MLB Player News

Bradish (elbow) will join High-A Aberdeen on Tuesday and begin a rehab assignment there soon, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

It's hard to have any level of confidence regarding the health of a pitcher's elbow given what's happened around baseball recently, but Bradish's recovery since being diagnosed with a partial UCL tear has gone as well as can be expected. Given that he missed all of spring training, he would figure to need most, if not all, of his 30-day rehab window before rejoining the Orioles' rotation.

Red Sox GM Craig Breslow said Tuesday that Pivetta (elbow) may not be on the injured list much beyond the 15-day minimum, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

The right-hander was placed on the injured list earlier Tuesday with a flexor strain, but the issue apparently isn't a serious concern. Still, it's worth keeping an eye on Pivetta's recovery given the nature of the injury. Cooper Criswell and Chase Anderson are the likely candidates to receive a look in the rotation while Pivetta is sidelined.

Martin is being held back in extended spring training to manage his workload before being assigned to High-A Great Lakes at the beginning of May, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

One of the most exciting pitching prospects in the Dodgers' system, Martin only logged 39.2 innings last year in his first pro season and turns 20 in May, so he wasn't going to be able to pitch for five straight months anyway. Assuming he does get to work for the Loons in early May, he could still double his workload from a year ago. Martin had a 2.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 48 strikeouts in 14 appearances at Single-A. He already touches 98 mph with his fastball and has a chance for a quality slider and changeup.

Single-A Augusta placed Ritchie (elbow) on its 60-day injured list March 26.

Augusta notably placed Ritchie on the 60-day IL rather than the full-season IL, signaling that he's expected back at some point in the second half of the season once he completes his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery. Before suffering the season-ending elbow injury last May, Ritchie made four starts for Augusta and compiled a 5.40 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB in 13.1 innings.

Maier struck out five over four innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and one walk Saturday in Single-A Augusta's 5-4 win over Columbia in 10 innings.

Selected in the seventh round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Maier didn't take the hill for an affiliate that year or in 2023 while he recovered from an internal brace surgery to stabilize the right ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. After the 22-year-old right-hander entered spring training without any restrictions, he was cleared to make his long-awaited professional debut this past weekend. He spotted 41 of his 60 pitches for strikes in the outing.

Pivetta was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Red Sox on Tuesday with a right elbow flexor strain, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.

Pivetta has been an early-season bright spot for the Red Sox, allowing just one run with a 13:1 K:BB over 11 innings covering his first two starts. After sustaining the injury coming out of his most recent start last Wednesday, however, Pivetta will be on the shelf for a least a couple weeks and potentially much longer, given the nature of the injury. It's not clear yet who might fill Pivetta's spot in the rotation, but Cooper Criswell, Chase Anderson and Josh Winckowski look to be the top candidates.

Triple-A Gwinnett placed Anderson on its 60-day injured list March 28.

Anderson remains on Atlanta's 40-man roster, but because he was optioned to Triple-A in March, he'll begin the season on Gwinnet's 60-day IL rather than the big club's. The right-hander isn't expected to be ready to pitch in games until the second half of the season while he completes his recovery from April 2023 Tommy John surgery.

Lara has been held back in extended spring training to begin the minor-league season as he recovers from an oblique strain, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lara is one of the few high-upside prospects left in Atlanta's farm system, but he'll have to wait a few weeks before he makes his season debut. The 6-foot-3 righty only logged 9.1 innings at High-A Rome last season after pitching 72 innings at Single-A Augusta, so he'll presumably head back to Rome once he's fully healthy.

Gipson-Long (groin) is being evaluated for right forearm tightness, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Gipson-Long looked to be almost done with his rehab assignment while working his way back from a groin strain, but he now has a new and potentially more serious injury to deal with. The Tigers should have more information on the right-hander's condition later this week.

Paxton (2-0) picked up the win Monday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over six innings against Minnesota. He struck out four.

Paxton nailed his first quality start of 2024 on Monday, getting on the board in the category after securing eight quality starts in 19 appearances last season. While he only allowed four base runners, Paxton was tagged for a pair of runs when Manuel Margot launched a two-run homer in the third to plate Austin Martin, who reached via walk. With one of baseball's best offenses behind him, Paxton seems primed to reach double-digit wins for the first time since 2019 if he can stay healthy.