MLB Player News

Ashby was optioned to Triple-A Nashville by the Brewers on Tuesday.

The move comes a day after the left-hander was torched for eight runs (four earned) over 3.2 innings against the Reds. Ashby should get another shot in the rotation eventually, but the Brewers' bullpen needs help so Kevin Herget has been summoned.

Gray was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Nationals on Tuesday, retroactive to April 6, with a right flexor strain, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

It's been a nightmarish start to the season for Gray. He has been tagged for 13 runs over 8.1 innings in his first two starts and now will miss, at minimum, the next couple weeks with an injury to his pitching arm. Gray had been slated to start Tuesday in San Francisco, but that responsibility now falls to Joan Adon.

The Cardinals activated Gray (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.

Gray will make his season and Cardinals debut Tuesday againt the Phillies after missing the first week-and-a-half of the season with a right hamstring strain. He did not make a rehab start, having most recently throwing 54 pitches in a simulated game. Gray will be limited to around 65 pitches in Tuesday's outing.

The Mets are expected to recall Butto from Triple-A Syracuse to start Saturday against the Royals, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Butto was with the Mets last week when he made a spot start Thursday against the Tigers, tossing six innings and striking out six while allowing one run in a no-decision. Since he was designated as the Mets' 27th man for the twin bill, Butto was sent back to Syracuse after the spot start, but he doesn't look like he'll have to wait long to get the ball again for the big club. Saturday had been Julio Teheran's turn in the rotation, but Teheran was designated for assignment after just one start. With Kodai Senga (shoulder) and Tylor Megill (shoulder) on the injured list, Butto could wind up staying in the rotation for multiple turns.

Bradish (elbow) will join High-A Aberdeen on Tuesday and begin a rehab assignment there soon, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

It's hard to have any level of confidence regarding the health of a pitcher's elbow given what's happened around baseball recently, but Bradish's recovery since being diagnosed with a partial UCL tear has gone as well as can be expected. Given that he missed all of spring training, he would figure to need most, if not all, of his 30-day rehab window before rejoining the Orioles' rotation.

Red Sox GM Craig Breslow said Tuesday that Pivetta (elbow) may not be on the injured list much beyond the 15-day minimum, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

The right-hander was placed on the injured list earlier Tuesday with a flexor strain, but the issue apparently isn't a serious concern. Still, it's worth keeping an eye on Pivetta's recovery given the nature of the injury. Cooper Criswell and Chase Anderson are the likely candidates to receive a look in the rotation while Pivetta is sidelined.

Martin is being held back in extended spring training to manage his workload before being assigned to High-A Great Lakes at the beginning of May, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

One of the most exciting pitching prospects in the Dodgers' system, Martin only logged 39.2 innings last year in his first pro season and turns 20 in May, so he wasn't going to be able to pitch for five straight months anyway. Assuming he does get to work for the Loons in early May, he could still double his workload from a year ago. Martin had a 2.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 14 appearances at Single-A. He already touches 98 mph with his fastball and has a chance for a quality slider and changeup.

Single-A Augusta placed Ritchie (elbow) on its 60-day injured list March 26.

Augusta notably placed Ritchie on the 60-day IL rather than the full-season IL, signaling that he's expected back at some point in the second half of the season once he completes his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. Before suffering the season-ending elbow injury last May, Ritchie made four starts for Augusta and compiled a 5.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings.

Maier struck out five over four innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk Saturday in Single-A Augusta's 5-4 win over Columbia in 10 innings.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Maier didn't take the hill for an affiliate that year or in 2023 while he recovered from an internal brace surgery to stabilize the right ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. After the 22-year-old right-hander entered spring training without any restrictions, he was cleared to make his long-awaited professional debut this past weekend. He spotted 41 of his 60 pitches for strikes in the outing.

Pivetta was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Red Sox on Tuesday with a right elbow flexor strain, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Pivetta has been an early-season bright spot for the Red Sox, allowing just one run with a 13:1 K:BB over 11 innings covering his first two starts. After sustaining the injury coming out of his most recent start last Wednesday, however, Pivetta will be on the shelf for a least a couple weeks and potentially much longer, given the nature of the injury. It's not clear yet who might fill Pivetta's spot in the rotation, but Cooper Criswell, Chase Anderson and Josh Winckowski look to be the top candidates.