MLB Player News

The Phillies optioned Falter to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Something had to give with Falter, who fell to 0-7 on the year Monday against the Giants. The 26-year-old left-hander heads to the minors with an overall 5.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 40.1 innings (seven starts, one relief appearance) this season with the reigning NL champs.

Velasquez (elbow) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis later this week, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Velasquez checked the final box in his throwing progression when he made it through a live batting practice session Monday without issue. The 30-year-old right-hander has made a swift recovery from the bout of elbow inflammation that sent him to the injured list May 5 and could return to the Pirates' rotation by the end of the month, possibly after only one outing on the farm.

Smith-Shawver was promoted to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday, Carlos Callazo of Baseball America reports.

The 20-year-old righty started the season in High-A and has now become the youngest player at the Triple-A level. Smith-Shawver boasts a perfect 0.00 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP through 21 innings between the High-A and Double-A levels. It's unlikely that his hot streak propels him into the majors anytime soon, but he could be someone to keep an eye on in Triple-A.

Quintana (ribs) is scheduled to undergo a checkup CT scan Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

If the results show an encouraging level of healing, Quintana should be cleared to take the next step in his throwing program. He began playing catch on flat ground toward the end of April and would seem to be nearing mound workouts. The veteran left-hander required surgery in mid-March to repair a stress fracture on the left side of his rib cage and is not expected to make his Mets debut until closer to the midway point of the 2023 campaign.

McCullers (forearm) threw another bullpen session Tuesday and could be cleared for live batting practice this weekend, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

McCullers threw 37 pitches in Tuesday's session, touching 92 mph with his fastball and 88-89 mph with his cutter, per Rome. It's the first time during his bullpen ramp-ups that he's incorporated the cutter. McCullers appears to be feeling well but would seem to still have a little work to do from a velocity standpoint. If he does face hitters this weekend, a rehab assignment would seemingly be right around the corner.

Cueto (biceps/ankle) remains in no-throw mode as of Tuesday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Cueto suffered a sprained left ankle during his last rehab start May 6 at Triple-A Jacksonville, piled on to the right biceps injury that has been plaguing him since the spring. He has logged only one appearance for the Marlins this year and there is no timetable for when he might make his second one.

Carrasco (elbow) will likely return to the Mets' rotation Friday versus the Guardians, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.

Carrasco threw 52 pitches over four scoreless innings in his second and final minor-league rehab start Sunday with Double-A Binghamton. He's logged only 13.2 innings this year with the Mets to the tune of an ugly 8.56 ERA, but the veteran right-hander might be able to offer better results moving forward after receiving a cortisone injection for a painful bone spur in his pitching elbow.

The Mets optioned Peterson to Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Peterson struggled in another spot start Monday versus the Nationals and now sports a 1-6 mark with a brutal 8.08 ERA through 39 innings this season at the MLB level. Josh Walker will join the Mets' bullpen in a corresponding move.

The Reds recalled Williamson from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

As anticipated, Williamson will make his MLB debut in a start Tuesday night against the Rockies. The game is at Coors Field and Williamson had struggled to a 6.62 ERA and 1.88 WHIP through 34 innings this season at Triple-A, so he's probably more of a wait-and-see type in fantasy. The 25-year-old left-hander could carry streaming appeal in more favorable matchups down the line.

Blackburn (finger) is slated to make another rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas later in the week, the Associated Press reports.

After a blister and a subsequent brief paternity leave put Blackburn's rehab assignment on hold for just under a month, the right-hander returned to action with the Aviators on Sunday and surrendered four earned runs over two innings and 41 pitches. Nevertheless, manager Mark Kotsay noted he'd received positive reports regarding the outing and confirmed Monday that Blackburn will toe the rubber in the minors again later in the week. If there's an appreciable bump in pitch count and improved performance during that outing, Blackburn may be deemed ready for activation soon thereafter.