MLB Player News

Martinez (lat) will resume a throwing program Monday and is expected to return in 10-to-14 days, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Though the Cardinals have yet to share the results of Martinez's MRI, it appears as though he won't be sidelined for too much longer as the club is hopeful that he will return to the big-league mound before the end of May. Martinez went down with a right lat strain last Thursday, and recently underwent another MRI after noticing limited improvement over the past week. Expect an update on his status once he's able to resume throwing next week.

Lyles will take the hill against Pittsburgh on Sunday, Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Lyles will start on normal rest following his impressive showing against the Rockies on Tuesday, where he took a perfect game into the eighth inning, going 7.1 innings and allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out 10. Robbie Erlin is expected to start Monday's game in Washington.

Stripling will not make a start Friday as the Dodgers' game against Washington has been postponed due to inclement weather, Pedro Moura of The Athletic reports.

The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday, so Stripling will just get pushed back a day as he is set to take the bump during Game 1 of the twin-bill.

Fried was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

Fried had been scheduled to start Thursday against the Cubs, but that game was postponed due to rain. Instead of pushing Fried back to Friday, the Braves called up Matt Wisler, with Fried heading back to the minors.

Martinez (lat) underwent his scheduled MRI on Thursday, but the team did not immediately share the results, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Martinez appears highly unlikely to come off the disabled list when first eligible Saturday, and there are even whispers that a lack of improvement in his lat could lead to the right-hander missing up to a month, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Coupled with the placement of Adam Wainwright (elbow) on the 60-day disabled list Thursday, such a development would leave the starting rotation in a particularly precarious state. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak remains tight-lipped about the ace's status, but the team appears intent on taking a cautious approach. "I have not had any feedback on what we've determined," Mozeliak said. "A lot of people are questioning why we thought he'd be ready this weekend and why he's not. A lot of times it's more preventative to make sure he's not rushing back."

Velasquez (4-4) allowed five hits while walking two and striking out five across 6.1 scoreless innings to record the win Thursday against the Cardinals.

For the first time in five starts, Velasquez did not a allow a home run, helping him to his longest start since April 13. He worked very efficiently through five innings allowing only four baserunners on four singles before tiring down the stretch to allow three baserunners across his last 1.1 innings of work. Though his season long numbers aren't all that impressive on the surface, Velasquez has been impressive of late working quality starts in each of his past two outings while walking just three batters in that span.

Lauer lasted 4.2 innings Thursday, giving up four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out three against the Pirates, but he didn't factor into the decision.

Neither Lauer nor opponent Chad Kuhl completed five frames. The San Diego southpaw didn't conquer three innings in his previous start Friday and has endured up-and-down efforts in his first four big-league starts. He'll carry an unsightly 8.14 ERA into his next scheduled trip to the hill Tuesday against the Nationals, which doesn't bode well for an improvement.

Fried may be sent down to the minors after his Thursday assignment was rained out, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Atlanta could skip Fried's turn in the rotation if they're confident Mike Soroka (shoulder) will return Wednesday, though that's hardly guaranteed. The Braves should provide a clearer picture of how their weekend starters will line up at latest Friday afternoon.

Fried never made his start Thursday as the game against the Cubs was postponed due to inclement weather.

The game has not yet been rescheduled, but Fried is already listed on MLB.com as the Braves' Friday starter against the Marlins, which seems to be a more favorable assignment for fantasy production.

Davies (shoulder) will make a rehab start with Low-A Wisconsin on Saturday.

Davies threw a bullpen session Wednesday, and the results must have been encouraging, as he is set to resume pitching in games this weekend. It's not clear how many rehab starts Davies will need before being activated from the disabled list, but if he is deemed ready after just the lone minor-league outing, he would rejoin the Brewers' rotation later next week.