MLB Player News

Lambert was removed from Tuesday's game against the Reds with an undisclosed injury, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The 22-year-old visited with a trainer during the fifth inning before slowly walking to the clubhouse. Lambert gave up four hits, including a home run, and issued one walk across 1.1 innings in relief Tuesday. It is not certain exactly what caused the right-hander to leave the game so abruptly, but more information should be released following further evaluation.

Hudson made his second start of Grapefruit League play Sunday against the Marlins and worked up to 74 pitches due to control issues, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander has made half of his four spring appearances out of the bullpen, but he stretched out plenty with the help of the three walks he issued versus Miami. Hudson still managed to strike out five -- including the side in the first inning -- and gave up just two hits during his 3.2 innings, as he was able to work out of trouble in each of his first three frames.

Alzolay was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

He was technically involved in the competition for the fifth starter's spot, but that was pretty unrealistic. Alzolay will need to work on staying healthy and improving his below-average third pitch this season if he is to make it as a starter long term.

Hernandez allowed two hits over four scoreless innings while striking out five in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

The 24-year-old has had an uneven spring, but he seems to be building momentum as Opening Day draws closer. Hernandez has a 4.91 ERA and 8:4 K:B through 11 innings, and he remains in the hunt for a rotation spot to begin the season.

The Phillies optioned Llovera to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Llovera was one of two recent additions to the 40-man roster who was sent to Triple-A on Tuesday, with fellow pitcher Garrett Cleavinger joining him in Lehigh Valley. The Phillies are expected to continue developing Llovera as a starter, so he'll presumably slot into the Triple-A rotation for what will be his first taste of the International League. The 23-year-old spent the 2019 season exclusively at Double-A Reading, posting a 4.55 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 65.1 innings.

The Phillies optioned Cleavinger to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports.

Though Philadelphia added Cleavinger to the 40-man roster over the winter, that transaction was mostly for the purpose of shielding him from the Rule 5 draft rather than an indication his big-league debut is imminent. The 25-year-old lefty reliever will head to Triple-A for the first time after spending the entire 2019 campaign at Double-A Reading, where he accrued a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 83 strikeouts over 51.2 innings.

Martin (oblique) is listed as an available reliever for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

Martin has been limited to two appearances this spring while contending with the oblique injury, but he'll get the green light to return to action after facing hitters last week without issue. The right-hander is locked into a spot in the Braves' Opening Day bullpen, though he may have to settle for more middle-relief work this season after Atlanta bolstered its relief corps with the addition of Will Smith over the winter.

Howard will make his spring debut Tuesday against the Twins, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Howard was delayed by a knee tweak early in camp, but the reason he's been held out of Grapefruit League action thus far is probably more a matter of workload management. The righty should be starting in the majors at some point this season, as he owns a 3.28 ERA, 2.50 FIP and 32.8 percent strikeout rate in his minor-league career, but with only six starts at the Double-A level, he'll likely need some more time in the minors before being considered for a callup. The Phillies won't want to waste too many of his innings outside the big-league roster in a season in which they're hoping to finally compete. He's unlikely to handle a particularly heavy workload after throwing just 71 innings last season. In that context, his slow start to spring makes sense.

Avila (elbow) was reassigned to minor-league camp Sunday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The move is purely procedural as Avila was invited to big-league camp despite undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. He is not expected to play during the 2020 season.

Erceg was reassigned to minor league camp Monday.

Erceg took 22 at-bats with the big club this spring but recorded a hit in just four of them. He was considered one of the Brewers' better prospects a few years ago, but down seasons at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels leave him a fringe prospect for now. Erceg will presumably open 2020 at the Triple-A level, so he could at least give himself a shot to play at the top level if he can make some strides in the average and on-base departments.