MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks activated Kelly (back) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Kelly is set to make his season debut Tuesday in Baltimore after getting a late start due to a back injury. The veteran right-hander threw six innings and 83 pitches in an extended spring training game last week, so he should be able to handle close to a full workload against the Orioles. Brandon Pfaadt has been demoted to the Diamondbacks' bullpen to accommodate the return of Kelly.

The Cubs optioned Barnes to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Barnes made one appearance during his brief stint with the big club, yielding four runs (three earned) over three innings in Monday's loss to the Phillies. The Cubs will replace him with a fresh relief arm.

Priester (wrist) is tracking toward beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville next week, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Priester is slated to throw a two-up live batting practice session at the Brewers' spring training complex Thursday, and if that goes well he will be cleared to pitch in rehab games. Working his way back from symptoms related to thoracic outlet syndrome, Priester missed all of spring training, so he will need a few rehab outings before being considered for the Brewers' rotation.

Mikolas is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The Pirates typically roll out a starting lineup featuring two left-handed hitters (Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe) with OPSes north of 1.000 in the top two spots, so the Nationals will hope to neutralize them or force Pittsburgh to alter its batting order by having the left-handed Poulin begin the game. Poulin is unlikely to cover more than an inning or two before giving way to Mikolas, who should get a softer landing to begin his appearance by facing the back end of the Pittsburgh lineup. Mikolas struggled mightily through in first three starts with Washington, giving up 19 runs (17 earned) on 22 hits and seven walks over 12.1 innings.

The White Sox selected Schultz's contract from Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

Schultz is set to make his major-league debut with a start Tuesday against the Rays. The 6-foot-10 left-hander earned a promotion after a dominant start to the season with Charlotte, as he posted a 19:2 K:BB over 14 innings to go along with a 1.29 ERA. Control and injuries have been a problem at times for Schultz, but he has some of the best upside of any starting pitching prospect in baseball. He'll get an opportunity to stick around with the big club if he pitches well.

The Mariners designated Castano for assignment Tuesday.

Castano failed to make Seattle's Opening Day roster and has now lost his place on the 40-man roster. Despite the DFA, the 27-year-old had a strong start to the campaign at Triple-A Tacoma, allowing one earned run with a 4:1 K:BB across 6.1 innings out of the bullpen.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Lodolo (finger) could face hitters Friday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Lodolo has thrown a couple bullpen sessions since he had to be pulled off his rehab assignment following a setback with the blister on his left index finger. He has not thrown breaking balls during those sessions, however, and re-incorporating those pitches will be a big test for his blister. If Lodolo does face hitters Friday and gets through that step without issues, he could be cleared to resume a rehab assignment.

The Red Sox transferred Oviedo (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The moves frees up a 40-man roster spot for the addition of Jack Anderson. Oviedo was diagnosed with a flexor strain last week and will remain shut down from throwing for another five weeks, so the transaction doesn't alter his timetable.

Corbin is slated to start Thursday's game against the Brewers in Milwaukee, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Though he was a free agent all offseason until signing with the Blue Jays on April 3, Corbin had been staying on top of his throwing program while awaiting an opportunity. He needed just one four-inning appearance in the minors at Single-A Dunedin before the Blue Jays were comfortable calling him up last Friday to aid an injury-plagued rotation. The Twins roughed Corbin up for four runs on six hits and one walk over four innings in his Toronto debut, but the veteran lefty will receive a second turn through the rotation while the Blue Jays wait for Trey Yesavage (shoulder) to return from the injured list. Yesavage threw 52 pitches last Thursday in his second rehab appearance for Dunedin and will make at least one more start in the minors before potentially being activated.

Rea is no longer scheduled to start Tuesday's game in Philadelphia but appears likely to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Riley Martin.

Chicago had initially listed Rea as its starter for Tuesday, but the Cubs will instead have the lefty Martin take the hill to begin the game since the Phillies typically have two left-handed hitters (Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper) within the top three spots of the lineup. Martin is unlikely to work more than an inning or two before giving way to Rea, who is coming off a strong start at Tampa Bay last Wednesday in which he held the Rays to one run on two hits and two walks in five innings. Though Matthew Boyd (biceps) appears to be tracking toward a return from the injured list early next week, the Cubs should still have one more opening in the rotation for either Rea or Javier Assad. Rea is the presumptive frontrunner for that spot after Assad was blasted for nine earned runs over 4.1 innings in the Cubs' 13-7 loss in Monday's series opener.