MLB Player News

Blackburn (knee) will continue his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Syracuse, Andrew Tredinnick of The Bergen Record reports.

Blackburn was scratched from his second rehab start in late April due to an illness, but he's since made two appearances in the minors. The right-hander allowed a run on three hits with a 5:1 K:BB over 3.2 frames in his last outing with Syracuse, and he'll continue building up his workload Sunday. Blackburn was unable to earn a rotation spot during spring training and was poised to begin the campaign in a relief role before the knee inflammation surfaced, so a spot in the bullpen likely awaits once he's cleared to be reinstated.

Pham was a late scratch from Friday's lineup against Atlanta.

Alexander Canario replaces Pham in left field and will bat eighth. Pham has had an atrocious start to the 2025 season, slashing .183/.259/.221 with just four extra-base hits, six RBI, nine runs scored and a 10:33 BB:K across 116 plate appearances.

Bryant successfully underwent ablation surgery on his back Thursday, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

Bryant will rest for the next 72 hours, and he's expected to return to Denver next weekend to start building strength in his back. He'll likely need several weeks to recover from the procedure and is without a timeline for a return. Bryant played just 11 games before landing on the injured list in mid-April, going 6-for-39 with one RBI and a 31.7 percent strikeout rate.

The Cubs recalled Cosgrove from Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Cosgrove takes the roster spot of Caleb Thielbar, who was placed on the paternity list Friday. Cosgrove appeared in one game for the Cubs earlier this season, tossing two scoreless innings of relief, striking out a pair and walking one.

The Cubs placed Thielbar on the paternity list Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Thielbar's wife gave birth Friday, and the left-handed reliever could miss the weekend series against the Mets. In a corresponding move, the Cubs recalled Tom Cosgrove from Triple-A Iowa.

Ashby (oblique) will move his rehab assignment to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Ashby started the season on the injured list due to a right oblique strain he suffered in mid-March. He was recently cleared to embark on a rehab assignment, and in his lone outing in the Arizona Complex League on Tuesday he allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings. The 26-year-old southpaw is aiming to toss about three innings Sunday, and he'll likely need multiple rehab outings before he's cleared to return to the majors.

Hall (lat) will continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Hall is progressing in his recovery from a left lat strain that he suffered in late February, which caused him to start the season on the 60-day injured list. He's pitched well in his two rehab outings in the Arizona Complex League, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out eight over five scoreless innings. Hall is aiming to throw 60-to-65 pitches Wednesday, and he'll need multiple rehab starts before being reinstated from the IL.

The Pirates recalled Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.

Bae was up with the Pirates for the first week of the regular season but was demoted after going 0-for-4 in two games. The 25-year-old will rejoin the big club Friday after posting a .258/.343/.376 slash line with one homer and six steals in 23 games with Indianapolis. Enmanuel Valdez (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured in a corresponding move.

The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to May 8, due to left shoulder inflammation, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

It's unclear when exactly the injury first surfaced for Valdez, but he's gone 2-for-13 across his past four contests. The Pirates are now down another option at first base, with Valdez joining Spencer Horwitz (wrist) and Endy Rodriguez (finger) on the shelf. Ji Hwan Bae was called up by Pittsburgh in a corresponding move, though it's likely to be Matt Gorski that sees a bump in playing time.

Law (forearm) is slated to throw off a mound before the end of this week, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

It will be the first time he's thrown off the bump since he experienced a setback with his right forearm strain during spring training. Law will eventually require some rehab appearances, but it's unclear when he might be ready for those.