MLB Player News

Wheeler (shoulder) struck out four and allowed four earned runs on six hits and one walk across four innings Sunday in his rehab start with Double-A Reading.

After working 5.2 innings and posting a 9:0 K:BB in his previous appearance for Reading on Tuesday, Wheeler took a step back with his command and control Sunday. He spotted 48 of his 77 pitches for strikes and yielded a solo home run and a three-run blast, bringing his ERA up to 5.85 and his WHIP to 1.20 over his five rehab starts between Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Though his results haven't been as strong as the Phillies might have hoped, Wheeler has been able to progressively build up his pitch counts and looks ready to handle a typical starter's workload in his next outing, which is expected to come with the big club. Wheeler tentatively lines up to return from the 15-day injured list to make his 2026 Phillies debut during next weekend's series in Atlanta.

Walker will work in bulk relief behind an opener during his next turn through the rotation Wednesday against the Cubs, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The veteran right-hander has surrendered 19 earned runs across 18.1 frames in his first four starts of the season, so the Phillies will attempt to limit his exposure to the top of Chicago's lineup Wednesday. Regardless of his role, Walker will have minimal streaming appeal while going up against a Cubs offense that is averaging more than eight runs scored over the past six games. The Phillies are expected to get Zack Wheeler (shoulder) back from the injured list later next week, so Walker may not be in line for any starts or planned bulk-relief appearances for a while after Wednesday's outing.

Strider (oblique) is scheduled to make the second start of his rehab assignment Tuesday at Triple-A Gwinnett, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

He'll be making the jump to Gwinnett from High-A Rome along with rehabbing catcher Sean Murphy (hip), who was behind the plate last Thursday in Strider's first minor-league outing. Strider spotted 27 of his 50 pitches for strikes in his start with Rome, recording three punchouts while yielding one hit and two walks over 3.1 scoreless frames. The right-hander will get further stretched out further Tuesday in what's expected to be the second of three total starts in the minors before he returns from the 15-day injured list and slots back into the Atlanta rotation.

Naylor is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers.

With a tough lefty (MacKenzie Gore) on the hill for Texas and with the Mariners and Rangers wrapping up their series with a day game, Naylor will be handed his second day off of the season. Connor Joe will enter the starting nine as Naylor's replacement at first base.

Cronenworth is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

Cronenworth was able to play the entirety of Saturday's 4-1 win after taking a Yusei Kikuchi fastball to the chin in the fifth inning, and though he reported no issues following the game, the Padres will elect to hold him out of the starting nine for the series finale in Anaheim. Fernando Tatis will receive his third start of the season at second base while Cronenworth rests up Sunday.

Cortes is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox.

Cortes and fellow left-handed hitters Jeff McNeil and Lawrence Butler will hit the bench for the series finale while southpaw Noah Schultz takes the hill for the White Sox. Since Brent Rooker (oblique) landed on the injured list April 10, Cortes has gained a foothold in the Athletics' regular lineup versus right-handed pitching while shuffling between the corner-outfield spots and designated hitter.

Benintendi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Benintendi hasn't reached base in any of his nine plate appearances against left-handed pitchers this season, so the White Sox will hold him out of the lineup for the series finale while southpaw Jeffrey Springs takes the hill for the Athletics. After slotting anywhere between third and seventh in the batting order during his first 11 starts of the season, Benintendi has moved into the leadoff spot for his most recent three starts against right-handed pitchers.

Wallner is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds.

Wallner will take a seat for the second straight day, this time against a right-handed starter (Brady Singer) after he had been out of the lineup for Saturday's 5-4 loss while southpaw Andrew Abbott opened the game for the Reds. James Outman will fill in as the Twins' starting right fielder in place of Wallner, who still appears to be locked into a full-time role despite slashing a meager .181/.272/.333 with three home runs and six RBI over 81 plate appearances to begin the season.

Urena will start Sunday's game against the Padres, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The right-hander was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday and will fill the Halos' open rotation spot, pushing back Reid Detmers to pitch Monday versus the Blue Jays. Urena made two relief appearances for Anaheim in the opening days of the season and gave up six runs (none earned) on five hits and three walks across 1.2 innings. He covered five frames during his last start for Salt Lake and should be able to handle a typical starting workload.

Detmers is no longer scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Padres and will instead take the hill for Monday's game versus the Blue Jays in Anaheim, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Rather than waiting until the upcoming week to break in a new fifth starter, the Angels will have Walbert Urena enter the rotation for Sunday's series finale. Detmers tentatively lines up for two starts next week as a result, with his second turn set to come next Sunday in Kansas City.