MLB Player News

Rodriguez remains on a restricted workload this season and will likely shift to a multi-inning relief role once Alek Manoah (shoulder) is deemed ready to join the rotation, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old Cuban rookie has been impressive in his first two MLB starts, posting a 2.35 ERA and 13:3 K:BB through 7.2 innings, but after not pitching professionally in 2023 and working out of the bullpen in Japan prior to that, the Blue Jays don't want to burn Rodriguez out with a heavy workload this season. Manoah likely needs at least one more rehab start, but he's on the same schedule as Rodriguez at Triple-A Buffalo, and the Jays could make the switch in their big-league rotation as soon as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Wells is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

Wells will head to the bench for the fifth time in eight games, with four of those absences coming with the opposition bringing left-handed pitchers to the hill. Though the Yankees seem to be opting for a platoon at catcher between the lefty-hitting Wells and the righty-hitting Jose Trevino, it's possible that Wells moves into a pure backup role or is optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre if he's unable to get going at the plate anytime soon. Wells has mustered a lowly .347 OPS through his first 13 games of the season.

Manoah (shoulder) showed improvement in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander still wasn't at his sharpest, giving up a two-run shot to Columbus' Johnathan Rodriguez in the first inning as well as three doubles, but Manoah threw 61 of 92 pitches for strikes, and the lack of free passes was encouraging. The Blue Jays are still counting on the 26-year-old to fill a rotation spot in the majors this season, and while Yariel Rodriguez is currently filling the No. 5 starter role admirably, Kaithyn McGrath of The Athletic reports that the Cuban rookie will be kept on a strict workload limit this season and is a candidate to transition into a multi-inning relief role. Rodriguez and Manoah are pitching on the same schedule, so assuming Toronto wants Manoah to make at least one more rehab start before activating him, he could make his season debut as early as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Allen will start at shortstop and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Allen had begun to fade into a part-time role early last week, but he appears to have since regained a foothold as the Athletics' everyday shortstop after rookie Darell Hernaiz was demoted to Triple-A Las Vegas on Thursday. He's now picked up a fifth straight start at shortstop, but Allen still isn't an enticing fantasy option in spite of the increased stability with his playing time. Through 58 plate appearances this season, Allen is slashing .170/.241/.208 with zero home runs or stolen bases.

Brown is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The Athletics will send all three of their lefty-hitting outfielders to the bench for the series opener with southpaw Carlos Rodon on the hill for the Yankees. Brown will take a seat along with JJ Bleday and Lawrence Butler while Max Schuemann, Esteury Ruiz and Tyler Nevin form the Oakland outfield from left to right.

Bleday is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The lefty-hitting Bleday will hit the bench for the third time in five games, with all three of his absences coming against left-handed starting pitchers. With Bleday out of the lineup, Esteury Ruiz will get a turn in center field while serving as Oakland's leadoff hitter.

Butler is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The lefty-hitting Butler will hit the bench for the series opener with southpaw Carlos Rodon on the hill for the Yankees. The Athletics will replace Butler in the lineup with Tyler Nevin, who draws the start in right field.

Wells is without a timeline to resume throwing after being placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right elbow inflammation, but manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that he's optimistic the right-hander will avoid an extended absence, MLB.com reports.

Hyde suggested that Wells' placement on the IL was for precautionary reasons after the 29-year-old experienced discomfort in his elbow following his most recent outing April 12. Given that he hasn't been diagnosed with anything more than inflammation, Wells should be in store for a brief shutdown before he starts throwing again, but since he has yet to do so just under a week after being placed on the IL, he's still likely to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Wells is one of three Orioles starters on the IL at the moment, but he appears to be the furthest away from being activated since John Means (forearm) and Kyle Bradish (elbow) are already in the midst of rehab assignments.

Bradish (elbow) covered 3.1 innings in the second start of his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk, striking out four while allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks.

According to MLB.com, Bradish's fastball sat around 93 to 95 miles per hour in Sunday's outing as he built up to 64 pitches. Though his velocity was roughly in line with his average from the 2023 season (94.8 mph), Bradish still looks like he needs more time in the minors to regain his control and command as he makes his way back from a right UCL sprain. He spotted only 37 of his 64 pitches for strikes (57.8 percent) and hit a batter and threw a wild pitch in addition to issuing three free passes. Bradish is likely to make another rehab start for Norfolk or Double-A Bowie on Friday or Saturday before the Orioles reassess whether he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list.

Woo (elbow) struck out five over three perfect innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.

Woo needed just 35 pitches to cruise through his three frames in a difficult pitching environment in Las Vegas. The velocity on his four-seamer was down a bit at 93.9 miles per hour, but that's not overly concerning considering it was his first game action in more than a month. Woo is in line for multiple rehab starts but could be ready to rejoin the Mariners rotation by early May.