MLB Player News

Miller has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Miller was reassigned to minor-league camp in mid-March but is currently away from the team. It's not clear whether the right-hander has tested positive for COVID-19, but he'll need to clear the league's health and safety protocols before he's eligible to return.

Scrubb (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Scrubb was slowed in camp by shoulder soreness. He's been throwing since Friday, but he didn't have enough time to get fully up to speed by the start of the regular season. Scrubb is expected to be ready to go sometime in mid-April.

Pruitt (elbow) landed on the 10-day list as expected Thursday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pruitt was always expected to miss the start of the season while recovering from September elbow surgery. It's not yet clear when the Astros think he'll be ready to go.

The Brewers placed Topa (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

The Brewers aren't anticipating Topa being available for the first half of the season while he recovers from a right flexor tendon strain, so he'll be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL when the team needs to open up an extra spot on the 40-man roster.

Brasier (calf) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

Brasier's move to the IL was fully expected after he suffered a left calf strain during an appearance in a "B" game at spring training earlier this week. A clear timeline for Brasier's season debut likely won't emerge until he's ready to resume throwing again, but Cora noted that he's planning on using the right-hander as his primary seventh-inning man out of the bullpen once he's activated, per Bill Koch of The Providence Journal. Boston plans to use either Adam Ottavino or Matt Barnes as its closer.

Smith (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith has been dealing with right shoulder soreness recently and hasn't made an appearance in game action since March 13. He'll begin the season on the injured list and doesn't yet have a timetable for his return.

Junis is expected to begin 2021 in the bullpen, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Junis started six of his eight appearances last season, but he struggled to a 6.39 ERA and 1.62 WHIP across 25.1 innings. The righty's bullpen role could also feature some spot starts -- with Danny Duffy (leg) questionable for his first turn in the rotation, Junis and Ervin Santana are the leading candidates to fill in if necessary.

The Blue Jays optioned Kay (lower leg) to their alternate training site Thursday.

Kay exited his final Grapefruit League appearance Saturday with a lower right leg contusion, but he said he was fine after the appearance. Rather than any concern about Kay's health, Toronto excluded the southpaw from its Opening Day roster because he was on the losing end of a job battle with T.J. Zeuch, who is expected to temporarily fill in as the team's No. 5 starter while Robbie Ray (elbow) is on the mend.

Puk was optioned to the Athletics' alternate training site Thursday.

Puk appeared to have a chance to break camp in the starting rotation due to Mike Fiers' hip injury, but both he and Daulton Jefferies were sent to the alternate site. That seemingly leaves Cole Irvin as the fifth starter to begin the year. Puk appeared to also be in contention for a bullpen role, but he hasn't won that job either. It seems as though the Athletics will carefully manage his innings this season.

The Rangers reassigned Yang to their alternate training site Thursday.

Yang and Hunter Wood were the Rangers' final cuts on the pitching side as the team trimmed its roster to 26 men ahead of Opening Day. The 33-year-old lefty worked 10 innings in spring training, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP.