MLB Player News

Giants manager Bob Melvin said Monday that Verlander is dealing with a slight pectoral issue, but he is optimistic the pitcher will make his next scheduled start Saturday versus the Nationals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Verlander revealed after displaying reduced velocity in Sunday's start against the Athletics that he was affected by a physical issue, and now Melvin has offered more specifics on the nature of the injury. The 42-year-old hurler will presumably need to get through a between-starts throwing session before being cleared for Saturday, but at the moment the Giants don't expect Verlander to miss his next turn.

Knack will be used in bulk relief Monday versus the Diamondbacks, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports.

Jack Dreyer is slated to serve as an opener before turning things over to Knack. The 27-year-old Knack allowed five runs over 4.2 innings against the Athletics his last time out but struck out eight while walking only one.

Priester is in line to serve as the bulk reliever in Monday's game against the Orioles, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

The Brewers are going with Rob Zastryzny as an opener Monday before he gives way to Priester. It's the second time this season that the club has used an opener ahead of Priester, who was clobbered for seven runs on six hits and four walks over 4.1 innings against the Cubs earlier this month as a bulk reliever.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Imanaga (hamstring) isn't on track to return from the 15-day injured list until "well into June," Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

A firm target date for Imanaga's reinstatement won't be available until he's further along in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, but with Counsell noting that the southpaw isn't on track to resume throwing off a mound until around the end of next week, it's clear that his return isn't imminent. Cade Horton has made one start and one bulk-relief appearance since Imanaga landed on the shelf May 5 and should maintain a spot in the rotation until the Cubs' ace is back in action.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Greene (groin) is on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday against the Cubs, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Francona indicated earlier Monday that Greene was trending toward a return this weekend, and now the skipper has offered the specific day for the right-hander to be activated. Greene will not make a rehab start, but he has completed multiple bullpen sessions and thus far has had no problems recovering from the Grade 1 right groin strain that sent him to the 15-day injured list in early May. He could be on a somewhat limited pitch count Friday.

Perez (elbow) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is moving up to the Marlins' highest minor-league affiliate after he yielded three runs (two earned) with a 12:3 K:BB over 10 innings covering five rehab starts with Single-A Jupiter. Perez went four frames and threw 49 pitches in his most recent outing Friday and will continue to increase his workload at Jacksonville, with eyes on returning from the 60-day injured list in early June.

The Phillies optioned Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The idea all along was for Abel's major-league debut Sunday against the Pirates to be a spot start, and the Phillies have stuck to the plan even after the rookie struck out nine over six scoreless innings. Taijuan Walker will now enter the rotation this week as the replacement for Aaron Nola (ankle). Abel will go back into Lehigh Valley's rotation but is sure to garner additional looks in the majors this season.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that he expects Greene (groin) to return fromt he 15-day injured list to make a start this weekend against the Cubs.

Greene threw a bullpen session Sunday and "came through that real well," per Francona. Assuming the right-hander bounces back from the mound work with no hiccups, he will skip a rehab assignment and go right back into the Reds rotation this weekend at Great American Ball Park. Greene is coming back from a Grade 1 right groin strain, which he suffered May 7. It's not clear what kind of workload restrictions, if any, he will have in his return to the bump.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Spiers (shoulder) began a throwing progression Saturday at the team's spring training facility in Arizona, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Spiers will likely remain in Arizona for at least the next couple of weeks to continue ramping up before the Reds map out a minor-league rehab assignment for him. The 27-year-old righty had started in two of his three appearances for Cincinnati before landing on the shelf April 20 with a right shoulder impingement, but he might have to settle for a long-relief role once he's activated.

Verlander revealed after Sunday's start against the Athletics that he was dealing with a physical issue that affected his velocity and mechanics, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Verlander intimated that he was experiencing the issue before the start began and the Giants were aware he was compromised but were comfortable with him taking the ball. The righty averaged only 91.3 mph with his four-seamer in the outing, walking five and allowing two runs over four innings. Verlander declined to offer more details on what injury he's battling, but he said he's "pretty optimistic" he'll be able to make his next scheduled start Saturday on the road versus the Nationals. The 42-year-old was limited to only 17 starts last season because of shoulder and neck problems.