MLB Player News

Rodriguez picked up his first hold of the season in Sunday's win over the Orioles, giving up one hit and striking out two in a scoreless eighth inning.

The right-hander is considered the favorite to step into the rotation for Max Scherzer (thumb) on Friday, and the 16 pitches (10 strikes) Rodriguez threw Sunday shouldn't impact his availability. His high-leverage usage was unexpected, but it came after Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin had worked Thursday and Friday, while Chad Green was on the bump Thursday and Saturday. If the Jays continue to lean heavily on their late-inning relief arms during the week and decide to keep Rodriguez in that role, Easton Lucas could get Friday's start instead. Jake Bloss -- who is currently scheduled to pitch Tuesday for Triple-A Buffalo -- might also be an option if he gets scratched, or the game gets rained out.

The Brewers placed Civale on the 15-day injured list Monday with a strained left hamstring, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Civale was pulled from Sunday's start against the Yankees after three innings due to what the team referred to as a hamstring cramp, but evidently testing revealed a strain. He will be eligible to return in mid-April but it's uncertain whether he'll be ready to return at that time. The Brewers are dealing with numerous pitching injuries and it's unclear who might take Civale's spot in the rotation.

Woodruff (shoulder) will throw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

He'll throw another simulated game April 7, and if both of those sessions go well, Woodruff will be cleared to pitch in a game, either at extended spring training or as part of a formal rehab assignment. The veteran right-hander would appear to have a chance to return from the 15-day injured list by late April or early May, although it will depend on how he looks and feels as he continues to ramp up. Woodruff is coming back from capsule surgery on his right shoulder and hasn't pitched in a major-league game since September 2023.

Myers (oblique) threw a 32-pitch simulated game Sunday and is slated to face hitters Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

If he gets through Thursday's session without any hiccups, Myers will be cleared to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Nashville. The right-hander has been out since mid-March with a left oblique strain, but if he could be ready to make his 2025 debut with the Brewers around mid-April.

The Twins selected McCaughan's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

McCaughan will provide length in the bullpen for Minnesota. He's replacing Randy Dobnak, who was needed for 5.1 innings out of the bullpen Sunday in St. Louis.

Strider (elbow) struck out six batters and allowed one earned run on two hits and one walk over three innings in his first rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Gwinnett.

Since he resumed pitching in games March 17, Strider has dazzled in all three of his outings while he bounces back from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, which he underwent April 5, 2024. Over his two spring training appearances, Strider posted a 10:1 K:BB while allowing just two hits and one walk across four innings, and he continued to mow down hitters with Gwinnett on Saturday while upping his pitch count to 60. Atlanta will presumably want to see Strider get his count into the 75-to-85 range before activating him from the 15-day injured list, so he may be just one or two rehab starts away from making his 2025 big-league debut.

McCullers (forearm) struck out three and allowed two earned runs on two hits and one walk across two innings Sunday in a rehab start for Triple-A Sugar Land.

After tossing a scoreless, 13-pitch inning in his lone Grapefruit League appearance March 18 before opening the season on the 15-day injured list, McCullers increased his workload in his first rehab outing, covering an additional frame and tossing 35 pitches (20 strikes). Since he missed the last two seasons while recovering from June 2023 surgery to repair a torn flexor tendon, McCullers will build up slowly in the minors, but a late April or early May return from the IL could be in the cards if all goes smoothly during his subsequent rehab starts.

Lowder (forearm) is throwing off a mound in Arizona, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

After missing all of spring training with a forearm strain, Lowder has taken the next steps in his recovery. He was scheduled to throw again Sunday and will continue to ramp up. The right-hander may eventually pitch in the majors this season, but Lowder is expected to begin 2025 at Triple-A Louisville.

Fitts (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits over six innings Sunday, striking out four and taking a loss against the Rangers.

Fitts looked impressive through five innings of one-run ball. He coughed up three straight singles in the second inning but went on to retire 12 consecutive batters. However, he gave up solo homers to Wyatt Langford and Adolis Garcia in the sixth, his third time through the order. Fitts was efficient with just 71 pitches (53 strikes) but still took the loss during his quality start. He's projected for a home matchup against the Cardinals this weekend. Beyond that, Fitts' role is unclear with both Brayan Bello (shoulder) and Lucas Giolito (hamstring) expected to begin rehab assignments this week.

DeGrom allowed two hits and two walks over five scoreless frames in a no-decision against Boston on Sunday. He struck out six batters in the Rangers' win.

DeGrom looked sharp in his season debut; he generated 16 whiffs, including 10 with his slider, and coughed up just one extra-base hit. His fastball averaged 96.7 mph and touched 98.1 mph. DeGrom went into the start with a limit of around 75 pitches or five innings, which he nearly matched with his 73 pitches (49 strikes) across five frames. The veteran righty should progressively see his workload expand, starting with his next projected outing this weekend at home against the Rays.