MLB Player News

Steele (hamstring) will start Monday against the Padres as long as he gets through a bullpen session Saturday with no issues, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The results of Steele's lone rehab start weren't great -- he allowed three runs on six hits over 3.1 innings -- but he feels good and has put his hamstring injury in the rearview mirror, which is the most important thing. Steele threw 63 pitches in his rehab outing Wednesday, so he will be somewhat limited from a workload perspective Monday, assuming he is indeed cleared to rejoin the Cubs' rotation that day.

Wicks (forearm) has been cleared to begin playing catch, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Wicks just landed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a left forearm strain, so it would seem to be a good sign that he's already throwing again. A potential timeline for his return, however, remains up in the air. Hayden Wesneski is occupying Wicks' spot in the Cubs' rotation.

Steele (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, after which he will be reevaluated to determine whether he's ready to rejoin the big-league rotation, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The left-hander felt good after he allowed three runs on six hits over 3.1 innings during a rehab start with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, and the Cubs are now determining if another rehab start is necessary. Steele could step back into Chicago's rotation early next week if all goes well during Saturday's bullpen session.

Hendricks (back) is back in Chicago to be reevaluated after making a rehab start with Double-A Tennessee on Thursday, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Hendricks' line at Tennessee was promising, as he struck out seven and didn't walk anyone while allowing two runs over five innings. Whether he showed enough to be immediately re-inserted into the Cubs' rotation seemingly will be decided after he meets with the team. Hendricks had put up an ugly 12.00 ERA and 2.10 WHIP over five outings before going on the injured list, so it wouldn't be a surprise if the team asks him to make additional rehab starts before being activated.

Megill (shoulder) threw 2.2 innings in a rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Thursday, allowing one run on two hits. He struck out four without walking a batter.

While the outing seems short, Megill threw 51 pitches in his second rehab appearance after firing two perfect innings for Binghamton on April 27. The Mets are moving to a six-man rotation in the short term by bringing up top prospect Christian Scott on Saturday, but Megill's current schedule has him in sync with Jose Butto rather than struggling fifth starter Adrian Houser. Megill will make at least one more rehab start, and his 10:0 K:BB through 4.2 innings against Double-A hitters suggests he's already 100 percent stuff-wise, but New York may not be in a rush to activate the 28-year-old righty if there's no obvious vacancy for him in the rotation.

Parker (2-1) took the loss against Texas on Thursday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings.

Parker had his least-effective outing through four big-league starts, giving up a season-high three runs while taking his first career loss. The southpaw still managed to keep Washington within striking distance, but the Nationals' offense failed to scratch against four Rangers pitchers. Parker's ERA is still a commendable 2.53, and it's supported by a strong 1.08 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 21.1 frames.

Harrison allowed one run on three hits and five walks while striking out seven batters over five innings in a no-decision against Boston on Thursday.

Harrison issued a season-high five free passes -- as many as he had handed out over six starts coming into the contest -- but managed to continuously get out of trouble, as none of the batters he put on base via walk came around to score. The southpaw thus managed to emerge with a no-decision, though his high pitch count of 95 offerings limited him to five frames and prevented him from picking up what could have been his fifth quality start of the campaign. Though Harrison has settled for a no-decision in each of his past two appearances, he's allowed just one run while fanning 14 batters over 11 frames during that span.

The Diamondbacks transferred Kelly (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Kelly was placed on the 15-day IL on April 23 after sustaining a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Due to his transfer to the 60-day IL, Kelly will be on the shelf until at least late June, and his rehab progress over the next few weeks could determine whether the right-hander will need more time beyond that window. Kelly started the season with a 2-0 record, 2.19 ERA and 0.93 WHIP over 24.2 innings through four starts.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Nelson (elbow) will "most likely" return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game versus the Padres at Chase Field, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

On the shelf since April 19 with a bruised right elbow, Nelson has bounced back well enough since he resumed throwing to avoid a minor-league rehab assignment. Nelson will presumably throw another bullpen session Friday, and if all goes well, he'll take the hill Sunday with few restrictions, if any. Through his first four starts for Arizona before landing on the IL, Nelson went 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 13:5 K:BB in 15.2 innings.

Hicks (side) is listed as the Giants' probable starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Hicks contended with side tightness during his most recent outing against the Pirates last Saturday, when he struck out a season-high nine over six innings while allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks. The injury apparently didn't hinder him during his between-starts bullpen session, so he's on track to take the hill for the seventh time this season Friday. After pitching exclusively in relief between stops with St. Louis and Toronto in 2023, Hicks has performed even better than the Giants could have imagined after signing him to a four-year, $44 million deal this winter with the plan of converting him to a full-time starting role. Through his first six turns through the rotation, Hicks has delivered two wins to go with a 1.59 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 27:10 K:BB in 34 innings.