MLB Player News

The Padres list Cease (forearm) as their probable starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Angels at Petco Park.

Cease was cruising along in his most recent start Wednesday against the Yankees before being pulled midway through the seventh inning due to what he called "a freak cramp" in his right forearm, per MLB.com. Subsequent medical testing revealed nothing concerning, and after Cease was able to play catch Friday without incident, he doesn't look like he'll be facing any restrictions when he returns to the hill Tuesday on five days' rest. Since surrendering a season-high nine runs in a loss to the Athletics on April 8, Cease has gone winless in his ensuing five starts but has pitched effectively, turning in a 3.16 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 30:11 K:BB across 25.2 innings over that stretch.

Woodruff (shoulder) gave up one earned run on two hits and no walks while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Nashville.

After covering at least five innings in each of his previous three rehab outings, Woodruff covered about half of that length Sunday, though the lighter workload was a pre-planned arrangement in what will be his final start of his minor-league assignment, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. Woodruff was efficient in the abbreviated outing, spotting 28 of 39 pitches for strikes and giving up a pair of softly hit singles. Woodruff had built up to 83 pitches in his previous start with Nashville on Tuesday, so he should be able to handle something close to a typical starter's workload once he joins the Brewers. Milwaukee is expected to activate Woodruff from the 15-day injured list next weekend to have him start against the Twins at American Family Field in what will be his first big-league outing since Sept. 23, 2023.

Kershaw (toe/knee) allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters over four innings in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Making what was likely his fifth and final rehab start, Kershaw was generally efficient (35 strikes on 57 pitches) and topped out at 88.8 miles per hour with his fastball. Though Kershaw has never been the most overpowering pitcher, he averaged 90 mph with his fastball over his seven starts with the Dodgers in 2024, so the diminished velocity he's shown during his rehab assignment means that any success that he might have at the big-league level this season could hinge even more heavily on inducing weak contact rather than making bats miss. From a workload standpoint, Kershaw isn't expected to face any major restrictions when he returns from the 60-day injured list, as he has gotten stretched out to six innings and 66 pitches over the course of his minor-league assignment. He's expected to be activated when first eligible next Sunday to make his 2025 Dodgers debut in a home start against the Angels.

Ritchie is being promoted to Double-A Columbus, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.

Ritchie has posted a 1.30 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 38 strikeouts over 41.2 innings in seven starts with High-A Rome this season, including a nine-strikeout, one-hit shutout of Greenville on Saturday. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023, the 21-year-old right-hander could rise up prospect lists quickly if he continues dominating at Double-A.

Santana (1-1) picked up the win in Sunday's 4-3 victory over Atlanta, pitching a clean inning with one strikeout.

The 29-year-old fired a clean ninth inning in a 3-3 tie, requiring only 11 pitches, eight of which were strikes. Santana was then credited with his first win of the season when Joey Bart drove home the winning run in the bottom of the frame. Santana, who is battling with David Bednar for the closer role in Pittsburgh, bagged the latest Pirates' save in Friday's contest. Through 17.1 innings, Santana has pitched to a 2.08 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 11:3 K:BB.

Mlodzinski did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 4-3 win over Atlanta, allowing four hits and one walk over 5.2 scoreless innings. He struck out two.

The 26-year-old right-hander produced his first scoreless start of the season with this 83-pitch performance, falling an out shy of securing his first quality start. The Atlanta lineup was unable to square up Mlodzinski, as he scattered three singles and a double. With this effort, Mlodzinski lowered his ERA from 6.16 to 5.20 across 36.1 total innings. He currently lines up to make his next start at the Phillies next weekend.

Sale took a no-decision in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Pirates, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight.

The Atlanta southpaw generated a solid 18 whiffs in this 99-pitch outing, falling one out shy of notching his third consecutive quality start. Despite yielding eight base knocks, only one of the hits went for extra bases -- an Alexander Canario double in the fourth. Through 47.2 frames, Sale owns a 3.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 64:13 K:BB. He is currently scheduled to make his next start against one of his former teams, the Red Sox, in Boston next weekend.

Iglesias (2-3) took the loss in Sunday's contest at Pittsburgh. He allowed one run on two hits and a walk in one-third of an inning.

The veteran closer entered in the ninth inning with the score tied at 3-3 and failed to send the game to extras. Iglesias looked unsteady from the start, allowing two consecutive singles to open the frame, although neither one was hit hard. The game ended on a fielder's choice as the Atlanta infield was unable to convert a Joey Bart groundball into an out. After Iglesias pitched to a spectacular 1.95 ERA across 69.1 innings in 2024, he has struggled through 15.1 frames this season, pitching to a 5.87 ERA and 1.24 WHIP while already allowing six homers.

Rojas will start in center field and bat ninth in Sunday's game against the Guardians.

Rojas began the season in the short side of a platoon in center field with the left-handed-hitting Brandon Marsh but has now seemingly earned his way into a timeshare at the position. The Phillies are facing a right-handed pitcher (Luis L. Ortiz) for the sixth game in a row Sunday, and Rojas and Marsh have now made three starts apiece during that span.

Arenado went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 6-1 win at Washington.

With his 385-foot homer in the eighth inning off reliever Brad Lord, the veteran third baseman snapped an 11-game stretch without a long ball. Over that span, Arenado hit .256 (11-for-43) with a double, four runs scored and two RBI. Despite cracking only four homers through 159 plate appearances so far, Arenado has produced a solid .270/.352/.426 slash line with 19 runs scored and 16 RBI across 37 games.