MLB Player News

Waldichuk (elbow) could begin a rehab assignment sometime next week, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

The lefty has joined the Athletics on their road trip and will throw four bullpen sessions before being sent out on a rehab assignment. Waldichuk was diagnosed last October with a UCL sprain and flexor strain, but he chose a more conservative Tenex procedure to remove scar tissue and help alleviate pain. He will be built up as a starter, so Waldichuk will likely need most of his 30-day rehab allotment before being an option for the Oakland rotation. The southpaw is on the 60-day injured list and won't be eligible for activation until late May.

Kelly disclosed Sunday that he was diagnosed with a teres major strain of his right shoulder following his initial MRI and is on track to receive another MRI on Monday in Phoenix, ESPN.com reports.

Kelly had been scheduled to start Sunday's series finale in San Francisco, but he was scratched after experiencing discomfort while playing catch Saturday before the MRI confirmed that he was dealing with a shoulder strain. More information on the severity of the strain could be available after Monday's MRI, but for the time being, the Diamondbacks are holding out hope that the right-hander will avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list. Slade Cecconi was called up from Triple-A Reno to start in Sunday's 5-3 win and will likely be in store for additional turns through the rotation if Kelly is shut down for any length of time.

Rodriguez remains on a restricted workload this season and will likely shift to a multi-inning relief role once Alek Manoah (shoulder) is deemed ready to join the rotation, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.

The 27-year-old Cuban rookie has been impressive in his first two MLB starts, posting a 2.35 ERA and 13:3 K:BB through 7.2 innings, but after not pitching professionally in 2023 and working out of the bullpen in Japan prior to that, the Blue Jays don't want to burn Rodriguez out with a heavy workload this season. Manoah likely needs at least one more rehab start, but he's on the same schedule as Rodriguez at Triple-A Buffalo, and the Jays could make the switch in their big-league rotation as soon as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Manoah (shoulder) showed improvement in his rehab start Friday with Triple-A Buffalo, allowing two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

The right-hander still wasn't at his sharpest, giving up a two-run shot to Columbus' Johnathan Rodriguez in the first inning as well as three doubles, but Manoah threw 61 of 92 pitches for strikes, and the lack of free passes was encouraging. The Blue Jays are still counting on the 26-year-old to fill a rotation spot in the majors this season, and while Yariel Rodriguez is currently filling the No. 5 starter role admirably, Kaithyn McGrath of The Athletic reports that the Cuban rookie will be kept on a strict workload limit this season and is a candidate to transition into a multi-inning relief role. Rodriguez and Manoah are pitching on the same schedule, so assuming Toronto wants Manoah to make at least one more rehab start before activating him, he could make his season debut as early as April 29 at home against the Royals.

Atlanta recalled Elder from Triple-A Gwinnett ahead of his scheduled start Monday against the Marlins at Truist Park.

Elder will take over the rotation spot of Darius Vines, who was optioned to Triple-A after making two starts following Spencer Strider's season-ending elbow injury. A 2023 All-Star, Elder faded down the stretch last season and missed out on a spot in Atlanta's rotation coming out of spring training, but he's looked sharp through three starts at Gwinnett, logging a 3.31 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB in 16.1 innings. While he hasn't shown the ability to make bats miss at a prolific rate (18.2 percent) over 228.2 innings in the majors, Elder has shown the ability to induce weak contact and keep the ball in the yard. He'll make for an attractive streaming option Monday versus a struggling Miami offense and could have long-term appeal in light of Strider's absence along with the fact that he'll be supported by one of the top offenses in baseball.

Davis is set to receive an MRI on his right shoulder Monday, Luke Zahlmann of The Denver Gazette reports.

Summoned from Triple-A Albuquerque to serve as the 27th man for the Rockies' doubleheader Sunday with the Mariners, Davis came on in relief in the second game of the twin bill, covering three innings while allowing three earned runs on five hits in Colorado's 10-2 loss. He was pulled in the seventh inning with what the Rockies labeled as shoulder discomfort, but a more precise diagnosis for his injury won't be known until the results of his MRI are read. Colorado has already returned Davis to Triple-A Albuquerque, so if he needs to be shut down for any period of time, he'll likely go on the Triple-A club's 7-day injured list.

Wells is without a timeline to resume throwing after being placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right elbow inflammation, but manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that he's optimistic the right-hander will avoid an extended absence, MLB.com reports.

Hyde suggested that Wells' placement on the IL was for precautionary reasons after the 29-year-old experienced discomfort in his elbow following his most recent outing April 12. Given that he hasn't been diagnosed with anything more than inflammation, Wells should be in store for a brief shutdown before he starts throwing again, but since he has yet to do so just under a week after being placed on the IL, he's still likely to miss more than the minimum 15 days. Wells is one of three Orioles starters on the IL at the moment, but he appears to be the furthest away from being activated since John Means (forearm) and Kyle Bradish (elbow) are already in the midst of rehab assignments.

Vines (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Rangers, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out two over five innings. He was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following the game, according to David O'Brien of The Athletic.

Making his second start for Atlanta, Vines cruised through the first three innings before running into trouble in the fourth. Evan Carter led off the frame with a solo shot to right center before Andrew Knizner put the Rangers in front with a three-run blast. Outside of the fourth inning, Vines held his own against a dangerous lineup, but he'll head back to Gwinnett nonetheless to gain further seasoning. Atlanta will call up Bryce Elder from Gwinnett to take replace Vines on the 26-man active roster ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Marlins.

Bradish (elbow) covered 3.1 innings in the second start of his rehab assignment Sunday with Triple-A Norfolk, striking out four while allowing four earned runs on six hits and three walks.

According to MLB.com, Bradish's fastball sat around 93 to 95 miles per hour in Sunday's outing as he built up to 64 pitches. Though his velocity was roughly in line with his average from the 2023 season (94.8 mph), Bradish still looks like he needs more time in the minors to regain his control and command as he makes his way back from a right UCL sprain. He spotted only 37 of his 64 pitches for strikes (57.8 percent) and hit a batter and threw a wild pitch in addition to issuing three free passes. Bradish is likely to make another rehab start for Norfolk or Double-A Bowie on Friday or Saturday before the Orioles reassess whether he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list.

Woo (elbow) struck out five over three perfect innings in his first rehab start with Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.

Woo needed just 35 pitches to cruise through his three frames in a difficult pitching environment in Las Vegas. The velocity on his four-seamer was down a bit at 93.9 miles per hour, but that's not overly concerning considering it was his first game action in more than a month. Woo is in line for multiple rehab starts but could be ready to rejoin the Mariners rotation by early May.