MLB Player News

Kershaw (shoulder) played catch on flat ground Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw isn't expected to pitch for the Dodgers until after the All-Star break, but it's a positive sign that he's throwing again. The team will be careful not to push the veteran left-hander too hard, though he's been picking up the intensity in his throwing program recently and expects to resume mound work sometime during May, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Perez (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Saturday marks the first time Perez has thrown off a mound since experiencing inflammation in his right elbow. He threw 20 pitches during his first session and used his entire arsenal of pitches, with everything seeming to go smoothly. He'll likely require a few more mound sessions before moving to facing live hitters, and a minor-league rehab assignment should come after that.

Cabrera (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

Cabrera has been sidelined since March 10 due to a right shoulder impingement he suffered while warming up for a Grapefruit League game, and Sunday will mark his first time testing his shoulder in a game setting. The 25-year-old righty is only scheduled to throw three innings -- or about 50 pitches -- Sunday, so he will certainly require more rehab starts as he builds up to a typical starter's workload.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that he expects Steele (hamstring) to miss the entire month of April, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

Steele was officially diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain Saturday, and the Cubs will hold off on starting his throwing program until he is able to walk without limping. An exact timetable for the left-hander's return will likely have to wait until he starts throwing again, but Counsell noted that he expects Steele to rejoin the rotation sometime during May. In the meantime, his spot appears set to go to Ben Brown, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

Verlander (shoulder) will throw a live batting practice session Monday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The plan for Monday's batting practice is for Verlander to throw three innings and around 50 pitches. If that goes well, the veteran right-hander would begin his rehab assignment as he works his way back to the Astros' rotation.

Gipson-Long (groin) will throw in a simulated game Tuesday in Lakeland, Fla., Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Gipson-Long has been battling a left groin strain he sustained in the first week of spring training. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, and he will participate in his first simulated game Tuesday. Gipson-Long made four starts for the Tigers towards the end of the 2023 season, finishing 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 20 innings.

The Cubs recalled Brown from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

With Justin Steele (hamstring) headed for the injured list, Brown will come up from Triple-A for his first look in the majors. The 24-year-old right-hander turned in a 5.33 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 72.2 innings with Iowa last season, but his impressive spring inspired enough confidence from the Cubs to slot him into the Cubs' rotation as Steele's replacement. Brown could make his MLB debut at home against the Rockies on Tuesday.

Urquidy (forearm) played catch Friday, marking the first time he's done so since his injury, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Urquidy was removed from a minor-league game March 15 due to a right forearm strain, and he was placed on the team's 15-day injured list March 28. The plan is for Urquidy to play catch again Sunday while the team monitors him.

The Cubs placed Steele on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left hamstring strain, retroactive to March 29, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Steele had to leave Thursday's season opener after injuring his hamstring while fielding a bunt attempt. He will be eligible to return from the IL on April 13, but it remains unclear whether or not Steele will need to spend more than the 15-day minimum on the shelf. Ben Brown will come up from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move and could fill the void in the Cubs' rotation.

Gausman will start Sunday's game against the Rays in Tampa Bay, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The Blue Jays were debating whether to start Gausman or Bowden Francis on Sunday. Gausman convinced the team that he is good to go by fanning seven over three-plus innings in a Grapefruit League game Monday, then completing a bullpen session Friday. That means Francis will move back to Monday's series opener in Houston. A bout of shoulder fatigue disrupted Gausman's spring training, but he progressed quickly enough to avoid the injured list to open 2024, and it looks like he will have a full first half to make his case for a third All-Star selection in four years.