MLB Player News

Johnson (groin) will likely be activated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Johnson was diagnosed with a Grade 1 groin strain in mid-March but has been pitching in games at the team's alternate training site recently. The right-hander made 24 relief appearances for the Padres in 2020 and posted a 2.70 ERA and 27:9 K:BB in 20 innings.

Betances (shoulder) has yet to resume throwing since being placed on the 10-day injured list April 8, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets aren't planning on having Betances travel with the team during its upcoming six-game road trip that concludes April 22, so he'll remain on the shelf beyond the minimum 10 days. A target date for Betances' return is unlikely to emerge until he gets back on a mound.

De Leon will pitch out of the bullpen going forward, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

De Leon served as a member of the starting rotation for his first two appearances and posted a 7.71 ERA and 18:5 K:BB in 9.1 innings to begin the year. However, manager David Bell confirmed Wednesday that De Leon will move to a relief role since Sonny Gray (back) is slated to make his season debut Saturday. De Leon is unlikely to factor into high-leverage situations in the near future.

Davidson was recalled by Atlanta on Wednesday.

Davidson was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett in mid-March but will join the major-league bullpen after left-hander Max Fried (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. Davidson allowed two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two in 1.2 innings during his lone major-league start in 2020.

The Red Sox announced that Mata (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery in Los Angeles on Tuesday, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Mata opted for the procedure after he was shut down during spring training when he was diagnosed with a slight tear of the UCL in his right elbow. The 21-year-old is expected to require a 12-to-16-month recovery from the surgery, meaning he'll likely be sidelined until the summer of 2022. Mata had been regarded as one of the Red Sox's top pitching prospects heading into the season.

Miller's contract was selected by the Cubs on Wednesday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Miller was reassigned to minor-league camp late in spring training this year, but manager David Ross was confident that the right-hander would still contribute in 2021. Adbert Alzolay was optioned to the Cubs' alternate training site Wednesday, so Miller will join the major-league club. Miller served as a swingman for the Rangers in 2019 and posted an 8.59 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in 44 innings during 19 appearances (eight starts). Miller will likely serve as a reliever for the Cubs going forward, while Alec Mills appears likely to serve as the team's fifth starter.

Alzolay was optioned to the Cubs' alternate training site Wednesday, Russell Dorsey of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Alzolay started the year as the Cubs' fifth starter but has been charged with losses in each of his first two starts. During that time, he allowed seven runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out 10 in 10.1 innings. He'll attempt to right the ship at the team's alternate camp, while Alec Mills could take over as Chicago's No. 5 starter going forward.

The Cubs reinstated Adam from the COVID-19 injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of NBC Sports Chicago reports.

Adam was able to clear MLB's health and safety protocols in two days after first landing on the COVID-19 IL on Monday. The Cubs optioned reliever Brad Wieck to their alternate site to open up a spot on the active roster for Adam.

Hernandez was optioned to the Royals' alternate training site Wednesday.

Hernandez had a shaky start to the 2021 campaign and will now head to the team's alternate camp to work things out. The right-hander made three relief appearances for the Royals to begin the year and allowed four runs on six hits and five walks while striking out five in 3.1 innings. Right-hander Josh Staumont was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move.

Richards, recalled by the Rays on Monday, allowed two earned runs on three hits, a walk and a wild pitch over three innings in a loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. He struck out three.

Ryan Yarbrough threw 93 pitches over six difficult frames, and Richards was therefore called upon in his role as swingman to eat up some innings. The right-hander struggled to a career-worst 5.91 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across nine appearances (four starts) in 2020, so Tuesday's uneven outing wasn't exactly the most encouraging start to his new season.