MLB Player News

The Cubs recalled Little from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Little boasts a 2.80 ERA with 44 strikeouts over 35.1 innings at the big-league level, but he's also issued 28 walks. Those control problems remained present in his first five outings with Iowa, as he had a 9:10 K:BB over 7.2 frames. It's unlikely Little will be trusted with high-leverage innings, but the Cubs were in need of fresh bullpen arms.

The Cubs placed Roberts on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.

It's unclear what injury Roberts is dealing with, but it will cost him at least the next couple weeks of action. The right-hander has made three scoreless appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen this season.

Akin (groin) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Akin has been shelved all season with a left groin strain but has been cleared to try things out in game action. The lefty suffered the injury late in spring training and doesn't need to rebuild much stamina as a reliever, so Akin could require only a couple rehab appearances if he looks and feels good.

The Angels optioned Farris to Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday.

The left-hander was called up by the Halos last week and had a decent showing in three appearances, allowing just one run with a 3:2 K:BB over 4.1 innings. Farris will return to Salt Lake -- where he opened the season as a starter -- but could rejoin the big club later in the campaign.

The Phillies recalled Shugart from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

The right-hander missed out on the Opening Day roster but will round out Philadelphia's bullpen following the demotion of Seth Johnson. Shugart had a 3.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB across 45 innings out of the bullpen for the Pirates last season.

The Phillies optioned Johnson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Johnson's stint in the big leagues lasted only one day. He was tagged for five runs (three earned) over 1.2 innings in Monday's win over the Cubs. Johnson is being replaced on the roster by Chase Shugart, who will give the Phillies a fresh bullpen arm.

Poulin will serve as the Nationals' opening pitcher for Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

Miles Mikolas had been in line to start Tuesday, but after he allowed 19 runs (17 earned) in 12.1 innings through his first three outings of the season, the Nationals will instead deploy him in bulk relief behind Poulin with the hope that the arrangement yields better results. Poulin will be opening a game for the second time this season, after he previously tossed a scoreless frame March 31 against the Phillies. Like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh typically features two left-handed batters (Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe) in its top three lineup spots, so having the left-handed Poulin open the game could help the Nationals avoid falling into an early hole.

The Red Sox optioned Samaniego to Triple-A Worcester on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

The left-hander was called up by Boston last week and delivered three scoreless appearances with a 4:3 K:BB in three outings, but he'll be the odd man out of the bullpen with Jack Anderson being promoted Tuesday. Samaniego spent most of last season at the Double-A level and had a 3.38 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB across 26.1 innings. He seems likely to get another look in Boston this season after pitching well in his first taste of the big leagues.

White Sox director of pitching Brian Bannister said Tuesday during an appearance on the Mully & Haugh Show that Taylor will continue to get more stretched out with each appearance if he continues to be deployed as an opener.

Taylor has started in four of his last five outings, working 1.1 innings Thursday and two innings Sunday after logging exactly one inning in his first five appearances. The 27 pitches he tossed Sunday are the most he's thrown this season, so he's still not close to being built up enough to go five-plus innings. That said, it's easy to get excited about Taylor's potential if he ends up being used like a true starting pitcher. Taylor has a 1.08 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB in 8.1 innings this season.

Lopez will start Tuesday's game against the Marlins at Truist Park after completing his five-game suspension.

During his most recent start April 7, Lopez was ejected midway through the fifth inning for throwing at Jorge Soler and exchanging punches with the Angels designated hitter. Lopez was handed a seven-game suspension a day later, but he quickly reached a settlement with Major League Baseball on a five-game ban, which he began serving immediately. Due to an off day last Thursday, Atlanta was able to get by temporarily with four starters, so Lopez didn't end up missing a turn through the rotation.