MLB Player News

The Cubs transferred Steele (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Steele underwent UCL surgery last week and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 season, so the move won't affect his timeline for a return. The transaction will instead open up a spot on the 40-man roster for lefty reliever Drew Pomeranz, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move.

Hart (2-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk across 4.1 innings. He struck out six.

Both runs against Hart came via solo home runs -- a Gleyber Torres blast in the first inning before Justyn-Henry Malloy increased the Padres' deficit to 2-0 with a homer in the fifth, forcing Hart out of the game. The 32-year-old left-hander has been up-and-down through his first five starts (21 innings) with the Padres, posting a 6.00 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB. Hart is currently scheduled to face the Giants at home in his next outing.

Johnson has been moved to a relief role at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Johnson made his first appearance out of the bullpen Tuesday, touching 98 mph across two scoreless innings with a 2:2 K:BB. The 26-year-old has a big arm but has struggled to stay healthy and throw strikes consistently, so the Phillies' decision to shift him to a relief role makes sense.

Gomez (elbow) has made two appearances for Single-A St. Lucie this season, covering 4.2 scoreless innings and allowing three hits and five walks while striking out seven.

Gomez missed most of the 2023 season and all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the 23-year-old righty received a clean bill of health in advance of the 2025 campaign. He's had some issues with control in his first two outings, but that's not unexpected coming off a major arm operation.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Sanchez (forearm) will play catch Friday and there are no current plans for the pitcher to undergo an MRI, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Sanchez had to be pulled from Tuesday's start against the Mets after two innings due to left forearm soreness. He's feeling much better a day later and there doesn't seem to be any worry that it could be a long-term injury. Sanchez's next start is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday against the Nationals, but Thomson said that could be pushed back a couple days.

Pena (undisclosed) made his season debut at Triple-A El Paso on April 9 and has given up two earned runs on one hit and four walks while striking out five over five innings through his first four appearances.

The Padres held Pena back at extended spring training to begin the minor-league season while he managed an undisclosed injury, but he's looked healthy since reporting to Triple-A. The 24-year-old reliever could make his big-league debut at some point later in 2025.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that Blackburn (knee) has been scratched from his scheduled rehab start Wednesday at High-A Brooklyn due to a stomach bug, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Blackburn began a rehab assignment with Brooklyn on Saturday, allowing one run over two innings. He threw 38 pitches in that outing and had been set to get stretched out more Wednesday, but the righty's next start will be put on hold. Mendoza has said previously that he would like Blackburn to get his pitch count up to the 65-to-70 range before being activated, so he will likely need at least a couple more rehab starts.

Mathews (shoulder) will resume a throwing program Wednesday or Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

The top prospect was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis last week with mild left shoulder soreness, an issue Mathews believe arose because his mechanics got out of whack. He's been doing resistance-band and weighted plyometric ball work and the resumption of a throwing program is imminent. It's not clear when Mathews might be ready to rejoin the Memphis rotation. He's struggled in the early going this season, holding a 6.10 ERA and 7:15 K:BB over his first 10.1 innings.

Atlanta optioned Wiles to Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday.

After getting his first MLB call-up Tuesday, Wiles looked like a strong candidate to serve as a bulk reliever in Atlanta's matchup with St. Louis. However, Atlanta ended up treating the game as more of a bullpen day, with opener Scott Blewett covering the first three innings and then being followed by four other relievers before Wiles entered the game in the top of the ninth with his team trailing 7-4. Wiles didn't do anything to distinguish himself in the low-leverage appearance, giving up three earned runs on four hits while striking out a batter in his lone inning. He'll now head back to Gwinnett, where he'll presumably slot back into the rotation.

Feltner allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four over seven innings in Tuesday's loss to the Royals. He did not factor into the decision.

Feltner faced one over the minimum through five innings and was locked into a scoreless pitchers' duel with Kris Bubic. That ended in the bottom of the sixth when Drew Waters led off with a solo home run. Still, Feltner turned in his first start of seven innings since July 21 of last year and it was his second quality start in his last three outings. He'll aim to pick up his first win of the season in a home meeting against the Reds this weekend.