MLB Player News

The Diamondbacks placed Nelson (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Friday.

Nelson left Thursday's game against the Rockies after he took a comebacker off his arm in the second inning. Nelson will be replaced on the active roster by left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who will make his season debut Friday against the Giants. Nelson has started four games this season, posting a 4.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB over 15.2 innings.

The Diamondbacks recalled Montgomery from Triple-A Reno on Friday.

Montgomery made two tune-up starts in Triple-A, surrendering nine earned runs across 7.2 innings while striking out nine batters and walking five. While his minor-league numbers aren't exactly encouraging, the 31-year-old southpaw is still expected to be a quality contributor to Arizona's starting rotation after posting a 3.20 ERA across 188.2 innings between St. Louis and Texas last year. Ryne Nelson (elbow) was placed on the 15-day IL in a corresponding move.

Bradish (elbow) will make his next rehab start with Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bradish made his first rehab appearance Tuesday with Double-A Bowie. He threw 44 pitches and allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings while striking out four. Bradish will now move up to Triple-A Norfolk, as the right-hander continues his rehab from a partial UCL tear that kept him from pitching in spring training.

Puk (0-4) took the loss Friday against the Cubs, allowing seven runs on seven hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out four.

It was another short outing for the southpaw as Chicago scored three runs over the first two innings before putting up four more in the third. Puk's failed to pitch more than 4.2 innings in any of his starts so far and sports an ugly 9.22 ERA with a 2.63 WHIP while issuing a league-high 17 walks across 13.2 innings. With Braxton Garrett (shoulder) inching closer to a return, the Marlins could elect to move Puk back to the bullpen, where he had considerably more success last season.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Valdez (elbow) played catch Friday and could throw off a mound as soon as Saturday or Sunday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The left-hander quickly resumed throwing after landing on the injured list April 9 with elbow inflammation, and his return to mound work will be another encouraging step. Valdez won't be ready to return from the injured list when first eligible next week, but given his current progression he could seemingly be back with the Astros sometime in early May.

Taillon (1-0) earned the win Friday against the Marlins, allowing one run on three hits while striking out four over five innings.

Taillon didn't show any signs of rust in his first start of the campaign, holding the Marlins to a Bryan De La Cruz solo homer in the fourth inning. It's an encouraging effort from the 32-year-old right-hander, who went 8-10 with a 4.84 ERA in an inconsistent 2023 season. He's currently in line to face the Astros at home in his next start.

Hancock and the Mariners will not play Friday after their contest against the Rockies was postponed due to inclement weather, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday. Hancock and Dakota Hudson had been slated to start Friday but will be pushed back at least one day to Saturday.

Hudson and the Rockies will not play Friday after their game versus the Mariners was postponed due to inclement weather, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sunday. Emerson Hancock and Hudson had been scheduled to start but now figure to be pushed back a day to Saturday.

Verlander (shoulder) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and is starting Friday against the Nationals.

Verlander missed the first few weeks of the season rehabbing from a shoulder issue but will make his 2024 debut Friday in Washington. According to Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle, manager Joe Espada said the Astros plan to limit the veteran right-hander to around 80-85 pitches, which would be a minor increase on the 77 pitches Verlander threw in his final rehab start.

The Rangers optioned Leiter to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

The right-hander surrendered seven runs over 3.2 frames in his major-league debut Thursday versus the Tigers. Michael Lorenzen (neck) recently made his season debut to fill out the Rangers' rotation, but Leiter seems likely to receive another look with the big club later in the year.