MLB Player News

The Brewers optioned Bukauskas to Triple-A Nasvhille on Thursday.

Bukauskas was expected to fill in as a middle reliever in Milwaukee's Opening Day bullpen, but he will instead head to Triple-A after turning in a 1.04 ERA through 8.2 spring innings. Should the Brewers run into bullpen depth issues during the season, the 27-year-old could be one of the first to earn a call back up to Milwaukee.

The Pirates selected Ryan's contract from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday.

Ryan won a spot in the Pirates' bullpen after allowing four runs (three earned) with a 10:4 K:BB over 7.2 innings in Grapefruit League play. He'll likely be used in middle relief.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Treinen (lung) is "a ways away" from returning, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Treinen suffered a bruised lung when he was struck in the chest by a comebacker in early March. He does not appear to have resumed a throwing program yet, and it would appear his absence could be a long one.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Graterol (shoulder) is "a ways away" from a return, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

Graterol landed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation prior to the team's series against the Padres in South Korea. It would appear his absence could be an extended one, although Roberts didn't offer up much specificity.

The Marlins placed Simpson on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left elbow ulnar neuritis.

Simpson seemed likely to begin the season with a middle-relief role in the bullpen for Miami, but he dealt with elbow discomfort during spring training and will open the season on the IL. According to MLB.com, Simpson was able to throw last week while hitters stood in the batter's box, so it may not be long before he's ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Marlins placed Chargois (neck) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

The right-hander was shut down from throwing in mid-March due to neck spasms, so it's not a shock he's unavailable to begin the season. It's unclear how long Chargois is expected to be sidelined.

The Phillies placed Rucker on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right hand arterial vasospasm.

More specifically, Rucker's right middle finger had been bothering him in spring training, as he didn't make any Grapefruit League appearances after March 1. Per MLB.com, Rucker isn't dealing with any sort of nerve issue or thoracic outlet syndrome even though he experienced numbness in the finger, but it's unclear when he might be ready to make his season debut.

The Giants recalled Miller from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Miller was optioned a couple weeks ago but ended up winning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen. The left-hander will be making his major-league debut whenever he gets into a game.

The Giants selected Roupp's contract from Double-A Richmond on Thursday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Roupp came into camp as a long shot to break with the big club, but he won a bullpen job after posting a 2.25 ERA and 13:4 K:BB over eight Cactus League frames. The 25-year-old will likely be used in low-leverage spots initially but could work his way into more pressurized situations.

The Phillies placed Kerkering (illness) on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right forearm strain.

Though Philadelphia is officially attributing Kerkering's absence to begin the season to an arm injury, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com relays that the hard-throwing reliever's main focus is building back up from the case of the flu that kept him from pitching in any Grapefruit League games after March 1. Manager Rob Thomson told Zolecki that Kerkering is feeling "fine" after throwing one inning Wednesday in a simulated game at Phillies camp in Florida, with the skipper noting that the right-hander's fastball touched 98 miles per hour. Kerkering looks as though he should be ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly, making him a candidate to return from the IL when first eligible April 9.