MLB Player News

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol announced Friday that Gray (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The Cardinals have kept door open for Gray to make a start during the first week of the season since he went down with a hamstring strain in early March, but the right-hander will end up requiring a trip to the injured list. The 34-year-old was scheduled to pitch in a minor-league game Friday before being scratched due to a heavy forecast of rain, and that session has now been rescheduled for Saturday, per Worthy. Gray is poised to pitch three times in Florida, including Saturday, before joining the Cardinals, so he should be ready for his season debut by early April.

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said Friday that Sanchez has made the Opening Day roster, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanchez is out of options but nonetheless came into camp seeming like a long shot for the Opening Day roster given that he's barely pitched the last three years because of shoulder woes. However, he looked surprisingly good in five Grapefruit League appearances, yielding just one hit and three walks while striking out four over seven scoreless innings. The Marlins are dealing with multiple injuries in their rotation, but the plan is for Sanchez to be a reliever moving forward.

Rodriguez will begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a strained left lat, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

He suffered the injury during his last Cactus League outing Tuesday. Rodriguez will be shut down from throwing until he's asymptomatic, so there is no timeline for when he might make his season debut. Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry had been competing for the final spot in the Diamondbacks' rotation, but they now will probably both be needed to start some games.

Perez will begin the season on the 15-day injured list after being diagnosed with right elbow inflammation, Craig Mish and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald report.

This qualifies as good news, as Perez was cleared of any structural damage in his pitching elbow and will not require surgery. He will, however, still be sidelined for several weeks while the inflammation subsides. If there's a silver lining -- beyond the lack of structural damage -- it's that Perez's recurring fingernail issue will have more time to heal. Fantasy managers should prepare to be without the 20-year-old for at least the first month or so, until the Marlins provide a clearer timeline for his return.

The Brewers optioned Ashby to Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Sophia Minnaert of Bally Sports Wisconsin reports.

Ashby came into camp with a shot at a rotation spot, but he allowed four runs (three earned) with a 3:4 K:BB over three innings and continued to struggle to regain the velocity he showed prior to his shoulder surgery. The left-hander could still play a major role with the Brewers this season, but he'll try to sharpen things up in the minors first.

Giants manager Bob Melvin said Friday that Snell will pitch in a minor-league game Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Snell threw his first bullpen session Thursday since signing with the Giants and over the weekend will get into some game action. The left-hander has already said he will not be ready for Opening Day as he ramps up his workload following a late signing. It's not clear when he might make his regular-season debut, but the Giants will determine Snell's next steps following Sunday's outing.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced Friday that Taillon (back) will begin the season on the injured list and won't be ready to return until at least mid-April, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

The right-hander only recently resumed mound work after recovering from the back tightness that scratched him from a spring start March 9, so it's not a shock he won't be ready to begin the regular season. Taillon is throwing a bullpen session Friday and will need some time to build up to a starter's workload, so a mid-April return is likely a best-case scenario.

Cobb (hip) will throw 40 pitches in a minor-league game Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

He had been slated for his Cactus League debut Friday, but the Giants have elected to have Cobb throw in a more controlled setting instead. A stint on the injured list to begin the season is still expected for the veteran right-hander, but it's looking like he could be ready by mid-April.

Gray (hamstring) won't pitch as scheduled in a minor-league game Friday due to heavy rain in the forecast, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Considering that Gray is returning from a strained hamstring, it's not a surprise the Cardinals want to avoid him pitching in poor conditions. The 34-year-old was scheduled to cover two innings and will likely make up those reps against hitters sometime this weekend. Gray won't be starting Opening Day, but manager Oliver Marmol said Thursday it's still possible the right-hander avoids a trip to the injured list and makes a start during the first week of the season.

Lodolo (tibia) will remain in Arizona when the Reds break camp and pitch in a minor-league game Mar. 26, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Lodolo was behind other starters during spring training as he continues to have issues with his left leg, and he'll ramp up ahead of an expected regular-season debut Apr. 10. Following his outing next Tuesday, Lodolo will pitch in two games while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.