MLB Player News

The Nationals are listing Soroka (bicep) as their scheduled starter for Sunday's game versus the Diamondbacks, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Soroka is scheduled to play catch Wednesday after exiting Monday's 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays due to a right bicep cramp. He'll still need to complete Wednesday's workout as well as throw a bullpen session without any setbacks, but if that happens as expected, he'll be ready to take the hill this weekend.

The Athletics acquired Duran from the Dodgers on Wednesday in exchange for outfielder Esteury Ruiz.

Duran spent time at three levels in the minors in 2024, accruing a 3.71 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 73:32 K:BB In 53.1 innings spanning 19 starts. The Dodgers have ample depth in the rotation and weren't likely to have a spot available for Duran anytime soon, but the move to the Athletics should enhance his chances of reaching the majors down the road. The 23-year-old right-hander will likely slot into the rotation with the Athletics' Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.

Ashby (oblique) is continuing to build up during his throwing program and should be ready to throw a bullpen session April 11, MLB.com reports.

Ashby entered spring training with a chance to compete for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but he never gained much momentum after tweaking his right oblique in his third Cactus League appearance March 3. He was shut down for a couple weeks before resuming his throwing program late in camp, and he seems to be gradually increasing his throwing distance off flat ground. Ashby is one six starters on the 40-man roster who currently resides on the injured list, but Jose Quintana should be ready to make his season debut next week, and Tobias Myers (oblique), Aaron Civale (hamstring) and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) all appear likely to beat Ashby back from the IL. With that in mind, Ashby could be ticketed for the bullpen or the Triple-A Nashville rotation once he's back to full health.

Myers (oblique) is tentatively scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on April 8, MLB.com reports.

He will need to get through a session against live hitters Thursday first, but if he does, Myers will make rehab starts with Nashville on April 8, April 13 and April 18. That would set him up for a season debut as soon as April 23 in San Francisco, if all goes well. Myers is coming back from a left oblique strain.

Civale (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

If that goes well, he will throw off the mound again April 8. It seems likely that the Brewers will want Civale to make at least one rehab start, and the team is tentatively projecting a return in late April for the veteran right-hander.

Woodruff (shoulder) threw 51 pitches over a three-inning simulated game Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

He will throw another simulated game, and if that goes well, Woodruff will be cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville. The Brewers hope Woodruff will be ready to rejoin their rotation sometime in May, but it seems to be a loose timetable and will depend on how he looks and feels on his rehab assignment. The veteran righty is working his way back from capsule surgery on his pitching shoulder.

Scherzer (thumb) doesn't have any structural issues with his thumb ligaments, and after receiving two cortisone shots Monday, he could resume throwing as soon as Friday, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports. "[The doctor] was actually pretty surprised, based on what it was, that structurally we were in a pretty good spot," Scherzer said Tuesday.

The 40-year-old right-hander lasted only three innings and 45 pitches during his Blue Jays debut Saturday and was subsequently placed on the 15-day IL, but Scherzer's stay on the shelf could end up being close to minimum length if the cortisone shots have the desired effect. In the meantime, Easton Lucas will slot in for a spot start Wednesday, but Toronto's rotation plans after that are unclear.

Abbott (shoulder) allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four over 5.2 innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.

The lefty got his pitch count up to 85 and will make another rehab start Sunday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News. If all goes well during Sunday's outing, Abbott could be on track to return from the 15-day injured list and rejoin the Reds rotation late next week.

Severino (0-1) took the loss to the Cubs on Tuesday, coughing up six runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six.

After an impressive Opening Day debut for the A's, Severino crashed back to earth Tuesday. Three of the six hits against the right-hander went for extra bases, including a three-run blast by Seiya Suzuki in the first inning before Severino had even recorded an out, and a solo shot by the red-hot Kyle Tucker in the third. Severino has given the A's some length, working six innings in each of his first two starts of the year, but he's also issued at least three free passes in each. He'll take a 3.75 ERA and 12:7 K:BB into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Padres.

Steele (2-1) collected the win Tuesday in a 7-4 victory over the A's, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over 6.2 innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw served up two-run homers to Brent Rooker in the first inning and Shea Langeliers in the third, but the Cubs' offense bailed him out with a couple long balls of its own. Steele has been taken deep five times in his first three starts of 2025, a somewhat worrying trend for a pitcher who's never had serious issues keeping the ball in the park before -- over the prior three seasons, he never posted a HR/9 rate north of 0.80 -- but the sample size is still small. Steele will look for his third straight win in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Rangers.