MLB Player News

Perez (elbow) is scheduled to make his eighth rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Jacksonville, FishOnFirst.com reports.

Perez turned in his best rehab outing yet with Jacksonville this past Wednesday, striking out four and inducing whiffs on seven of his 72 pitches while spinning five shutout innings. He'll look to push his pitch count up to the 75-to-85 range Tuesday, and if all goes well, it could be his final outing in the minors before making his return from the 60-day injured list. Perez has been sticking to a five-day rest schedule between his recent rehab starts, so if that pattern holds, he could make his 2025 Marlins debut June 9 in Pittsburgh.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Kopech (shoulder) could be activated from the 60-day injured list during the upcoming week, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Kopech is expected to pitch Sunday for Triple-A Oklahoma City in what would be the ninth appearance of his rehab assignment. The right-hander entered Sunday's contest with an 18.56 ERA, 3.53 WHIP and 9:10 K:BB in 5.1 innings for the Triple-A club, but he had delivered scoreless appearances in three of his last four outings. Kopech served as a high-leverage reliever during the Dodgers' run to the World Series last fall, but given his rocky performance during his rehab assignment, the right-hander could be deployed in middle relief in his initial appearances upon returning from the IL.

Burnes was removed from Sunday's start against the Nationals due to an apparent injury, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

The veteran right-hander showcased some decreased velocity during the fifth inning but still retired the first two batters before giving up a single to CJ Abrams and subsequently departing with the training staff. Abrams then came around to score on reliever Jalen Beeks, so Burnes was charged with one earned run across 4.2 innings Sunday. The specifics of the injury are unclear, but the team is likely to update Burnes' status in the near future.

Darvish (elbow) is expected to throw a bullpen session in San Francisco on Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

After experiencing tightness following his minor-league rehab start with Double-A San Antonio on May 14, Darvish was shut down for a couple weeks before he resumed playing catch. According to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Darvish stepped back on a mound Saturday and threw about six or seven pitches at less-than-full intensity, and with that brief workout apparently going well, he'll take the next step forward in his progression by throwing a formal bullpen session. The Padres haven't mapped out a plan for Darvish beyond Tuesday, and though he remains without a clear timeline to make his season debut, the team maintains that he won't require an extended ramp-up period. Cassavell suggests that Darvish may need just one or two rehab starts before rejoining the big-league rotation, perhaps at some point in mid-to-late June.

Elder (2-3) took the loss Sunday against the Red Sox, allowing three runs on six hits and three walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four.

Elder got off to a rocky start Sunday, giving up a three-run, two-out triple to Trevor Story in the first inning. While the right-hander managed to limit the damage from there, Atlanta couldn't climb out of the early hole in an eventual 3-1 defeat. Elder pitched well in his first stint in the majors earlier this season, posting a quality start in four of his last five outings before returning to Triple-A. With AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) slated for season-ending surgery, Elder figures to remain in Atlanta's rotation moving forward. His ERA sits at 4.56 with a 1.30 WHIP and 37:16 K:BB across nine starts (49.1 innings) this year.

Fedde (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Rangers, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

Fedde pitched well Sunday, delivering his first quality start in his last four outings. However, the Cardinals failed to provide much run support against Jacob deGrom on the other end in an eventual 8-1 defeat, leaving Fedde with his second straight loss. The 32-year-old right-hander sports a 3.82 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP and 44 strikeouts through 12 starts (68.1 innings) this season. Fedde is currently lined up for a tough home matchup with the Dodgers in his next outing.

Abel will be called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start Thursday's game versus the Blue Jays in Toronto, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

In his MLB debut May 18 versus the Pirates, Abel dazzled with nine strikeouts over six shutout frames, but he was sent back to Lehigh Valley immediately afterward while the Phillies turned to veteran Taijuan Walker to replace the injured Aaron Nola (ankle). With Walker underwhelming in two starts, the Phillies have decided to move him to a bullpen role, opening a spot in the rotation for Abel. He won't necessarily be in store for a long-term stay in the big leagues, as Nola could begin a rehab assignment next week before returning from the injured list by the second week of June.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said that Walker will move back to the bullpen this week, Adam Aaronson of PhillyVoice.com reports. "I want to see him in a one-inning stint and see what he can do," Thomson said of Walker.

Though Aaron Nola (ankle) won't be ready to return from the 15-day injured list the next time a fifth starter is needed Thursday in Toronto, the Phillies will instead call up Mick Abel from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the void. Walker, who was roughed up for four earned runs in four innings against Milwaukee this past Friday, isn't expected to be available out of the bullpen until Tuesday or Wednesday coming off the 89-pitch start. Once he's ready to go, Thomson plans to give the right-hander a trial as a high-leverage reliever, perhaps as a setup man in front of closer Jordan Romano. The manager is optimistic that the shift in role could revive Walker's career, as the 32-year-old has largely disappointed as a starter since signing a four-year, $72 million deal with Philadelphia following the 2022 season.

The Brewers activated Quintana (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game at Philadelphia.

The veteran left-hander is rejoining Milwaukee's rotation Sunday after missing the past three weeks due to a shoulder impingement. Quintana threw 71 pitches across four innings during his lone rehab outing, so he could face some minor workload limitations in his first start back with the Brewers.

Rodriguez (shoulder) is likely to return to the rotation this week, Nick Piecoro and Jose M. Romero of the Arizona Republic report.

The Diamondbacks haven't announced plans for the left-hander, but Rodriguez threw 4.2 innings during a rehab start Friday in the Arizona Complex League. After Ryne Nelson was needed for four relief innings Saturday, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo confirmed the righty would be returned to the bullpen instead of making a scheduled start Tuesday, per Arizona Sports. Rodriguez could be set to return Friday in Cincinnati, as Arizona has already mapped out its pitching plans for a three-game set in Atlanta to begin the week, per Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona.