MLB Player News

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Morgan will be shut down from throwing for 2-to-3 weeks after being diagnosed with right elbow neuritis, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

It's not clear whether that 2-to-3 week clock started last week when Morgan first went on the 15-day injured list, or this week when Counsell was asked about the reliever. Either way, Morgan will not throw for a bit longer and then will have to be built back up, so he figures to be sidelined for several more weeks.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Wednesday that Assad had a setback with his left oblique during Tuesday's rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Assad is headed back to Chicago to be examined by the team's medical staff. The right-hander had appeared poised to return soon, perhaps as a member of the Cubs' rotation, but now his status is up in the air. Assad has allowed three runs with a 9:4 K:BB over 7.1 innings in his two rehab starts.

The Brewers optioned Hudson to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.

Hudson will head to the minors after turning in a 9:9 K:BB while allowing six runs (four earned) over 8.2 frames out of the Milwaukee bullpen through the first month of the season. The big lefty is clearing out to make room on the roster for Tobias Myers (oblique), who was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of his season debut Thursday in San Francisco.

The Rockies recalled Mejia from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

He'll be the club's 27th man during Thursday's doubleheader in Kansas City. Mejia, 24, has posted a 5.40 ERA and 19:6 K:BB over 11.2 innings this season with Albuquerque. If the right-hander sees any action Thursday, it will be his major-league debut.

Lopez (1-0) picked up the win Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing one run on one hit over 1.2 innings of relief. He struck out one.

After Jose Ferrer loaded the bases with one out in the seventh inning and the Nationals were nursing a 3-1 lead, Lopez was brought in to escape the jam and allowed only one of the inherited runners to cross the plate. The right-hander then ran into his own trouble in the eighth after Jordan Westburg led off the frame with a triple and came around to score, tagging Lopez with his first blown save of the year. He got bailed out when Washington broke the tie in the bottom of the eighth. Lopez has struggled to handle a high-leverage role to begin the season, posting a 9.00 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 6:4 K:BB through 10 innings with two holds and zero saves in addition to Wednesday's win.

Rutledge walked one and struck out one in a scoreless inning of relief Wednesday to record his first career hold in a win over the Orioles.

The 26-year-old right-hander was converted to the bullpen this year, and while Rutledge's control remains shaky -- he threw just 13 of 25 pitches for strikes Wednesday -- for the most part he's adapting well to his new role. Through eight innings over five appearances in the majors in 2025, he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB. If Rutledge can find the strike zone a little more often, he could work his way into consistent high-leverage work in a Nationals bullpen that lacks established setup men ahead of closer Kyle Finnegan.

Kranick (2-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one hit and one walk while holding the Phillies scoreless over two-thirds of an inning.

After Edwin Diaz (hip) left the game with one out in the 10th inning, Kranick was forced into action and immediately found himself in a bases-loaded jam. The right-hander induced a pair of short flyouts, keeping New York's deficit at one, before the Mets scored twice in the bottom of the frame, giving Kranick his second win this year. The 27-year-old Kranick has been a revelation out of the bullpen, posting a 2.81 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 9:1 K:BB through his first 16 innings this season.

Romano (0-1) took the loss and a blown save Wednesday against the Mets, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.

The Phillies took a one-run lead in the top of the 10th inning, and Romano was tasked with closing the door in the bottom half. After Pete Alonso tied the game with a one-out double, Romano bounced back to strike out Mark Vientos before giving up a two-out, game-winning single to Starling Marte. Romano's Phillies' tenure has gotten off to a rough start -- his ERA now sits at 13.50 with a 2.25 WHIP and 9:6 K:BB through his first 9.1 innings. For now, Jose Alvarado figures to handle the bulk of save chances in Philly while Romano works in lower-leverage spots.

Hernandez (3-0) picked up the win Wednesday, giving up one hit in 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. He struck out two.

The right-hander was once again in the right place at the right time, taking the mound with two outs in the eighth inning and then watching Eli White launch a game-winning homer in the bottom of the frame. Hernandez has had a strong start to the season aside from his vultured wins, adding two holds in 11 appearances and posting a 2.38 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB through 11.1 innings.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday that Matz moving into the rotation on a more permanent basis "should be on the table," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Matz has made one start and six relief appearances so far this season and excelled in both roles, posting a 1.86 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 13:3 K:BB over 19.1 innings. He will be available out of the bullpen for this weekend's series against the Brewers, but if he's not needed, he'll make a start next week in Cincinnati. Miles Mikolas' spot in the Cardinals' rotation would appear to be the most vulnerable, although he tossed six shutout frames his last time out. While Matz is pitching well enough to be considered for a regular place in the St. Louis rotation, it does not seem that move is imminent.