MLB Player News

Manager Rob Thomson said Walker (shoulder) will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the Padres, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The veteran right-hander allowed four runs over 6.1 innings during his third minor-league rehab start Sunday, and a successful bullpen session Tuesday was his final hurdle before being cleared to return. Walker posted a 4.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 138:71 K:BB across 172.2 innings last season for the Phillies.

Gray (elbow) played catch from 75 feet Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The right-hander is in the process of ramping up his throwing program after a brief shutdown period due to a flexor strain. Gray should soon progress to long toss before returning to mound work. He likely won't be able to rejoin Washington's rotation until at least mid-May.

Cavalli (elbow) touched 96 mph during a 60-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

Cavalli is working his way back from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in March 2023. He should be cleared to face hitters next, with a rehab assignment soon to follow. Cavalli could eventually be an option for the Nationals' rotation, but he's on the 60-day injured list and will need plenty of time in the minors first.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday that Cole (elbow) could begin throwing off a mound sometime next week, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Cole extended his flat-ground throwing to 120 feet Tuesday, which is typically the farthest distance from which a pitcher plays catch before he gets on a mound. While nothing definitive has been decided in regard to a bullpen session, it sounds like one could be coming within the next week or so. Cole is working his way back from nerve irritation and edema in his right elbow.

Cole (elbow) extended his flat-ground throwing to 120 feet Tuesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

It's usually the farthest distance a pitcher plays catch from before progressing to mound work, but Cole said Tuesday that he's not sure when he will throw a bullpen session. He will have a day of rest in his throwing program Wednesday before the next step is revealed. Cole isn't eligible to return until late May. It is still up in the air as to when he'll ultimately be activated.

Steele (hamstring) went through pitchers' fielding practice Tuesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Steele was fielding a ball back on Opening Day when he suffered a strained left hamstring that sent him to the injured list, so this was an important step. He also threw a live batting practice session Sunday. Assuming he gets through Tuesday's workout with no problems, Steele should be cleared to begin a rehab assignment.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that Rom (biceps) recently took part in plyometric exercises but didn't respond well to the activity, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The update doesn't shed much light on where exactly Rom stands in his recovery from left biceps tendinitis, an injury he sustained during spring training. The fact that Rom has yet to resume throwing just under a month after landing on the 15-day injured list suggests a rehab assignment isn't imminent for the 24-year-old southpaw. Rom could be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL if he's unable to begin a throwing progression by the start of May.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Gray resumed playing catch from 60 feet last week, MLB.com reports.

Though the fact that Gray is no longer shut down from throwing is an encouraging sign after he landed on the 15-day injured list April 9 with a right elbow flexor strain, the 26-year-old still has several more checkpoints to hit in his rehab program before he'll be ready to rejoin the Washington rotation. He's without a clear timeline for a return from the IL, but Gray appears safe to rule out from being activated before the end of April.

Gonzalez has an 11.12 ERA and 2.88 WHIP over three appearances (two starts) at Double-A Portland.

Control has long been a challenge for Gonzalez, and the issue is even more prevalent early in the 2024 minor-league season. He walked eight batters over his first two starts -- he lasted just two-thirds of an inning in his second start -- and has issued nine free passes overall in 5.2 innings. The right-hander had an encouraging third outing Sunday, when he walked only one over three scoreless innings as a piggyback starter.

Quintana (1-2) took the loss against San Francisco on Monday, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out four batters over five innings.

Quintana wasn't sharp in the outing, inducing just four swinging strikes and giving up a season-high five runs. The veteran hurler also yielded a season high in hits and walked multiple batters for the fifth straight start. Quintana had managed a solid 3.05 ERA despite a poor 16:11 K:BB and 1.50 WHIP coming into Monday, but the outing against the Giants paints a more reasonable picture of what to expect from the left-hander if he continues to allow batters to reach base at a high rate.