MLB Player News

Cousins (elbow) is targeting a return in early-to-mid June, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Cousins will throw another bullpen session Friday and is about two weeks away from facing hitters. He'll need a rehab assignment at some point after that. The reliever is recovering from a right elbow flexor strain.

The Royals optioned Sisk to Triple-A Omaha on Friday.

The left-hander was called up from Omaha on April 13 and made his first two MLB appearances while up with the Royals, striking out five with two hits and two walks across 2.1 scoreless innings. Sisk had a 1.56 ERA in 59 outings for Omaha last season and is likely to receive another look with the Royals at some point this year.

The Cardinals optioned Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Fernandez pitched well in his rookie season in 2024 and came into 2025 as a setup man for the Cardinals, but he's really struggled, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) with a 7:5 K:BB over 8.2 innings. Riley O'Brien is taking his spot on the roster and in the bullpen.

The Royals optioned Bowlan to Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Bowlan was up as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader against the Rockies but didn't make an appearance. He's permitted four runs with a 12:5 K:BB over 12 innings at Omaha this season.

The Tigers recalled Guenther from Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

He's absorbing the roster spot vacated by Bailey Horn, who was optioned to Toledo on Thursday. Guenther got a late start to the season due to lumbar spine inflammation, but he's being summoned after allowing three runs over his first 3.1 innings in the minors.

The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

He'll absorb the roster spot vacated by Ryan Fernandez, who was optioned to Memphis. O'Brien has yielded three earned runs while striking out 14 over seven innings with Memphis this season. He'll look to help out a struggling St. Louis bullpen.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Pressly's (knee) availability for Friday's game against the Phillies is yet to be determined, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Pressly had to have his right knee drained Tuesday. He played catch Thursday and will do so again Friday before the Cubs determine whether he's available to pitch in the series opener versus the Phillies. Porter Hodge is next in line to close for Chicago if Pressly cannot pitch, although an appearance Friday would be Hodge's third in four days, so it's possible the Cubs would prefer not to use him.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Assad has been shut down after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Assad re-injured his oblique during a rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Iowa. It's not clear how long the right-hander will remain shut down, but Counsell intimated that Assad will have to start building up from scratch once he's cleared to resume a throwing program. It's a significant setback for Assad, who will likely remain sidelined until at least June.

Henry walked one and struck out four over two scoreless, no-hit relief innings in Thursday's loss to the Orioles.

The 25-year-old right-hander has had an injury-marred pro career since being selected in the second round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft, but Henry has looked good so far in a relief role with the Nationals. Through four appearances, he has yet to allow a run while posting a 0.64 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB. Washington's bullpen remains unsettled behind closer Kyle Finnegan, so Henry has a clear path to a high-leverage spot if he can keep stacking zeros -- he entered Thursday's contest in the eighth inning with the Nats down by a run.

Nelson allowed one run on three hits and struck out five over 2.1 innings in Thursday's 7-4 extra-inning loss to Tampa Bay.

Nelson entered the game in the seventh inning with Arizona nursing a 4-3 lead and cruised through his first two frames. With the back end of the bullpen shorthanded, the right-hander was asked to pitch the ninth as well, but Nelson faded and was tagged with the tying run, and his first blown save, as he handled his biggest workload of the season (54 pitches). The Diamondbacks are working without high-leverage options A.J. Puk (elbow) and Kevin Ginkel (shoulder), and a recent bout of fatigue led manager Torey Lovullo to not use Justin Martinez after he'd pitched Wednesday.