MLB Player News

The Cubs promoted Brown from Double-A Tennessee to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday.

Brown received the call to Triple-A after the Cubs summoned Caleb Kilian from Iowa to make a spot start this past weekend. Though Kilian has since been optioned back to Iowa, Brown looks like he'll keep a spot in the Triple-A rotation after he was unchallenged over his first four starts this season at Double-A. Over 20 innings with Tennessee, Brown compiled an 0.45 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 30:6 K:BB.

Taillon (groin) is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

The upcoming side session marks Taillon's second since he was placed on the 15-day injured list April 20 with a left groin strain. Though the Cubs were initially optimistic that Taillon would be ready to come off the IL when first eligible -- which would have been Tuesday -- the right-hander instead looks like he'll remain on the shelf for another week. The Cubs turned to Caleb Kilian over the weekend to replace Taillon in the rotation, but because Kilian has since been optioned to Triple-A Iowa, the team will likely call up another pitcher to fill Taillon's next turn through the rotation, which comes up Thursday in Washington.

Johnson (elbow) made his season debut for Single-A Augusta on April 11 and has logged a 3.72 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 15:7 K:BB in 9.2 innings through his first four appearances with the affiliate.

Johnson returned from Tommy John surgery in just over 12 months, as he was back in action for Augusta after having the procedure in early April of last year. While the 22-year-old right-hander has been able to make bats miss at a high clip in the early going, he's endured some troubles with his controlling his pitches, though that was an issue even before he underwent reconstructive elbow surgery. Johnson is in the midst of his fifth season in the Atlanta organization after he was drafted out of high school in the 14th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft.

Carrasco (elbow) is making progress and could rejoin the Mets' rotation next week, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Carrasco landed on the injured list a couple weeks ago with a small bone chip in his right elbow. He was given an injection and resumed throwing off a mound late last week. It's not clear yet which exact day Carrasco could return, but he looks like he could avoid a rehab assignment. Once activated, Carrasco would likely bump either Joey Lucchesi or Tylor Megill from the rotation.

Senga's next scheduled start will be Friday against the Rockies, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Senga last pitched on April 26, so he will be starting on eight days' rest. The right-hander has 32 strikeouts over his first 26 major-league innings but has battled control issues with 18 walks. Senga hasn't gone beyond five innings in any of his last three outings.

Manager Buck Showalter confirmed that Verlander (shoulder) is lined up to be activated from the 15-day injured list Thursday to make his season and Mets debut that day in Detroit, Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports reports.

Verlander will be coming off the IL on five days' rest after he made his lone minor-league rehab start for Double-A Binghamton on Friday, when he struck out six over 4.2 scoreless innings. He's been out all season with a low-grade teres major strain in his right shoulder, but he tossed 69 pitches in the outing for Binghamton and shouldn't face any significant restrictions in his 2023 MLB debut.

Lucchesi will start for the Mets on Tuesday in Detroit, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

Sherman notes that the team has weather-related concerns for Tuesday's game which will result in pushing Max Scherzer back a day and moving Lucchesi up to Tuesday. The left-hander has made one excellent start and one so-so start since joining the Mets' rotation and makes for a pretty risky streaming option Tuesday even in a favorable matchup.

Wainwright (groin) covered 5.2 innings and gave up four earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out nine Sunday in his rehab start for Triple-A Memphis.

Though he surrendered a three-run home run in the second inning that dinged his final line, Wainwright otherwise looked much sharper in his third rehab outing after he struck out only four batters in 7.1 innings across his first two starts at Double-A Springfield. He finished the day with 89 pitches, spotting 61 of them for strikes. With Wainwright now fully stretched out and faring well in a rehab start, he looks poised to return from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut with the Cardinals during this upcoming weekend's series with the Tigers. Expect either Jake Woodford or Steven Matz to move to the bullpen to open up a rotation spot for Wainwright.

Walker (forearm) is listed as the Phillies' starting pitcher for Monday's road game against the Dodgers.

Walker exited his last start Wednesday against the Mariners with right forearm tightness, an injury that often foreshadows a stint on the injured list. The right-hander surprisingly received good news after being examined a day later, with team doctors determining that Walker didn't even need an MRI. He resumed throwing a bullpen session Friday and checked out fine following the workout, so Walker looks like he'll head into Monday's outing with no restrictions. Walker tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with his second turn set to come against Boston during the upcoming weekend.

Nelson (1-2) took the loss Sunday, allowing six runs on nine hits and one walk over four innings against Colorado. He struck out two.

Nelson struggled with the conditions at Coors Field, giving up three extra-base hits in four innings of action including a three-run shot by C.J. Cron in the third inning. Considering Nelson has failed to eclipse four strikeouts in a start this season while also giving up five home runs in six starts, he remains an unsavory fantasy option. However, Nelson should have a better chance for success in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to come against the Nationals.