MLB Player News

Johnson (illness) was removed from his extended spring training start Monday due to a hamstring injury, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Johnson was placed on the 15-day injured list April 6 after falling ill due to a viral infection, but the ailment may be a lesser concern than the hamstring injury at this point. The right-hander had been expected to throw around 80 pitches Monday, but he tossed just two before tweaking his hamstring. Johnson is slated to undergo more tests on his hamstring, and the Angels should have an update on his status soon.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Boyd (biceps) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is on track to rejoin the rotation early next week against the Phillies, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Boyd will make one rehab start later this week with Triple-A Iowa before being re-inserted into the Cubs' rotation. The veteran left-hander made two starts for the Cubs before getting hurt, allowing eight runs (seven earned) over 9.1 innings but with 17 strikeouts and three walks.

The Orioles transferred Hiraldo (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Hiraldo was initially placed on the IL April 5 due to right shoulder inflammation, but his injury may be more significant than the Orioles initially anticipated. Prior to being shelved, the reliever allowed four earned runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two across 1.2 innings in three appearances.

The Orioles selected Wilson's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Monday.

Spots on the Orioles' 40-man roster after the team placed both Ryan Mountcastle (foot) and Yaramil Hiraldo (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list. Wilson has appeared in 12 games in Triple-A this season, slashing .195/.298/.366 with two steals, two home runs and six RBI in 47 plate appearances. He served in a depth role in the outfield for the Phillies in 2025 and figures to do the same with the Orioles, at least until Tyler O'Neill (concussion) is activated from the 7-day IL.

Clemens is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.

With southpaw Garrett Crochet on the bump for Boston, the left-handed-hitting Clemens will hit the bench while Victor Caratini steps in for him at first base. Clemens has now been excluded from the lineup in six of the last eight games, though the Twins have faced five lefty starters during that stretch.

The Mets optioned Mauricio to Triple-A Syracuse on Monday.

He's making room on the roster for the arrival of Tommy Pham. Mauricio was with the big club for just under a week and picked up one hit in four plate appearances.

The Orioles placed Mountcastle (foot) on the 60-day injured list Monday.

Mountcastle was diagnosed with a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left foot following his exit from Saturday's game against the Giants. His placement on the 60-day IL means the earliest he can return to major-league action is mid-to-late June, though it wouldn't be surprising to see Mountcastle on the shelf until the All-Star break in mid-July. With Mountcastle being moved off the 40-man roster, the Orioles acquired Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the Reds and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

The Mets selected Pham's contract from Single-A St. Lucie on Monday.

Signed to a minor-league contract in late March, Pham knocked some rust off in the minors with five games at St. Lucie, going 2-for-12 with a 3:3 K:BB. The Mets figure to use the 38-year-old outfielder primarily against left-handed pitching.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Cole (elbow) threw three simulated innings and 42 pitches in a live session against High-A Hudson Valley hitters Sunday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Cole was able to make a couple of appearances late in the Grapefruit League and has continued to build up his pitch volume in simulated games through the first two weeks of the regular season. The Yankees could soon be ready to open the 30-day window on a minor-league rehab assignment for Cole, with Boone noting that a decision on the right-hander's next step will be made within the next few days. Because Cole opened the season on the 15-day injured list rather than the 60-day IL, he'll be eligible to return at any time, though he's unlikely to be activated until at least the second or third week of May.

The Reds traded Encarnacion-Strand to the Orioles on Monday in exchange for cash considerations.

Encarnacion-Strand failed to make the Reds' Opening Day roster and was DFA'd by the team this past Wednesday. He'll get a new opportunity with the Orioles, and while he's been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk, Encarnacion-Strand could see some major-league action at first base due to the absence of Ryan Mountcastle (foot). Across 10 games in Triple-A this season, Encarnacion-Strand has gone 8-for-36 (.222) with five runs scored, two homers and eight RBI.