MLB Player News

The Angels transferred Kikuchi (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday.

Kikuchi is expected to miss multiple months after initially landing on the injured list May 3 with shoulder inflammation, so moving to the 60-day IL doesn't affect his return timeline. It does, however, free up a spot on the 40-man roster, helping to make room for Donovan Walton and Wade Meckler.

Manager Walt Weiss said Friday that Smith-Shawver (elbow) has been throwing bullpen sessions, and the next step in his rehab is to face live hitters, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.

There hasn't been much info on Smith-Shawver's progress from Tommy John surgery, but Weiss said the right-hander has been throwing high-intensity bullpens, and it sounds like he's close to facing hitters. Once Smith-Shawver gets in some live batting practice, he'll likely then head out on an extended rehab assignment before having a chance to rejoin Atlanta's rotation later this summer.

Bieber (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Monday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

The veteran right-hander is aiming to pitch two innings Monday. Bieber will then build up to three innings in his next outing, according to Zwelling. The Blue Jays will build him up slowly, but Bieber is on track to make his 2026 debut some time in June.

Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.

The Marlins had indicated previously that Snelling would require Tommy John surgery, so it's a pleasant surprise that he needed an internal brace procedure instead, which typically carries a slightly shorter recovery timeline. The operation Snelling had comes with a timetable of 10-to-12 months, so he has a good chance to be a contributor for Miami at some point next season.

The Yankees activated Cole (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Friday.

The right-hander will make his 2026 season debut Friday against the Rays. Cole missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery and will make his first regular-season big-league start since Sept. 26, 2024. The 35-year-old made six rehab starts leading up to Friday's debut and posted a 4.66 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 28:3 K:BB across 29 innings.

Petty will start the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The Reds and Cardinals have a twin bill Saturday after Friday's game was rained out, and Petty will be up to serve as the 27th man for Cincy. Petty made one spot start earlier this season, allowing three runs with a 1:2 K:BB over 5.2 innings. The righty holds a 6.32 ERA and 31:15 K:BB across 31.1 frames covering eight starts with Triple-A Louisville this season.

Leahy will have his start pushed back after Friday's contest against the Reds was postponed due to inclement weather.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Saturday, and Leahy should draw a start in one of those tilts. He's collected a 3.94 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 34:20 K:BB through 45.2 innings this season in his transition to the Cardinals' rotation.

Paddack will have his start pushed back after Friday's game against the Cardinals was postponed by inclement weather.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader Saturday, and Paddack should take the ball in one of those contests. Paddack allowed two runs over five innings against the Guardians last week in his first start for the Reds.

Brown (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Sunday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Brown threw live batting practice earlier this week and is ready for game action as he recovers from a shoulder strain. The right-hander isn't eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until the end of May, but a June return might be more plausible given the length of his layoff. Brown last pitched March 31 and posted a 0.84 ERA and 17:6 K:BB across 10.2 inning in his first two starts of the season before being shut down.

Webb (knee) is slated to make a rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento on Friday and expects to return from the 15-day injured list next week, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Webb has been on the shelf since May 9 due to right knee bursitis, but after checking out fine following a bullpen session Tuesday, he's ready to test himself in a game setting. A Friday rehab start would position the right-hander to rejoin the big-league rotation as soon as next Wednesday versus the Diamondbacks in San Francisco. Once Webb is back in the fold, the Giants will have to decide whether to move forward with a six-man rotation, demote Trevor McDonald to Triple-A Sacramento or move one of Tyler Mahle or Adrian Houser to the bullpen.