MLB Player News

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.

Messick has a 1.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 31:9 K:BB in 20.1 innings over his last four starts for Triple-A Columbus.

Messick's 11.3 percent walk rate in his first year at Triple-A is the worst mark of his career, but his 33.3 percent strikeout rate trails only Bubba Chandler among qualified International League starters. Messick is a bulky 6-foot lefty with a plus changeup and a fastball that ranges from 89-to-94 mph. He throws the kitchen sink at hitters, and it's been keeping Triple-A batters off balance, especially lately. Messick could get a chance in the majors this summer, although he is not yet on the 40-man roster.

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.

Montero is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Sean Guenther in Monday's game in St. Louis, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The Cardinals typically use two left-handed batters -- Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan -- among their top three spots in the lineup, so the Tigers will have the left-handed Guenther open the game with the hope of stymieing the St. Louis offense early on. Guenther is unlikely to work more than a couple of innings before giving way to Montero, who will be making his second straight appearance in a bulk-relief role after covering 3.1 frames and giving up three earned runs out of the bullpen last Tuesday against the Red Sox. Montero should stick around as the de facto fifth member of the Detroit rotation until Casey Mize (hamstring) is cleared to return from the 15-day injured list.

Rocker (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment later this week as long as he bounces back well from a two-inning live batting practice session he threw Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Rocker's stuff looked "good" Sunday, adding that the right-hander's rehab assignment will be a lengthy one as he gets stretched back out following a three-week shutdown period. Rocker has been out for almost four weeks with a right shoulder impingement. He logged an 8.10 ERA in his first five starts this season before the injury and wouldn't seem to be guaranteed a spot in the Texas rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.

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.

Rom (shoulder) was activated from the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Rom made a rehab start with Memphis on Sunday, tossing four scoreless innings with a 4:2 K:BB. Coming back from soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder/biceps, Rom yielded only two runs (one earned) with a promising 17:2 K:BB across 13 rehab innings. He'll give St. Louis rotation depth at Memphis.

Mathews (shoulder) has been sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League Cardinals to begin a rehab assignment.

It had been reported that Mathews would make a start for the FCL Cardinals last week, but it appears his first appearance for them will come this week. The left-hander has been shelved since mid-April with mild left shoulder soreness but is now ready to pitch in games. Mathews will eventually move back up to Triple-A Memphis once the Cardinals feel he's ready.

Palmquist is scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Phillies at Coors Field.

Palmquist will remain in the rotation for at least one more turn after he was summoned from Triple-A Albuquerque last week to take over the starting spot that belonged to Bradley Blalock, who had been filling in for the injured Ryan Feltner (back). The 24-year-old southpaw made his MLB debut on the road Friday in Arizona, taking a loss while giving up five earned runs on six hits and one walk over four innings. Palmquist won't make for a comfortable streaming option Wednesday when he pitches at Coors Field for the first time, and he could be at risk of a demotion to Triple-A after the start if Feltner is able to make a minor-league rehab appearance within the next few days and is deemed ready to return from the injured list the following week.

Parker (knee) will make his next start Tuesday versus Atlanta at Nationals Park.

Parker's previous start (also against Atlanta) was cut short last Wednesday, when he was struck in the left knee by a 107.2 mile-per-hour comebacker off the bat of Austin Riley midway through the fifth inning. According to Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com, Parker was able to make his between-starts bullpen session Friday without issue, so he's not expected to be operating with any restrictions Tuesday. Through his first nine starts of the season, Parker owns a 3-3 record, 4.32 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 32:24 K:BB across 50 innings.