MLB Player News

Woodruff (shoulder) said he resumed playing catch Wednesday after he recently took a 4-to-5-day pause in his throwing program, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Woodruff didn't reveal whether the brief hiatus was part of a pre-planned arrangement or the result of a minor setback, but either way, the right-hander continues to eye a late-June return from the 60-day injured list while he recovers from a Grade 2 subscapular strain in his right elbow. Before the Brewers are able to pinpoint a more definitive target date for his return, Woodruff will have to advance to throwing sustained long toss, complete multiple bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions and likely make at least two minor-league rehab starts.

Velasquez (elbow) returned to Pittsburgh on Wednesday and expects to be activated from the 15-day injured list to make a start at some point during the Pirates' upcoming series in Seattle this weekend, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Velasquez acknowledged that it's not his call when the Pirates choose to activate him, though general manager Ben Cherington told Justice delos Santos of MLB.com that "all signs point to" the right-hander being reinstated from the IL for his next outing. Though Velasquez was initially expected to make two minor-league rehab starts prior to being activated, he looks like he'll be ready to go after striking out four over 4.2 scoreless innings with Triple-A Indianapolis this past Saturday. Velasquez will most likely take back a spot in the Pittsburgh rotation from Luis Ortiz.

Ritchie is scheduled to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery Wednesday to repair a moderate UCL tear in his right elbow, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.

In addition to sidelining Ritchie for the remainder of the 2023 campaign, the upcoming procedure is expected to keep the 19-year-old on the shelf for the majority -- if not all -- of the 2024 minor-league season. A 2022 first-round supplemental pick, Ritchie had turned in a 5.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings over four starts with Single-A Augusta before being deactivated May 11.

Cobb (4-1) got the win over the Twins on Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out eight over seven innings.

Cobb surrendered a two-run homer to Byron Buxton in the first and then a solo home run to Michael Taylor in the fifth but otherwise did not allow a single hitter to reach scoring position. He generated 22 chases and tied his season high with eight strikeouts while tossing his third quality start over his last four tries. He's now completed at least seven innings five times this season after managing to do so only three times last year. He's sitting at a 2.17 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 52:14 K:BB over 58 innings and lines up for a road start against the Brewers over the weekend.

Megill (5-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out five over 3.2 innings.

Megill made quick work of the Cubs in the opening frame but proceeded to allow four runs in the second, surrendering home runs to Seiya Suzuki and Matt Mervis in the inning. He exited the game having thrown 78 pitches after the Cubs got to him for two additional runs in the fourth following an error to begin the inning. Tuesday was the shortest outing of the season thus far for Megill but he did rack up five strikeouts for the first time since April 1. He now sits at a 4.32 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 40:25 K:BB over 50 innings and lines up for a road test against the Rockies over the weekend.

Smyly (5-1) got the win over the Mets on Tuesday after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings.

Smyly kept the Mets' bats quiet until the fourth when Pete Alonso took him deep to center. He coasted through the fifth and wound up being pulled with the bases juiced in the sixth after allowing the first three hitters to reach. Jeremiah Estrada replaced him and allowed just one of the inherited runners to score. The 34-year-old gave up six runs in his first outing of the season and has since posted a 2.13 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 48:10 K:BB over 50.2 innings. He tentatively lines up for a home start against the Reds over the weekend.

Rea (1-3) blanked the Astros over 5.1 innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four to earn his first victory of the year Tuesday.

Rea was thrusted back into the Brewers' rotation following the injury to Eric Lauer (shoulder) after Rea was demoted to Triple-A Nashville following his last start May 14. The 32-year-old turned in his first scoreless outing of the year while only allowing two runners to even reach second base. It was a major bounce-back performance and he'll have some more leash with big club after Lauer's injury. Rea now sports a 4.71 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 29:15 K:BB over 36.1 innings and is tentatively lined up to face the Giants next over the weekend.

Strider (4-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks over six innings against the Dodgers. He struck out 11.

Strider got off to a sluggish start, giving up a leadoff double to Mookie Betts, who would come around to score on a Will Smith single, then being tagged by Jason Heyward for a solo homer to start the second. He recovered nicely following the second frame, retiring 12 of the 14 batters he would face before being pulled. Tuesday's game marked Strider's second consecutive start allowing four runs, however, with both outings coming against high-octane offenses in the Rangers and the Dodgers. Though Strider is expected to take on a tough Philadelphia lineup in his next start, he remains an elite fantasy option, especially in points leagues and daily formats where strikeouts reign supreme.

Miller (1-0) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over five innings against Atlanta. He struck out five.

Miller made quick work of one of MLB's top offenses, with his only run allowed coming on a throwing error by Miguel Rojas in the first. Though the 24-year-old logged a 5.65 ERA in 14.1 innings at the Triple-A level, he has been heralded as one of the Dodgers' top prospects and displayed why he's earned that title Tuesday. With Julio Urias (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list it's expected Miller will stick around for at least one more turn in the rotation, which is tentatively scheduled to come during a homestand against the Nationals. Managers should be quick to snap up Miller in leagues where he's still on waivers, especially with an expected date against one of MLB"s lowest-scoring offenses on deck and the possibility of earning a handful more starts if he continues to perform.

Perez (1-1) took the loss Tuesday versus the Rockies, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

A stop at Coors Field was always going to be a test for the rookie, and he held his own until things got out of hand in the fifth inning. The silver lining from Tuesday is that this was the first time in three starts he hasn't allowed a home run. Perez has a 3.86 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB through 14 innings. He'll be closer to sea level for his next start, which is projected to be on the road versus the Angels this weekend.