MLB Player News

Simpson (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Jupiter on Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The left-handed reliever has been working his way back from an elbow issue and is finally ready to test himself in a game setting. Simpson missed all of spring training, so he'll likely require a handful of rehab appearances before becoming an option for the Marlins bullpen.

The Astros claimed Diaz off waivers from the Tigers on Thursday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Diaz was rarely used in the majors during his time with the Tigers over the past two seasons, but he was successful in a small sample size with a 1.02 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 17.2 total innings. He was DFA'd by Detroit after a poor Grapefruit League showing, and because he is out of minor-league options, the 29-year-old righty will now join the Astros' big-league bullpen.

Harvey struck out four batters over 1.2 perfect innings to record his second hold of the season in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.

Entering the game with one out in the seventh inning, the right-hander carved up the heart of Pittsburgh's order, with a soft liner back to Harvey from Jack Suwinski being the only ball put into play against him. Harvey got tagged for two runs in his first appearance of the season but has settled down quickly after that, and he sports a 6:1 K:BB through 3.2 innings. Kyle Finnegan is 2-for-3 in save chances so far, but Harvey could be pushing for ninth-inning work before long if he keeps dominating.

Cano (1-0) struck out one in a perfect inning to earn the win over the Royals on Wednesday.

Cano took care of business in the top of the ninth inning, and the Orioles walked it off a half-inning later. After a slow build-up in spring training, Cano has looked solid over his first three appearances this season. He's allowed three hits and a walk while striking out three over 3.1 scoreless innings. The right-hander is holding down a high-leverage role, but Craig Kimbrel has received the only save opportunity so far, which resulted in a blown save and win Monday.

Weems (illness) struck out a batter and worked around a walk while allowing no runs over two-thirds of an inning en route to notching his first hold of the season in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Pirates.

Weems battled an illness earlier in the week that left him unavailable for the Nationals' series opener versus Pittsburgh, but he looks to be in the clear on the health front. After turning in a 3.62 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 60:28 K:BB in 54.2 innings over his 51 appearances with Washington in 2023, Weems should be a key part of the bridge to the ninth inning this season.

The Marlins selected Andriese's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville on Thursday.

Andriese will provide a fresh arm for a Miami bullpen that needs it. The 34-year-old right-hander hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021 and held a 6.05 ERA at the Triple-A level in 2023.

Taylor (elbow) is throwing to hitters in extended spring training and should join a low-level affiliate in May, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

The White Sox drafted Taylor in the second round of last year's draft while he was already on the mend from Tommy John surgery at LSU. Taylor's fastball was up to 98 mph and he flashed a new low-90s cutter before the injury. He will head to Single-A Kannapolis or High-A Winston-Salem once healthy.

Robertson worked around two hits while striking out one over a scoreless inning in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Rays.

Robertson found himself with runners on the corners and one out before coaxing a shallow flyout off the bat of Yandy Diaz and an Amed Rosario groundout to get out of the inning unscathed. Robertson has been sharp in a setup role to start the season, allowing just three hits and three walks over four scoreless appearances. Meanwhile, Jose Leclerc has struggled early, allowing at least one run in each of his three appearances, leaving an opening for Robertson to work his way into the ninth-inning picture.

Jax threw a scoreless eighth inning in Wednesday's win at Milwaukee while Steven Okert pitched a scoreless ninth inning. Okert would have be in line for a save had the Twins not scored in the top of the ninth inning. "At that point in the game, Okert with the experience was probably the answer," manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

Jax, who has Minnesota's only save with Jhoan Duran on the injured list, was used in the eighth inning against the heart of the Brewers' lineup. Jax is still likely to be the first option and get the most save chances with Duran out, but Wednesday's game shows that Baldelli may play matchups with his bullpen regardless of the save statistic.

Diaz gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his first save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Phillies.

After blowing the save in his season debut March 30 against the Nationals, Diaz has quickly gotten on track and picked up a win and a save in his next two appearances while posting a 4:0 K:BB in 2.2 innings. The 27-year-old righty is entrenched as the Reds' closer after racking up 37 saves last year and delivering a 2.62 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 11.69 K/9 over 134 innings since making his big-league debut in 2022.