MLB Player News

Rodon has been told his back issue is chronic, and there's no clear idea of when he might return, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. "I can't put a timeline on anything," Rodon said.

Rodon will undergo a cortisone injection in the early part of next week in the hopes it will help him get back on a mound more quickly. Unfortunately, it sounds like this might not just be an issue for the left-hander in 2023, but potentially throughout his career. Rodon has very little chance of returning in the month of May, and it's possible he won't be able to make his debut for the Yankees until after the All-Star break.

Skubal (elbow) will throw another bullpen session Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Skubal's last bullpen session was Sunday, during which he only threw fastballs. The Tigers still have not set a target date for Skubal's return, but considering he has yet to be cleared to face live hitters, it's possible he stays on the IL beyond his eligible return date of May 29.

Mahle (elbow) was moved to the 60-day injured list Friday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Mahle was diagnosed with a right arm posterior impingement and flexor pronator strain last week and landed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. He will be shut down from throwing for at least four weeks and will have to be gradually built back up in order to return to a starter role. He'll be eligible to return in early July, but there's a decent chance Mahle will be out until after the All-Star break.

Lynch (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Lynch said he feels "healthy and ready to go" after his bullpen session. He allowed two earned runs in his first rehab start with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Tuesday, but he also struck out six batters across 2.1 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw is scheduled to make another rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Omaha and throw somewhere between 65 and 75 pitches.

Matz is listed as the Cardinals' probable starter Sunday against the Tigers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

There has been some thought that Matthew Liberatore might get the call to take Matz's rotation spot, but Jones also notes that Liberatore is the listed starter at Triple-A Memphis on Saturday. Matz is seemingly going to get at least one more turn before perhaps sliding into a bullpen role. He is 0-4 with a 6.39 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 31:15 K:BB through 31 innings (six starts) this season with St. Louis.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Friday that Rodon (back) will have a cortisone injection as soon as possible, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Boone told reporters that the medical consensus is that it will help him get back on the mound more quickly. Rodon has recovered from the forearm issue that kept him out at the beginning of the season, but the back trouble he picked up during his rehab has stagnated his progress. It seems likely that the left-hander's return will be closer to the end of May than the middle of it.

Crawford's left hamstring strain which forced him to the injured list is considered mild, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Crawford tweaked his hamstring during an appearance Wednesday versus the Blue Jays. It sounds like he could have avoided the IL, but this allows him to take his time and for the Red Sox to add a fresh bullpen arm.

Woodford was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Woodford lost his rotation spot Thursday and is now also off the active 26-man roster as he works through a bout of shoulder trouble. The 26-year-old right-hander leaves behind a 5.40 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 18:11 K:BB through 30 innings of work this season for St. Louis.

Senzatela was activated Friday from the 15-day injured list.

Recovered from the torn left ACL he suffered last August, Senzatela is all set to make his 2023 debut in a start Friday against the Mets at Citi Field. He struggled on his two-start minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque, yielding seven earned runs on 13 hits over 6.1 innings, so expectations should be rather low. There could be a bit of fantasy streaming appeal in the long run once he settles into the Colorado rotation.

Crawford was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday due to a left hamstring strain, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Crawford was initially considered day-to-day after leaving Wednesday's game against Toronto with hamstring tightness, but his injury now seems to be more severe than previously thought. Kaleb Ort will be recalled from Triple-A Worcester to replace Crawford in Boston's bullpen.