' bullpen. Through seven innings over eight appearances, he carries a 10.29 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 8:6 K:BB.

Brown allowed one run on a hit and two walks over six innings in a no-decision Monday. He struck out four in the Cubs' win over Arizona.

After coughing up an RBI single in the second inning, Brown retired the final 13 batters he faced. He was crushed for six runs through just 1.2 frames in his MLB debut March 30 but has since given up just two runs over 14.2 innings. With Monday's solid outing, he dropped his ERA to 4.41 with a 15:6 K:BB through his first four appearances. With Jameson Taillon (back) expected to return in the coming days, Brown's role with the Cubs isn't set in stone.

Ginkel allowed a run on two hits in one inning Monday. He struck out one batter and blew a save chance during the loss to the Cubs.

Ginkel was tasked with closing out a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning but couldn't finish things off. He eventually let the tying run score on a wild pitch and the Cubs would go on to win in 11 innings. The 30-year-old had converted three straight saves since blowing his first opportunity of the year April 5. Ginkel owns a 3.24 ERA with a 10:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings.

Bummer (1-1) was credited with the win Monday against the Astros, giving up one hit in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

The left-hander got the final out of the fifth inning after relieving Darius Vines, and the official scorer elected to give Bummer the win. It's the earliest in a game he's pitched so far this season, but Bummer has been deployed anywhere from the fifth to the ninth inning as a utility arm in the Atlanta bullpen. Through six innings and seven appearances, he's posted a 4.50 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 5:2 K:BB with zero holds or saves.