MLB Player News

Oviedo (1-1) allowed one run on six hits and a walk over seven innings Friday, striking out 10 but taking a loss against the Cardinals.

Oviedo rolled through five shutout frames before his former club finally broke a scoreless tie in the sixth. He has been terrific over his last two outings, logging a 15:1 K:BB while allowing just one run across 13.2 innings. He forced 13 whiffs on 44 swings (29.5) and averaged 97.2 mph on his fastball Friday. Oviedo lines up for a start in Colorado next week.

Rea will remain in Milwaukee's rotation and is scheduled to start Tuesday in Seattle, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

With Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) out indefinitely and Aaron Ashby (shoulder) already ruled out for most of the season, the Brewers rotation depth is getting tested early on. Rea, 32, tossed seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts and zero walks at Triple-A before giving up one run with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings Thursday in San Diego. His four-seam fastball velocity was around 93 mph in his first start, which is right where it was in 2021 before he went to pitch in Japan for a year, but he's since added an 84-mph sweeper that he threw 22.9 percent of the time Thursday.

Verlander (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Saturday in Florida, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

It was reported earlier this week that he will need at least one minor-league rehab start before coming off the injured list, and Verlander is expected to complete at least two throwing sessions before heading out on a rehab assignment. He appears to be tracking toward a return before the end of the month.

Woodruff (shoulder) had an MRI on Wednesday and remains shut down while doctors determine how best to proceed, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

This was relayed by manager Craig Counsell, and it certainly makes it sound like Woodruff's shoulder inflammation is fairly significant. Colin Rea had a strong spot start Thursday against the Padres and could remain in the rotation indefinitely as long as he keeps his head above water.

Houser (groin) will begin his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Nashville, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Houser hasn't pitched in a game since exiting a spring training appearance with groin tightness March 25. If all goes well, Houser could return to the Brewers' bullpen within a week or so as a multi-inning reliever.

Wainwright (groin) said Friday that he expects to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday at Double-A Springfield, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Wainwright drew strong reviews after facing live hitters in a simulated setting Friday at Busch Stadium and is ready to take the next step in his recovery from a groin strain he suffered in late March. It's not clear how many rehab starts are lined up for the veteran right-hander, but he'll almost certainly be ready to join the Cardinals' struggling rotation before the end of April.

Sanchez (shoulder) will pitch in an extended spring training game Saturday, Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports.

After undergoing surgery on his right shoulder back in October, Sanchez first began facing hitters again earlier this month. Now, he's set to take the next step toward a minor-league rehab assignment. Sanchez hasn't appeared in a game at any level since 2020, so the Marlins will likely take it slow building Sanchez back up to the point where he can rejoin the Triple-A rotation.

Cueto (biceps) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday at the Marlins' spring training complex, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's good news that Cueto is ready to throw off a mound again, 10 days after landing on the IL because of a biceps issue, but the belief is that he will be brought back slowly after his spring buildup was affected by the same injury. The veteran right-hander could still miss several more weeks if that is indeed the plan.

Stripling will work out of the bullpen for the foreseeable future, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Stripling's Giants tenure is off to a brutal start, as he's allowed 10 runs, including six home runs, over 10 innings in one start and two relief outings. Sean Manaea has been more effective and will take over in the five-man rotation while Stripling will seemingly have to work out his issues in long-relief assignments.

Webb and the Giants agreed on a five-year, $90 million contract extension Friday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After operating as one of the best pitchers in the National League for the last few seasons, Webb gets his big paycheck. The right-hander produced a 2.90 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 163 strikeouts over 192.1 innings in 32 starts last season. After Carlos Rodon left San Francisco following the 2022 campaign, Webb became the unquestioned ace of the Giants' staff in 2023. With him locked up for the long haul, the 26-year-old can focus on his craft and no longer worry about contract negotiations.