MLB Player News

Imanaga (hamstring) is slated to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell had previously intimated that Imanaga wouldn't be ready for mound work until late next week, but it appears that timetable has been moved up a few days. The left-hander still has many boxes to check before he can rejoin the Cubs' rotation, and that's not expected until well into June.

Blackburn (knee) will make his final rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Syracuse, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Blackburn threw seven scoreless innings in his last rehab start and is set to make his last minor-league outing Tuesday. There isn't a clear spot for Blackburn in the Mets' rotation, so he's likely to join the bullpen as a long reliever once activated from the 15-day injured list.

White has missed his last two scheduled starts at High-A Beloit due to soreness in his left index finger but remains on a throwing program, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.

White, the Marlins' top pitching prospect, hasn't pitched in a game since May 9 due to lingering pain in his left index finger. Although he remains on a throwing program, there isn't a clear timetable for his return to game action. The 20-year-old lefty has posted a 3.24 ERA in 25.0 innings with Beloit this season.

The Brewers reinstated Ashby (oblique) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Ashby is set to make his 2025 MLB debut after beginning the season on the injured list due to a right oblique strain. During his five-outing rehab stint between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and Triple-A Nashville, Ashby made all but one of his appearances out of the bullpen and didn't cover more than two innings in any of those games, so he looks set to fill a relief role for Milwaukee after having previously made 25 starts at the big-league level from 2021 through 2024.

Lowder (forearm) exited Thursday's rehab start with a strained oblique, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

It's believed to be a "significant" strain, according to Goldsmith. Lowder was already working his way back from a forearm issue, so this new injury certainly sets him back. The No. 7 overall pick of the 2023 Draft, Lowder has yet to pitch in the big leagues this season, as he also dealt with some elbow soreness during the spring. His 2025 debut will have to wait even longer.

The Rockies recalled Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday.

Gordon will draw the start at Coors Field for the series opener against the Yankees. He allowed seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and a walk across 6.1 innings in his major-league debut earlier this month, and given the matchup Friday he will be an extremely risky fantasy option.

The Reds transferred Spiers (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Garrett Hampson. Spiers recently began a throwing program as he comes back from a right shoulder impingement, but he now will not be eligible for activation until late June.

The Reds activated Greene (groin) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

Greene will make his return to the Cincinnati rotation with a start against the Cubs after missing the past two-plus weeks with a Grade 1 right groin strain. The right-hander is skipping a rehab assignment, so his workload Friday might be limited. Through 45.2 innings over eight starts this season, Greene sports a 2.36 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and 61:8 K:BB.

Lowder (forearm) was removed from a rehab start with Triple-A Louisville in the second inning Thursday with an apparent left side injury, Dusty Baker of WAVE 3 News reports.

Lowder threw a scoreless first inning before having to exit after throwing just one pitch in the second. The righty was making his second rehab start with Louisville and fourth rehab start in total as he comes back from a right forearm strain. Lowder had been roughed up for 11 runs (10 earned) over 7.1 innings on the rehab assignment prior to this setback.

Sykora is being promoted to High-A Wilmington, Bobby Blanco of MASN Sports reports.

The 21-year-old right-hander made just one appearance at Single-A Fredericksburg this season after recovering from offseason hip surgery, firing three perfect innings with four strikeouts and two walks Tuesday, and that was enough to prove to the Nationals that he is ready for his next challenge. Sykora could debut with the Blue Rocks this weekend, and a strong performance in the South Atlantic League might set him up for a bump up to Double-A before the end of the year.