MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Morgan will be shut down from throwing for 2-to-3 weeks after being diagnosed with right elbow neuritis, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's not clear whether that 2-to-3 week clock started last week when Morgan first went on the 15-day injured list, or this week when Counsell was asked about the reliever. Either way, Morgan will not throw for a bit longer and then will have to be built back up, so he figures to be sidelined for several more weeks.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Wednesday that Assad had a setback with his left oblique during Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Assad is headed back to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The right-hander had appeared poised to return soon, perhaps as a member of the Cubs' rotation, but now his status is up in the air. Assad has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings in his two rehab starts.

The Brewers optioned Hudson to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

Hudson will head to the minors after turning in a 9:9 K:BB while allowing six runs (four earned) over 8.2 frames out of the Milwaukee bullpen through the first month of the season. The big lefty is clearing out to make room on the roster for Tobias Myers (oblique), who was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his season debut Thursday in San Francisco.

The Rockies recalled Mejia from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

He'll be the club's 27th man during Thursday's doubleheader in Kansas City. Mejia, 24, has posted a 5.40 ERA and 19:6 K:BB over 11.2 innings this season with Albuquerque. If the right-hander sees any action Thursday, it will be his major-league debut.

The Royals recalled Bowlan from Triple-A Omaha on Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bowlan will serve as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader against the Rockies. The 28-year-old has made a full-time move to relief this season at Omaha, yielding four runs with a 12:5 K:BB over 12 frames.

Lopez (1-0) picked up the win Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit over 1.2 innings of relief. He struck out one.

After Jose Ferrer loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning and the Nationals were nursing a 3-1 lead, Lopez was brought in to escape the jam and allowed only one of the inherited runners to cross the plate. The right-hander then ran into his own trouble in the eighth after Jordan Westburg led off the frame with a triple and came around to score, tagging Lopez with his first blown save of the year. He got bailed out when Washington broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth. Lopez has struggled to handle a high-leverage role to begin the season, posting a 9.00 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB through 10 innings with two holds and zero saves in addition to Wednesday's win.

Rutledge walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday to record his first career hold in a win over the Orioles.

The 26-year-old right-hander was converted to the bullpen this year, and while Rutledge's control remains shaky -- he threw just 13 of 25 pitches for strikes Wednesday -- for the most part he's adapting well to his new role. Through eight innings over five appearances in the majors in 2025, he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB. If Rutledge can find the strike zone a little more often, he could work his way into consistent high-leverage work in a Nationals bullpen that lacks established setup men ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan.

The Red Sox recalled Guerrero from Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.

Guerrero holds a 5.23 ERA and 7:5 K:BB over 10.1 frames this season with Worcester. He will provide manager Alex Cora with a fresh arm in the bullpen.

Kranick (2-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk while holding the Phillies scoreless over two-thirds of an inning.

After Edwin Diaz (hip) left the game with one out in the 10th inning, Kranick was forced into action and immediately found himself in a bases-loaded jam. The right-hander induced a pair of short flyouts, keeping New York's deficit at one, before the Mets scored twice in the bottom of the frame, giving Kranick his second win this year. The 27-year-old Kranick has been a revelation out of the bullpen, posting a 2.81 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB through his first 16 innings this season.

The Red Sox optioned Winckowski to Triple-A Worcester on Thursday.

Winckowski was needed for three innings of relief in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners, so he's being replaced by a fresh arm. Luis Guerrero will absorb Winckowski's spot on the roster and in the bullpen.