MLB Player News

Gray was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Nationals on Tuesday, retroactive to April 6, with a right flexor strain, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

It's been a nightmarish start to the season for Gray. He has been tagged for 13 runs over 8.1 innings in his first two starts and now will miss, at minimum, the next couple weeks with an injury to his pitching arm. Gray had been slated to start Tuesday in San Francisco, but that responsibility now falls to Joan Adon.

The Cardinals activated Gray (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Gray will make his season and Cardinals debut Tuesday againt the Phillies after missing the first week-and-a-half of the season with a right hamstring strain. He did not make a rehab start, having most recently throwing 54 pitches in a simulated game. Gray will be limited to around 65 pitches in Tuesday's outing.

The Mets are expected to recall Butto from Triple-A Syracuse to start Saturday against the Royals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Butto was with the Mets last week when he made a spot start Thursday against the Tigers, tossing six innings and striking out six while allowing one run in a no-decision. Since he was designated as the Mets' 27th man for the twin bill, Butto was sent back to Syracuse after the spot start, but he doesn't look like he'll have to wait long to get the ball again for the big club. Saturday had been Julio Teheran's turn in the rotation, but Teheran was designated for assignment after just one start. With Kodai Senga (shoulder) and Tylor Megill (shoulder) on the injured list, Butto could wind up staying in the rotation for multiple turns.

Martin is being held back in extended spring training to manage his workload before being assigned to High-A Great Lakes at the beginning of May, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

One of the most exciting pitching prospects in the Dodgers' system, Martin only logged 39.2 innings last year in his first pro season and turns 20 in May, so he wasn't going to be able to pitch for five straight months anyway. Assuming he does get to work for the Loons in early May, he could still double his workload from a year ago. Martin had a 2.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 14 appearances at Single-A. He already touches 98 mph with his fastball and has a chance for a quality slider and changeup.

Single-A Augusta placed Ritchie (elbow) on its 60-day injured list March 26.

Augusta notably placed Ritchie on the 60-day IL rather than the full-season IL, signaling that he's expected back at some point in the second half of the season once he completes his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. Before suffering the season-ending elbow injury last May, Ritchie made four starts for Augusta and compiled a 5.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings.

Maier struck out five over four innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk Saturday in Single-A Augusta's 5-4 win over Columbia in 10 innings.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Maier didn't take the hill for an affiliate that year or in 2023 while he recovered from an internal brace surgery to stabilize the right ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. After the 22-year-old right-hander entered spring training without any restrictions, he was cleared to make his long-awaited professional debut this past weekend. He spotted 41 of his 60 pitches for strikes in the outing.

Triple-A Gwinnett placed Anderson on its 60-day injured list March 28.

Anderson remains on Atlanta's 40-man roster, but because he was optioned to Triple-A in March, he'll begin the season on Gwinnet's 60-day IL rather than the big club's. The right-hander isn't expected to be ready to pitch in games until the second half of the season while he completes his recovery from April 2023 Tommy John surgery.

Lara has been held back in extended spring training to begin the minor-league season as he recovers from an oblique strain, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lara is one of the few high-upside prospects left in Atlanta's farm system, but he'll have to wait a few weeks before he makes his season debut. The 6-foot-3 righty only logged 9.1 innings at High-A Rome last season after pitching 72 innings at Single-A Augusta, so he'll presumably head back to Rome once he's fully healthy.

Paxton (2-0) picked up the win Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings against Minnesota. He struck out four.

Paxton nailed his first quality start of 2024 on Monday, getting on the board in the category after securing eight quality starts in 19 appearances last season. While he only allowed four base runners, Paxton was tagged for a pair of runs when Manuel Margot launched a two-run homer in the third to plate Austin Martin, who reached via walk. With one of baseball's best offenses behind him, Paxton seems primed to reach double-digit wins for the first time since 2019 if he can stay healthy.

Morton (1-0) didn't factor into the decision Monday, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out four.

Morton's walks came back to bite him, with three of his four earned runs scored by players he walked on base. Most of the damage came in the fifth, when Morton opened up the inning by issuing a pair of free passes before Brandon Nimmo launched a three-run home run. Even with Monday's struggles, Morton owns a solid 3.18 ERA across 11.1 innings after blanking the White Sox in his 2024 debut.