MLB Player News

Nationals manager Dave Martinez confirmed that Herz (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday in Dallas, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

TalkNats.com was first to report earlier Wednesday that Herz had decided to undergo the season-ending procedure, though it wasn't immediately clear when the surgery would take place. Rather than scheduling surgery for a later date, Herz elected to have the operation performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, whom he had recently visited for a second opinion on the partially torn UCL in his left elbow. Martinez noted that Herz's surgery didn't involve the insertion of an internal brace, so he'll likely be in line for a 14-to-18-month rehab process rather than a 12- or 13-month recovery. The 24-year-old is thus unlikely to be ready to contribute for the Nationals until around the middle of the 2026 season.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough indicated Wednesday that Perez (elbow) is about a month away from beginning a rehab assignment, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.

Perez faced hitters Wednesday, throwing 45 pitches with three "up-downs." Everything appears to be progressing as scheduled from April 2024 Tommy John surgery for Perez, and it sounds like a plan for rehab games will be mapped out in the not-too-distant future. If the right-hander does indeed begin a rehab assignment around mid-May, that would likely put him on pace for a season debut in mid-June.

Kershaw (toe/knee) struck out two and allowed two hits and issued no walks over three scoreless innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma on Wednesday.

Kershaw threw 22 of 30 pitches for strikes and sported a four-seamer that averaged just 87.5 miles per hour and topped out at 88.8 mph, which is down significantly from the 89.9 mph he averaged with the heater last season. However, the lack of velocity is not especially surprising given that Kershaw was pitching in a competitive setting for the first time this season. Kershaw isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until May 17, so the Dodgers are prepared to give him the full 30 days he's allotted on his rehab assignment.

Soroka (biceps) will throw a simulated game Wednesday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

It will be his first time facing hitters since he went down with a right biceps strain in his season debut March 31. If Soroka's simulated game goes well, he'll likely be cleared to make 1-to-2 rehab starts. That would set the right-hander up to return in late April or early May if he continues to progress.

Herz (elbow) plans to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery, TalkNats.com reports.

After being diagnosed with a partial UCL sprain in his left elbow shortly before Opening Day, Herz was shut down for three weeks with the hope that some extended rest and rehab would allow him to pitch through the injury. Ultimately, after receiving two additional medical opinions on his elbow, Herz has decided that surgery is his best option. Herz will likely go under the knife in the coming days, and assuming no other additional damage is detected during surgery beyond the compromised UCL, he should be able to pitch again at some point around the All-Star break next season.

Atlanta activated Strider (elbow) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday in Toronto.

Strider is set to make his long-awaited return from internal brace surgery, which he underwent last April. The right-hander reached 90 pitches in his final rehab start with Triple-A Gwinnett, so he should be prepared for a fairly normal workload Wednesday. Strider's fastball velocity was down about two miles per hour during his rehab assignment, but the results are hard to ignore, as he allowed only two runs with a 27:5 K:BB over 13.2 innings.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Rockies that Knack will be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Knack made his third appearance and second start of the season for the Dodgers on Tuesday, taking a no-decision while giving up two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two. The Dodgers gave the 27-year-old right-hander plenty of run support early, but Knack was still lifted after 65 pitches (41 strikes), two outs shy of qualifying for the win. With the Dodgers requiring a spot starter for Wednesday's series finale, Bobby Miller will get called up from Oklahoma City, and Knack will be sent back to the minors in a corresponding move. An off day Thursday along with additional off days next Monday and Thursday will likely allow Los Angeles to get by with a five-man rotation for the time being, and Knack may not be needed to start once the Dodgers transition back to a six-man setup by late April or early May. Tony Gonsolin (back) got stretched out to 66 pitches in his latest rehab outing with Oklahoma City on Tuesday and could be activated ahead of Knack the next time the Dodgers need a starter.

Feltner (0-1) took the loss Tuesday, coughing up five runs on five hits and six walks over 2.2 innings as the Rockies fell 6-2 to the Dodgers. He struck out one.

The big blow off Feltner was a three-run homer by Will Smith in the third inning, but the right-hander created his own problems with his difficulty getting the ball over the plate. He came into Tuesday having issued only four free passes in his first three starts, but Feltner tossed just 46 of 81 pitches for strikes in this trip to the mound before getting the hook. He'll take a 4.82 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 17:10 K:BB through 18.2 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road early next week in Kansas City.

Vasquez didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Cubs, allowing one run on seven hits and two walks over five-plus innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander blanked the Cubbies for five frames before running out of gas in the sixth, as he gave up back-to-back singles to Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner before getting the hook, with Adrian Morejon then letting one of the inherited runners cross the plate. Vasquez left the mound after 80 pitches (51 strikes), and while his 8:14 K:BB through 20.2 innings is worrisome, he'll carry a 1.74 ERA and 1.35 WHIP into his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Detroit.

Imanaga came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 2-1 extra-inning win over the Padres, giving up one unearned run on four hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out seven.

After escaping jams in the third and fourth innings, Imanaga's luck ran out in the fifth when both Kyle Tucker and Gage Workman dropped pop flies in foul territory, giving Manny Machado a third life which he used to launch a solo homer. It was the only blemish on the southpaw's line, as he tossed 64 of 93 pitches for strikes before exiting. Imanaga will take a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 21:10 K:BB through 28.1 innings over five starts into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Dodgers.