MLB Player News

Rodriguez (ankle) landed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Rodriguez is expected to miss roughly the first two weeks of the season while he works his way back from an ankle sprain. Once healthy, he could potentially push for save opportunities in a ninth inning that appears to be wide open following Jose Leclerc's Tommy John surgery.

Burke (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Burke is still working his way back from the shoulder surgery he underwent back in February of last year. It's not clear when he's expected to return.

The Mariners placed Giles (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Giles' move to the IL was merely a formality, as the Mariners already confirmed prior to spring training that the right-hander would miss the entire 2021 season while recovering from the Tommy John procedure he required in October. The 30-year-old signed a two-year, $7 million contract with Seattle in February, so the Mariners are hoping that a healthy Giles can return some value in the second season of the deal.

Scrubb (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Scrubb was slowed in camp by shoulder soreness. He's been throwing since Friday, but he didn't have enough time to get fully up to speed by the start of the regular season. Scrubb is expected to be ready to go sometime in mid-April.

Pruitt (elbow) landed on the 10-day list as expected Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pruitt was always expected to miss the start of the season while recovering from September elbow surgery. It's not yet clear when the Astros think he'll be ready to go.

Brasier (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Brasier's move to the IL was fully expected after he suffered a left calf strain during an appearance in a "B" game at spring training earlier this week. A clear timeline for Brasier's season debut likely won't emerge until he's ready to resume throwing again, but Cora noted that he's planning on using the right-hander as his primary seventh-inning man out of the bullpen once he's activated, per Bill Koch of The Providence Journal. Boston plans to use either Adam Ottavino or Matt Barnes as its closer.

Junis is expected to begin 2021 in the bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Junis started six of his eight appearances last season, but he struggled to a 6.39 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 25.1 innings. The righty's bullpen role could also feature some spot starts -- with Danny Duffy (leg) questionable for his first turn in the rotation, Junis and Ervin Santana are the leading candidates to fill in if necessary.

The Blue Jays optioned Kay (lower leg) to their alternate training site Thursday.

Kay exited his final Grapefruit League appearance Saturday with a lower right leg contusion, but he said he was fine after the appearance. Rather than any concern about Kay's health, Toronto excluded the southpaw from its Opening Day roster because he was on the losing end of a job battle with T.J. Zeuch, who is expected to temporarily fill in as the team's No. 5 starter while Robbie Ray (elbow) is on the mend.

Puk was optioned to the Athletics' alternate training site Thursday.

Puk appeared to have a chance to break camp in the starting rotation due to Mike Fiers' hip injury, but both he and Daulton Jefferies were sent to the alternate site. That seemingly leaves Cole Irvin as the fifth starter to begin the year. Puk appeared to also be in contention for a bullpen role, but he hasn't won that job either. It seems as though the Athletics will carefully manage his innings this season.

The Rangers reassigned Yang to their alternate training site Thursday.

Yang and Hunter Wood were the Rangers' final cuts on the pitching side as the team trimmed its roster to 26 men ahead of Opening Day. The 33-year-old lefty worked 10 innings in spring training, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.