MLB Player News

Manager Rob Thomson said Wednesday that Painter is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation reports.

If all goes well there, the next steps in Painter's throwing progression should become much clearer, with Thomson saying that "Friday will determine a lot of things." Philadelphia has slow-played Painter's recovery from 2023 Tommy John surgery, and the right-hander's next steps figure to entail a rather lengthy rehab stint in the minor leagues. The 2021 first-round pick represents Philadelphia's top prospect, and he remains on track to get his first taste of major-league action sometime around midseason in 2025. The Phillies have a loaded rotation and are still likely to continue handling things cautiously with Painter, who hasn't yet pitched at the Triple-A level in his career.

Suarez (back) could face live hitters in his next scheduled throwing session before the end of the week, MLB.com reports.

Suarez continues to progress in his recovery from lower-back stiffness, and he'll likely need to go on at least a brief minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining Philadelphia's roster. That could be the next step in his throwing progression, barring any setbacks in this weekend's slated session, and the left-hander remains on track to return to the major leagues before the end of April. Taijuan Walker is occupying a spot in the Phillies' rotation in Suarez's stead, and he threw six scoreless innings with four strikeouts while earning the win in Thursday's start against the Rockies.

Rodriguez was spotted in the Brewers' clubhouse prior to Thursday's game against the Reds and could be recalled from Triple-A Nashville, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The team has made no official transaction with Rodriguez. However, it doesn't have a probable pitcher listed for Friday's game versus the Reds and Rodriguez would be a candidate to either start that game or be available in long relief. Rodriguez yielded one unearned run with a 7:1 K:BB over five innings in his first start of the season with Nashville and would be on six days' rest Friday.

High-A Greensboro placed Reed on the 60-day injured list with a back injury, Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline reports.

Reed should resume throwing in a couple weeks but won't be eligible to play in official games until June. Last season, Reed had a 1.99 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 130:51 K:BB in 108.2 innings split between Single-A and High-A. Once healthy, the 22-year-old righty could quickly earn a promotion to Double-A.

The Padres transferred Brito (forearm) to the 60-day injured list Thursday.

Brito was shut down from throwing during spring training after experiencing diminished velocity, and he's been on the IL since the start of the season due to a forearm strain. His move to the 60-day IL guarantees he'll be out until at least late May, but there's also a possibility he undergoes surgery to address the issue and misses more time. His roster spot will be given to Oscar Gonzalez, who was selected to the 40-man roster Thursday but will remain in Triple-A for now.

Caminiti is in extended spring training rehabbing from forearm tendinitis, Harrison Smajovits of SI.com reports.

An MRI did not reveal structural damage for the talented young southpaw, but it's still a forearm issue worth monitoring over the coming weeks. Unlike most of the prep pitchers selected in last year's draft, Caminiti made an appearance in full-season ball after signing. He struck out four over three innings for Single-A Augusta, and that's likely where he'll be assigned once cleared.

Stuart is on Triple-A Rochester's 7-day injured list due to an elbow injury, Sam Dykstra of MLB Pipeline reports.

The organization is hopeful it isn't a serious injury, but Stuart should still be considered out indefinitely. Acquired from the Mets in last year's Jesse Winker trade, Stuart is a 6-foot-9 righty whose extension makes up for low-90s fastball velocity. His best pitch is his sweeper, but none of his offerings are near plus. Stuart had success last year at Double-A, but he gave up 14 runs in 16.2 innings over four starts at Triple-A.

Cabrera (finger) struck out four batters and allowed one earned run on three hits and no walks across three innings Tuesday in a rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville.

Cabrera served up a solo home run in the second inning but was otherwise sharp over his three frames while spotting 27 of his 46 pitches for strikes. He'll likely get stretched out over one or two more rehab starts before returning from the 15-day injured list around mid-April.

Elder allowed three runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters over four innings in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Wednesday.

Atlanta jumped out to a five-run lead through the top of the second inning, but Elder gave two runs back on a home run by Tommy Edman in the bottom of that frame. The Dodgers didn't score in the third, but Elder served up another long ball -- this time a solo shot by Michael Conforto -- in the fourth, and he didn't return for the fifth. The right-hander's start was his first of the season, which may partly explain why he was held to 70 pitches. Elder is in the rotation as a replacement for Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder), who landed on the injured list Monday. Lopez is likely to miss at least a few months, which could open the door for Elder to make additional starts, though he may lose his rotation role when Spencer Strider (elbow) is done with the rehab stint he began last weekend.

Snell allowed five unearned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two batters over four innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Wednesday.

Snell got no favors from his defense Wednesday, as Max Muncy committed a pair of early throwing errors and Andy Pages misplayed a flyball to center field that was courteously ruled a double. The errors prevented Snell from being charged with any earned runs, but he didn't help his own cause by issuing four free passes and uncorking a wild pitch. To his credit, Snell kept the Dodgers from falling into a deeper deficit after Atlanta took a 5-0 lead through two innings, and the southpaw managed to retire seven of the final nine batters he faced. Snell has had poor control early in his Dodgers tenure, as he's now walked eight batters over his first nine innings of the campaign. Walks have been an issue for him at various points in his career, but they've typically come with bunches of strikeouts; however, Snell has just four punchouts in his nine frames so far. That being said, there's no reason for fantasy managers to panic this early in the campaign, especially since Snell was a mess during his first handful of outings last year before turning things around and finishing in dominant form. He is tentatively slated to make his next start against Washington next week.