MLB Player News

Taillon (back) won't start Sunday's game in Pittsburgh, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Taillon was scratched from a scheduled start Friday due to back stiffness. He had hoped to take the ball Sunday after throwing off a mound Saturday, but he's not quite ready to go, even though the mound session reportedly went well. It's unclear at this point when Taillon might be ready to make his next start, but the Cubs seems to be optimistic that he'll avoid the 15-day injured list.

Hendricks (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday in Pittsburgh, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hendricks had been slated to make one more rehab start, but Jameson Taillon (back) isn't quite ready to start Sunday, so Hendricks will take the ball that day for the big club instead. The veteran hurler has been sidelined for the last three weeks with a lower-back strain but pitched well in two rehab outings, allowing three runs with a 13:3 K:BB in 9.1 frames. Hendricks held a woeful 12.00 ERA in five starts before getting injured, so fantasy mangers certainly need to see something positive before putting their trust in the right-hander.

Luzardo (0-3) took the loss Saturday versus the Phillies, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He recorded eight strikeouts.

Luzardo looked sharp in his return from the injured list, striking out eight while picking up an impressive 18 swinging strikes on just 79 pitches. He might have tired a bit in the sixth, as he gave up a double and a game-tying RBI single before being lifted with two outs and a runner on. That runner came around to score, adding another run to his ledger. While the ending of his night wasn't ideal, it was an encouraging performance from Luzardo against a tough lineup. His next start will come at home versus the Mets.

Walker (3-0) earned the win Saturday against the Marlins, yielding just one run on eight hits and one walk over six frames. He struck out four.

Walker went at least six innings for the third time in three starts since he returned from the injured list, and he's picked up the victory in all three of those outings. The backing of the Phillies' offense has helped, of course, as Walker is sporting a 4.82 ERA. Regardless he's trending in the right direction with back-to-back quality starts. He'll attempt to move his record to 4-0 next week against either the Mets or Nationals at home.

Irvin did not factor into the decision Saturday in Boston, allowing two runs on four hits and no walks over seven innings. He struck out six.

It marks the first time in 32 career starts at the big-league level that Irvin completed seven innings. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to pick up a win for his efforts, as the right-hander departed with the game tied and then watched reliever Robert Garcia cough up a couple runs in the eighth inning. Irvin has permitted two or fewer runs in five of his last six outings, lowering his ERA to a season-low 3.55. His next projected start is a difficult one on the road versus the Phillies.

The Marlins reinstated Luzardo (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Saturday.

Luzardo made one start during his rehab assignment, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and six strikeouts with Single-A Jupiter on May 5. The 26-year-old southpaw will waste no time getting into major-league action and is starting Saturday against Philadelphia. Before landing on the IL, Luzardo was 0-2 over five starts with a 6.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB over 26 innings. In a corresponding move, the Marlins optioned right-hander Eli Villalobos to Triple-Jacksonville.

Williamson (shoulder) will report to High-A Dayton next week, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The move to Dayton suggests Williamson is nearing a rehab assignment. The Reds are targeting the end of May for his return.

Cavalli (elbow) threw 45 pitches over the equivalent of 2.2 innings in a live bullpen session Friday at the Nationals' spring training complex in West Palm Beach, Fla., Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

The Nationals are being deliberate with the 25-year-old's recovery from March 2023 Tommy John surgery, but Cavalli is in the home stretch. The team hasn't indicated when he might begin a rehab assignment, but it appears he could join the big-league rotation in late June or early July.

Gray (elbow) threw 35 pitches Friday in a bullpen session at Fenway Park, all fastballs, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

The right-hander has been sidelined since April 4 due to a flexor strain in his elbow. Gray is slowly building up in bullpen sessions, and the Nationals haven't indicated yet when he might begin a rehab assignment, but he'll need to start ramping things up quickly if he's going to return to the big-league rotation before the end of May.

Corbin (1-3) picked up the win Friday, allowing one run on seven hits and a walk over five innings in a 5-1 victory over the Red Sox. He struck out four.

The veteran southpaw tossed 54 of 86 pitches before exiting with a 3-1 lead, and the Washington bullpen was able to shut down Boston the rest of the way. Corbin has begun to show faint signs of turning things around, and over his last four starts he has posted a 3.54 ERA while serving up only one homer in 20.1 innings. His 14:8 K:BB and 1.57 WHIP over that stretch aren't particularly encouraging, however. He'll try to build on this performance in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road next week against the White Sox.