MLB Player News

Gasser (elbow) "could be ready to pitch for Triple-A Nashville as soon as this week," Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Gasser has been on the shelf for nearly a month due to a bone spur in his left elbow, but he was hoping to return in mid-to-late April and could indeed do so. Gasser pitched exclusively at the Triple-A level last season and is one of Milwaukee's top pitching prospects, so he could be an option for the big-league club once he gets his pitch count built up.

Knack is slated to start Wednesday's game against Washington at Nationals Park.

The 26-year-old righty will make his second straight turn through the rotation after limiting the Nationals to two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four over five innings in his MLB debut this past Wednesday. Though he'll get a rematch with a weak Washington lineup, Knack's outing will come on the road this time after he had the luxury of debuting at Dodger Stadium. Walker Buehler (elbow) is due to make the fifth start of his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and if all goes well, he could be activated from the 15-day injured list next week to bump Knack out of the big-league rotation.

Priester is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Brewers at PNC Park.

Even though he was lit up for five runs (four earned) on seven hits -- including three home runs -- and one walk across 4.1 innings in his 2024 MLB debut this past Friday against the Red Sox, Priester will get at least one more chance to prove that he belongs in the big-league rotation. He'll have the benefit of making a second straight start at home, though the more forgiving dimensions of PNC Park didn't do him many favors this past weekend when it came to keeping the ball in the yard. If Priester is unable to show improvement Wednesday and ends up being sent back to the minors, top prospect Paul Skenes could be next in line to fill the No. 5 spot in Pittsburgh's rotation.

Medina (knee) is on track to begin a rehab assignment next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Medina is with Oakland on its road trip and is set to throw four bullpen sessions before going out on a rehab assignment. The right-hander is working his way back from the Grade 2 MCL sprain in his right knee that he suffered back in early March. Medina is on the 60-day injured list and thus isn't eligible for activation until late May. It will take time for him to be built back up as a starter, so he likely wouldn't be available before then, anyway.

Waldichuk (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment sometime next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The lefty has joined the Athletics on their road trip and will throw four bullpen sessions before being sent out on a rehab assignment. Waldichuk was diagnosed last October with a UCL sprain and flexor strain, but he chose a more conservative Tenex procedure to remove scar tissue and help alleviate pain. He will be built up as a starter, so Waldichuk will likely need most of his 30-day rehab allotment before being an option for the Oakland rotation. The southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible for activation until late May.

Kelly disclosed Sunday that he was diagnosed with a teres major strain of his right shoulder following his initial MRI and is on track to receive another MRI on Monday in Phoenix, ESPN.com reports.

Kelly had been scheduled to start Sunday's series finale in San Francisco, but he was scratched after experiencing discomfort while playing catch Saturday before the MRI confirmed that he was dealing with a shoulder strain. More information on the severity of the strain could be available after Monday's MRI, but for the time being, the Diamondbacks are holding out hope that the right-hander will avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list. Slade Cecconi was called up from Triple-A Reno to start in Sunday's 5-3 win and will likely be in store for additional turns through the rotation if Kelly is shut down for any length of time.

Rodriguez remains on a restricted workload this season and will likely shift to a multi-inning relief role once Alek Manoah (shoulder) is deemed ready to join the rotation, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old Cuban rookie has been impressive in his first two MLB starts, posting a 2.35 ERA and 13:3 K:BB through 7.2 innings, but after not pitching professionally in 2023 and working out of the bullpen in Japan prior to that, the Blue Jays don't want to burn Rodriguez out with a heavy workload this season. Manoah likely needs at least one more rehab start, but he's on the same schedule as Rodriguez at Triple-A Buffalo, and the Jays could make the switch in their big-league rotation as soon as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Manoah (shoulder) showed improvement in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander still wasn't at his sharpest, giving up a two-run shot to Columbus' Johnathan Rodriguez in the first inning as well as three doubles, but Manoah threw 61 of 92 pitches for strikes, and the lack of free passes was encouraging. The Blue Jays are still counting on the 26-year-old to fill a rotation spot in the majors this season, and while Yariel Rodriguez is currently filling the No. 5 starter role admirably, Kaithyn McGrath of The Athletic reports that the Cuban rookie will be kept on a strict workload limit this season and is a candidate to transition into a multi-inning relief role. Rodriguez and Manoah are pitching on the same schedule, so assuming Toronto wants Manoah to make at least one more rehab start before activating him, he could make his season debut as early as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Atlanta recalled Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of his scheduled start Monday against the Marlins at Truist Park.

Elder will take over the rotation spot of Darius Vines, who was optioned to Triple-A after making two starts following Spencer Strider's season-ending elbow injury. A 2023 All-Star, Elder faded down the stretch last season and missed out on a spot in Atlanta's rotation coming out of spring training, but he's looked sharp through three starts at Gwinnett, logging a 3.31 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 16.1 innings. While he hasn't shown the ability to make bats miss at a prolific rate (18.2 percent) over 228.2 innings in the majors, Elder has shown the ability to induce weak contact and keep the ball in the yard. He'll make for an attractive streaming option Monday versus a struggling Miami offense and could have long-term appeal in light of Strider's absence along with the fact that he'll be supported by one of the top offenses in baseball.

Davis is set to receive an MRI on his right shoulder Monday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Summoned from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as the 27th man for the Rockies' doubleheader Sunday with the Mariners, Davis came on in relief in the second game of the twin bill, covering three innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits in Colorado's 10-2 loss. He was pulled in the seventh inning with what the Rockies labeled as shoulder discomfort, but a more precise diagnosis for his injury won't be known until the results of his MRI are read. Colorado has already returned Davis to Triple-A Albuquerque, so if he needs to be shut down for any period of time, he'll likely go on the Triple-A club's 7-day injured list.