MLB Player News

Manager Brian Snitker said Thursday that Strider (hamstring) will be activated off the injured list to start one of Atlanta's games in Washington next week, 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.

It's still unclear exactly which game Strider will pitch in Atlanta's upcoming three-game series against the Nationals, but Snitker's comments confirm that the 26-year-old righty will return to the rotation without making a rehab start in the minors. Strider only built up to 65 pitches and experienced decreased velocity during his sim game Wednesday, so there's a chance he'll be working under some workload restrictions when he makes his return from a strained right hamstring.

The Dodgers recalled Wrobleski from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Wrobleski will offer length in the bullpen Thursday against the Athletics while Matt Sauer makes a spot start. The left-hander was roughed up for eight runs in five frames in a spot start with the big club last month but has yielded just three runs over 13 innings in his last two starts with OKC.

Bennett gave up three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four over three innings in his first start of the year for High-A Wilmington on Sunday.

Bennett, who underwent Tommy John surgery in September of 2023, made two rehab starts for Single-A Fredericksburg in early May, logging a 1.50 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB in six innings. The 6-foot-6 lefty will likely get the bump to Double-A sometime this summer if he's holding his own, as he is already 24.

Barco was removed from Thursday's start at Triple-A Indianapolis in the first inning with an undisclosed injury, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Barco was lifted in the middle of an at-bat after delivering his 23rd pitch of the frame. It's unclear what injury the left-hander is dealing with, but an update on his condition could be available later Thursday. Barco was making just his second start for Indianapolis following a promotion earlier this month from Double-A Altoona. Heading into action Thursday, the southpaw had allowed just one run with a 39:10 K:BB in his first 30 innings this season.

Strider (hamstring) threw 65 pitches over five innings in a simulated game Wednesday, but after sitting around 95-to-96 miles per hour with his fastball in the first frame, his velocity declined for the rest of the workout, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander hadn't faced hitters in any setting in nearly a month after straining his hamstring while playing catch April 21, and manager Brian Snitker indicated the reduction in velocity was due to that inactivity, not any health concerns. Atlanta has yet to decide if it wants to send Strider for a rehab start before activating him from the 15-day injured list, and rejoining the big-league rotation for a road series against the Nationals early next week remains on the table.

Blackburn (knee) is expected to make two more rehab starts before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Joe Pantorno of AMNY.com reports.

Blackburn reached 60 pitches in his last rehab outing with Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday and is aiming for the 75-pitch mark Friday with Double-A Binghamton. He's expected to make an additional rehab start after that. There doesn't appear to currently be room for Blackburn in the Mets' rotation, so he could be slotted into long relief when he's activated later this month. Blackburn has been out all season with right knee inflammation.

Hicks (1-5) took the loss Wednesday, surrendering five runs on seven hits and a walk over two-plus innings as the Giants fell 8-7 to the Diamondbacks. He struck out one.

Three of the hits off Hicks went for extra bases, including a Ketel Marte solo shot in the first inning and a Lourdes Gurriel double to lead off the third that helped chase the right-hander from the game. It was Hicks' shortest outing of the season after he'd given San Francisco at least five innings in five straight trips to the mound, and Marte's blast was the first long ball he'd served up since April 6. Hicks will carry a 6.55 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 41:16 K:BB through 45.1 innings into his next start, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Royals.

Rodriguez came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 8-7 win over the Giants, giving up four runs on five hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out four.

The veteran southpaw didn't serve up a homer for the first time since April 17, but there wasn't much else encouraging about this performance from Rodriguez. He tossed 41 of 76 pitches for strikes before getting the hook, and he's been tagged for three or more runs in five straight trips to the mound, stumbling to a 9.93 ERA, 2.03 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB through 22.2 innings over that stretch. Rodriguez will try to right the ship in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Dodgers.

Yamamoto (5-3) earned the win Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings against the Athletics. He struck out six.

The right-hander surrendered five runs in his previous start at Arizona, but he bounced back Wednesday with his fifth quality start of the campaign. Yamamoto's five wins are tied for sixth in MLB, and he has a 2.12 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 59:16 K:BB through 51 innings this year. A matchup with the Diamondbacks is likely on tap for next week.

Vasquez (3-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Angels after allowing one run on four hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out five.

Vasquez tied a season high in punchouts, and he now owns a 10:2 K:BB in his last two starts after posting a disastrous 13:24 K:BB in his first seven outings of the year. The right-hander has also tossed at least five frames while conceding two runs or fewer six times through nine starts on the campaign. With Yu Darvish (elbow) going on a rehab assignment, it's unclear if Vasquez will hold onto a rotation spot once the former returns. That said, Vasquez will bring a 3.45 ERA and 1.49 WHIP over 44.1 innings into his next scheduled start against a hot Blue Jays offense.