MLB Player News

Kelly (shoulder) is expected to return in early or mid-May, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Kelly dealt with shoulder soreness throughout camp and opened the regular season on the injured list. He could serve as one of the team's top setup men upon his return with Corey Knebel (lat) expected to miss multiple months.

Cleavinger was called up by the Dodgers on Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Cleavinger joined the Dodgers from the Phillies as part of a three-team deal in December. He made a single big-league appearance last season, having previously never pitched above Double-A. He'll likely be limited to lower-leverage innings during his time in the big-league bullpen.

Santana was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Saturday due to the side effects of his coronavirus vaccine shot, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The issue is unlikely to sideline Santana for more than a day or two. Garrett Cleavinger was recalled in a corresponding move.

Alzolay allowed two runs on two hits across 4.2 innings and did not factor into the decision Saturday against the Brewers. He walked two and struck out seven.

Alzolay was fairly sharp in this one, but it had been 12 days since his last MLB start, so manager David Ross decided to pull the righty after 83 pitches. The 26-year-old was recalled from the team's alternate site before this start and it's unclear if he'll stick around, but if he does, he lines up to face Atlanta on Thursday. The Cubs don't have an off-day before then, so it seems likely that Alzolay will earn that start, though Alec Mills remains in the mix as Ross looks to manage workloads early in the year.

Crowe will be called up to start Sunday's game against the Twins.

Crowe made a single brief relief appearance early this season before being sent to the minors. Combined with his three short starts from last year, he's now thrown nine major-league innings, giving up 12 earned runs on 15 hits and 10 walks.

Neris (1-2) took the loss Friday against the Rockies, surrendering a home run and registering a strikeout while only securing one out.

Neris entered a tie ballgame in the bottom of the ninth inning. He was able to retire the first batter, but promptly served up a walk-off home run to Raimel Tapia. Through the 2021 campaign, the 31-year-old owns a 2.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 7.2 innings. With Archie Bradley (oblique) on the 10-day injured list, Neris should continue to see plenty of late-inning work and save opportunities.

Padres manager Jayce Tingler stated Friday that Weathers will remain in the starting rotation for the time being, Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Weathers has shone in his five appearances this season, yielding only one earned run over 15.1 innings while registering a 16:5 K:BB. In two starts against the division-rival Dodgers, the left-hander has given up no runs on only two hits across 9.1 frames. Weathers has been getting a look in the rotation with Adrian Morejon (elbow) out for the season and Dinelson Lamet (forearm) going to the 10-day IL after only one start. Even when Lamet returns, Weathers could remain a starter if he continues dominating opposing offenses.

Betances (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Persistent injury problems have derailed the 33-year-old's career in recent seasons. He's thrown just 13.1 innings over the last three years, including just one this season before being shut down with a shoulder impingement. He'll now be out of action until at least early June.

Hicks made his first ninth-inning appearance of the season in Friday's win over the Reds, allowing three earned runs on one hit and two walks over one-third of an inning.

The hard-throwing right-hander got only six of 16 pitches into the strike zone and laid the foundation for a save chance for Alex Reyes with his performance. The opportunity to work the ninth inning -- albeit in what was a non-save scenario going in -- was presumably manager Mike Shildt's way of inching Hicks toward eventually returning to a full-time closer's role, but in that regard, the attempt was far from successful. Hicks has notably had some issues with control in recent appearances, now having issued multiple walks in three of his last four trips to the mound.

Smith (shoulder) will throw in an intrasquad game at the Mets' alternate training site Saturday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith threw a live batting practice session Wednesday, and his appearance in the intrasquad game could be one of his final hurdles before he's cleared to return to make his season debut. The right-hander posted a 6.43 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in seven innings across eight relief appearances last year.