MLB Player News

Assad (oblique) will throw two innings in an extended spring training game Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

He's expected to make an additional appearance in extended spring training after that before heading out on a formal rehab assignment. That would seem to point to Assad being at least a couple weeks away from rejoining the Cubs. Ben Brown is currently holding down the No. 5 spot in Chicago's rotation.

Alexander will be the Brewers' starting pitcher in Friday's game against the Reds, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Alexander's most recent of two relief appearances this season came Sunday, when he threw 47 pitches over 2.1 innings. While it won't be a traditional opener assignment, he will not be handling a full starter's workload Friday.

Nelson allowed one hit while striking out two over 2.1 scoreless innings in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the Yankees.

Nelson gave Arizona some length after the Yankees battered starter Merrill Kelly for nine runs in 3.2 innings. The long reliever was able to keep New York in check and dropped his ERA from 21.60 to 9.00. Nelson had a rough first appearance Opening Day (four runs, 1.2 innings) and sat on that for a week before Thursday's ERA correction. The right-hander was a key member of the Diamondbacks' rotation in 2024 and remains capable of being stretched out if needed as a starter.

Phillips (shoulder) allowed a run on a hit and a walk over one inning while striking out one batter in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Phillips kicked off a minor-league rehab stint after being slow-played during spring training as he rehabs from a torn muscle in his rotator cuff. The righty reliever reached 94 mph on the radar gun with his fastball Thursday and completed one inning of work. It's not yet clear how long Phillips will spend with Oklahoma City, but he could be ready to make his regular-season debut with the big club in mid-to-late April.

Payamps picked up the save after throwing a clean ninth inning Thursday against the Reds. He struck out one.

With closer Trevor Megill having worked each of the past two days, Payamps got the call to preserve a narrow 1-0 lead in the ninth inning and made quick work of Cincinnati on just 11 pitches (nine strikes). It was the first save of the year for Payamps, who got back on track Thursday after yielding five runs in his first three frames of the campaign. The right-hander is likely to remain a setup man for the Brewers throughout 2025, but he appears to be the next man up for ninth-inning work on occasions when Megill is unavailable.

Alvarado earned the save in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Rockies, allowing a run on three hits and a walk while striking out three in the ninth inning.

Alvarado didn't make things easy in the ninth, allowing the first three batters to reach safely to start the frame. However, the left-hander would hold the Rockies to a lone run, logging consecutive strikeouts to strand the bases loaded. It's the first save of the year for Alvarado. He's expected to share closing duties with Jordan Romano, who was used in the eighth inning Thursday versus the top of Colorado's order. Alvarado logged 13 saves in 2024, pitching to a 4.09 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 63 strikeouts across 61.2 innings.

Walker (1-0) earned the win Thursday against the Rockies, allowing three hits and a walk over six shutout innings. He struck out four.

It was an excellent start to the year for Walker, who needed just 74 pitches to finish six innings. The veteran right-hander struggled to a 7.10 ERA in 83.2 innings last season, though he won the final spot in Philadelphia's opening-day rotation after Ranger Suarez (back) landed on the injured list. Walker certainly earned another turn after Thursday's outing -- he's currently lined up for a road matchup in Atlanta next week.

Birdsong threw two scoreless innings during Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Astros, allowing two hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Birdsong made his first appearance of 2025 and was the last member of the Opening Day roster to play this season. The right-handed reliever started the sixth frame and later got out of a two-out jam. He walked the first batter of the seventh inning before retiring the Astros' next three hitters, finishing with 26 pitches across two innings. Birdsong was neck-and-neck with Landen Roupp for the fifth-starter role in spring training before being moved to the bullpen. However, the Giants' early success has made it more difficult to utilize the 23-year-old Birdsong, who made 16 starts last season, registering a 4.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 88:43 K:BB over 72 innings.

Brazoban struck out one in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning to record his first save of the season in Wednesday's extra-innings win over the Marlins.

The right-hander got the final two outs of the 11th inning on only seven pitches (five strikes) to collect the first save of his career. Mets closer Edwin Diaz has worked earlier in the game, as had top setup men A.J. Minter and Ryne Stanek, so Brazoban's usage doesn't suggest he's now a key high-leverage arm for New York. The 35-year-old has pitched well to begin the season, however -- through three appearances and five innings, Brazoban has a 0.00 ERA and 5:1 K:BB.

Faucher coughed up three runs on three hits in an inning of relief during Wednesday's extra-innings loss to the Mets.

The right-hander got the call in the eighth inning with the Marlins protecting a 4-1 lead, but Faucher served up a three-run blast to Pete Alonso to get charged with his first blown save of 2025. The usage alone suggests he's fallen behind Anthony Bender in the pecking order for closing duties, but the bullpen picture for Miami remains cloudy, especially with Jesus Tinoco (back) on the shelf. Over his first three appearances and three innings, Faucher has a 2:3 K:BB to go along with a 9.00 ERA.