MLB Player News

Perez will begin the season on the 15-day injured list after being diagnosed with right elbow inflammation, Craig Mish and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald report.

This qualifies as good news, as Perez was cleared of any structural damage in his pitching elbow and will not require surgery. He will, however, still be sidelined for several weeks while the inflammation subsides. If there's a silver lining -- beyond the lack of structural damage -- it's that Perez's recurring fingernail issue will have more time to heal. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without the 20-year-old for at least the first month or so, until the Marlins provide a clearer timeline for his return.

The Brewers optioned Ashby to Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Ashby came into camp with a shot at a rotation spot, but he allowed four runs (three earned) with a 3:4 K:BB over three innings and continued to struggle to regain the velocity he showed prior to his shoulder surgery. The left-hander could still play a major role with the Brewers this season, but he'll try to sharpen things up in the minors first.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Snell will pitch in a minor-league game Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Snell threw his first bullpen session Thursday since signing with the Giants and over the weekend will get into some game action. The left-hander has already said he will not be ready for Opening Day as he ramps up his workload following a late signing. It's not clear when he might make his regular-season debut, but the Giants will determine Snell's next steps following Sunday's outing.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Friday that Taillon (back) will begin the season on the injured list and won't be ready to return until at least mid-April, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The right-hander only recently resumed mound work after recovering from the back tightness that scratched him from a spring start March 9, so it's not a shock he won't be ready to begin the regular season. Taillon is throwing a bullpen session Friday and will need some time to build up to a starter's workload, so a mid-April return is likely a best-case scenario.

Cobb (hip) will throw 40 pitches in a minor-league game Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

He had been slated for his Cactus League debut Friday, but the Giants have elected to have Cobb throw in a more controlled setting instead. A stint on the injured list to begin the season is still expected for the veteran right-hander, but it's looking like he could be ready by mid-April.

Gray (hamstring) won't pitch as scheduled in a minor-league game Friday due to heavy rain in the forecast, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Considering that Gray is returning from a strained hamstring, it's not a surprise the Cardinals want to avoid him pitching in poor conditions. The 34-year-old was scheduled to cover two innings and will likely make up those reps against hitters sometime this weekend. Gray won't be starting Opening Day, but manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday it's still possible the right-hander avoids a trip to the injured list and makes a start during the first week of the season.

Lodolo (tibia) will remain in Arizona when the Reds break camp and pitch in a minor-league game Mar. 26, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lodolo was behind other starters during spring training as he continues to have issues with his left leg, and he'll ramp up ahead of an expected regular-season debut Apr. 10. Following his outing next Tuesday, Lodolo will pitch in two games while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.

Feltner allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out six in Thursday's Cactus League contest against the Rockies.

Feltner has made four appearances this spring, with the last two being particularly impressive. Across those two outings, he has surrendered only two earned runs across 8.2 innings while maintaining a 9:2 K:BB. The Rockies haven't made any official decisions, but Feltner has made a strong case for the fifth spot in the team's rotation to begin the campaign.

Contreras will begin the 2024 season as a reliever, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Contreras competed for a final spot in the Pirates' rotation, but he struggled to find the strike zone throughout spring training -- walking 13 batters across just 12.1 innings. While he won't fit the roster as a starter, Pittsburgh showed some desire to keep him in the organization, as he is out of minor-league options.

Miley said he was scratched from Thursday's game against the Giants due to groin tightness, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Miley also noted that he was going to begin the year on the injured list anyway after dealing with shoulder problems all spring, so it wasn't worth pushing it Thursday with his new groin issue. Miley will instead throw a bullpen session Thursday and may pitch in a game over the weekend, but it seems the Brewers will be without the 37-year-old southpaw to start the new season. Miley's absence opens the door for Aaron Ashby, Joe Ross or Robert Gasser to begin 2024 in Milwaukee's rotation.