MLB Player News

Rodriguez (shoulder) tossed a 30-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez said that he felt good following the workout, but he acknowledged that he didn't know whether he would be cleared to face hitters the next time he throws, or if he would continue the ramp-up process with another bullpen session. After being placed on the 15-day injured list May 1 with shoulder inflammation, Rodriguez is eligible for activation Wednesday, but he looks like he'll need at least a little time beyond that before he's ready to rejoin the Baltimore rotation.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday that Maeda (illness) will require a rehab assignment prior to returning from the 15-day injured list, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Maeda was placed on the IL on Saturday with a viral illness, and Hinch noted that the right-hander's ailment was significant enough to keep him from playing catch over the last few days since he made his last start Tuesday in Cleveland. Though the 36-year-old is eligible to come off the IL as soon as May 23, the fact that the Tigers are already planning on Maeda needing a rehab assignment suggests that it's not a lock that he'll be ready to go when his 15 days are up. Maeda had gotten off to a rough start to the season prior to landing on the IL, going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 1.40 WHIP across 30.2 innings through seven starts.

Ober (4-1) earned the win after he pitched 6.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out 10 batters in Sunday's 5-1 victory over Toronto.

Ober was nearly perfect Sunday, allowing just a single to Vladimir Guerrero in the bottom of the fourth inning, while his 10 punchouts were a season high. The right-hander has now recorded four quality starts over eight outings this season. Since allowing eight runs against the Royals in his season debut, Ober has produced a 2.16 ERA with 44 strikeouts over 41.2 innings in his last seven starts. He'll look to keep it going when he returns to the mound for his next projected start Saturday in Cleveland.

Gasser is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Pirates at American Family Field.

The Brewers will keep Gasser in the rotation as their No. 5 starter over Tobias Myers, who was optioned to Triple-A Nashville on Friday. That same day, Gasser made his MLB debut against the Cardinals and breezed through six scoreless innings while striking out four and allowing just two hits and zero walks. His numbers in three starts at Nashville (5.25 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 17:6 K:BB in 12 innings) should give fantasy managers some pause in expecting Gasser to repeat the success of his MLB debut, but he'll at least make for an intriguing streaming option while facing off against a weak Pittsburgh offense that had posted a 70 wRC+ in nine May games heading into Sunday.

Manoah (0-1) was tagged with a loss after he pitched seven innings, allowing three unearned runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six in Sunday's 5-1 defeat to Minnesota.

The 26-year-old right-hander was in full command Sunday, tossing six scoreless frames to open his outing against the Twins. With one out in the top of the seventh inning, Max Kepler reached on a fielding error by Toronto third baseman Ernie Clement and three runs -- all of which were unearned -- came around to score on a Carlos Santana homer. Manoah struggled in his 2024 debut against the Nationals on May 5, giving up seven runs (six earned) over four innings, so Sunday's performance was a positive sign. Manoah will look to make it back-to-back strong outings when he returns to the mound for his next projected start Saturday versus the Rays.

Brubaker (elbow) threw live batting practice against DJ LeMahieu (foot) on Saturday at the Yankees' spring training facility in Tampa, MLB.com reports.

After he had been limited to throwing bullpen sessions over the past couple of months, Brubaker has now moved on to the next phase in his rehab from his April 12, 2023 Tommy John surgery: facing hitters. He'll likely throw multiple live BPs before embarking on an extended minor-league rehab assignment in the coming weeks. Brubaker is targeting a return from the 60-day injured list around the All-Star break and could be an option for the big-league rotation if the Yankees have an opening.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Matz will require another pain-killing injection for the protruding disc in his lower back and won't resume throwing for at least another week, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

With Matz having yet to even resume playing catch since landing on the 15-day injured list May 3 due to the back issue, he appears safe to rule out for a return when he's first eligible to come off the IL next weekend. The southpaw had initially been scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, but the Cardinals opted to have him get another injection for his back after he hadn't responded to a week of rest as well as the team had hoped. The Cardinals will turn to Matthew Liberatore to make a second straight start in place of Matz on Monday versus the Angels.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Wesneski has been moved to the bullpen, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Counsell noted that Wesneski will work out of the bullpen for the Cubs' upcoming turn through the rotation, so it's possible that the right-hander could still move back into a starting role at some point later this month. For now, however, Wesneski will likely need the Cubs to lose another starter to injury, or for a rainout or a busy portion of the schedule to create a need for a temporary sixth starter. Wesneski had made each of his past three appearances for the Cubs as a starter, going 0-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 16.1 innings.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Taillon (back) will start Tuesday's game in Atlanta, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

A bout with back stiffness resulted in Taillon being scratched from his scheduled start Friday in Pittsburgh, but the right-hander responded well enough from a bullpen session Saturday for the Cubs to clear him to take the hill in Atlanta. With Kyle Hendricks (back) coming off the 15-day injured list to start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Taillon will end up taking over the spot in the rotation that had previously belonged to Hayden Wesneski, who has been moved to the bullpen.

Pepiot (leg) threw a 15-pitch bullpen session Sunday, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Pepiot landed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday after sustaining a lower left leg contusion when he was hit by a line drive in his start against the Mets last Sunday. He noted that he felt good after the throwing session Sunday, and he could return from the IL when first eligible May 21. The right-hander confirmed after the bullpen session that he doesn't expect to need a rehab start in the minors prior to being activated.