MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Kopech (shoulder) is expected to embark on a rehab assignment next week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kopech has been dealing with a right shoulder impingement over the past few weeks after starting the season on the injured list due to right forearm inflammation. He's been ramping up his pitch count in bullpen sessions and is set to start facing batters. Barring any setbacks, Kopech will start his rehab assignment next week, and how he responds after each outing will determine a timeline for his return to the majors.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reports Friday that Snell (shoulder) is expected to resume playing catch next week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Snell had his throwing program shut down after experiencing a setback with his left shoulder injury that caused him to be placed on the 15-day injured list April 6. He received a cortisone injection for his left shoulder this past Monday and will travel with the team to Miami next week to resume his throwing program.

The Rockies placed Feltner (back) on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to April 29.

Feltner had his last start pushed from Sunday to Monday against Atlanta due to a back issue. He took the loss in that outing after allowing five runs on a season-high 10 hits. He's eligible to be activated off the IL on May 14, but he'll undergo further tests to establish a concrete timeline for his return. The Rockies recalled Bradley Blalock from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move.

Weathers (forearm) is continuing his rehab assignment Friday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The left-hander is working his way back from a forearm strain he suffered during spring training, and he covered three scoreless innings during his first rehab start last weekend. Weathers will continue building up his workload Friday and will likely require at least one additional rehab outing beyond that before making his season debut for the Marlins.

The Red Sox placed Buehler on the 15-day injured list Friday due to right shoulder inflammation, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Buehler was working through a shoulder issue following his start against the Guardians this past Saturday, and the injury is severe enough to warrant a move to the injured list. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that he expects Buehler's stint on the IL to be minimal, which would suggest the 30-year-old right-hander could return as soon as May 17 during a weekend series against Atlanta. Brayan Bello will take the mound for Boston on Friday and Hunter Dobbins is in line to be called up from Triple-A Worcester to start Saturday.

Strider (hamstring) has yet to be cleared to throw off a mound, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Strider has been playing catch, but it's been two weeks since he's thrown off the bump and it's uncertain when he'll be cleared for that. Given that layoff, it figures to be at least another couple weeks before he's ready to rejoin the Atlanta rotation even in a best-case scenario. Strider has been sidelined since mid-April with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain.

Priester will work behind Tyler Alexander in Friday's game against the Cubs, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Alexander is expected to serve as merely an opener against Chicago, so Priester should still handle the bulk of the innings. Priester struggled in his last start against the Cardinals, giving up five runs on eight hits and three walks across five innings in a no-decision.

Eflin (lat) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Aberdeen on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

It sounds like it could be the only rehab start he needs, as the Orioles have an opening in the rotation May 10 against the Angels that they hope is filled by Eflin. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since early April with a right lat strain but resumed mound work last weekend and is ready to return to game action.

Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Friday that Rodriguez (lat/elbow) will get re-imaged in a few weeks and could be cleared to resume throwing at that time, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Rodriguez started the season on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation and was recently moved to the 60-day IL after being diagnosed with a mild right lat strain. With the resumption of a throwing program not happening until at least late May, Rodriguez is probably looking at a midseason return even in a best-case scenario. For what it's worth, Elias said Friday that he expects Rodriguez to return later this season.

Painter's next start will come at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on May 8, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Phillies are ready to bump up Painter's competition level after he allowed five runs with a 12:1 K:BB over 11.1 innings covering four starts at Single-A Clearwater. Next week's start will be the first of his career at the Triple-A level. Painter topped out at four frames and had a high of 49 pitches at Clearwater and will continue to stretch out with Lehigh Valley. The goal is for the righty to join the Phillies' rotation sometime this summer.