MLB Player News

The Tigers placed Gipson-Long (groin) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Gipson-Long didn't pitch during the Grapefruit League while battling a left groin strain, so his move to the IL to begin the regular season was fully expected. After an eye-opening finish to the 2023 campaign over his first four big-league starts with the Tigers, Gipson-Long had been expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring if the groin injury hadn't cropped up. Because of the missed time in addition to the Tigers' other rotation options being in generally good health, Gipson-Long could be optioned to Triple-A Toledo once he completes a minor-league rehab assignment. Per MLB.com, Gipson-Long has resumed facing hitters in live batting practice as of last week, so he shouldn't be far away from reporting to an affiliate for game action.

Turnbull secured a spot in the Phillies' Opening Day rotation and is scheduled to make his first start Tuesday versus the Reds in Philadelphia, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Turnbull entered spring training on the outside looking in for a rotation spot and was more realistically competing for a long-relief role with the Phillies, but a starting role opened up after Taijuan Walker suffered a shoulder injury last weekend that resulted in him being placed on the 15-day injured list. Though he was lit up to the tune of a 7.26 ERA and 1.68 WHIP in seven starts at the big-league level with the Tigers last season in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, Turnbull owns much more palatable ratios (4.55 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 12.3 K-BB%) over his 302.1 career innings in the majors. The Phillies are hoping that with the elbow procedure further in the rear-view mirror, Turnbull can give the team some quality outings at the back end of the rotation before Walker is ready to return from the IL.

The Phillies placed Walker (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

He was one of five Phillies players to land on the IL on Thursday as Philadelphia reduced its active roster to 26 men in advance of the team's season opener versus Atlanta. Walker, who is recovering from right shoulder soreness, hasn't resumed throwing since he experienced discomfort in a bullpen session last weekend. Spencer Turnbull will step into the Philadelphia rotation as the team's No. 5 starter until Walker is ready to make his season debut.

The Marlins placed Cabrera (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

Cabrera will unsurprisingly begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a right shoulder impingement in mid-March. The 25-year-old threw 39 pitches an intrasquad scrimmage Tuesday and should soon begin a rehab assignment.

The Reds claimed Zulueta off waivers from Toronto on Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville.

Zulueta struggled during spring training, surrendering six runs over five innings while striking out two batters and walking four. He'll find a spot on Cincinnati's 40-man roster anyway and head to Louisville to give the Reds some extra organizational bullpen depth. Matt McLain (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move.

The Marlins placed Garrett (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

The left-hander was diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement early in camp and is now officially on the IL, as expected. Garrett is scheduled to pitch in a rehab game Thursday and should continue ramping up his workload over the next couple weeks. He could make his season debut in mid-April, assuming he's able to avoid any setbacks.

The Marlins placed Perez (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

The 20-year-old has been destined for the IL since being diagnosed with elbow inflammation last week, and the Marlins made the transaction official Thursday. Perez resumed throwing over the weekend but will need to time to build up his arm strength, so he should be sidelined well beyond the 15-day minimum.

The Orioles placed Means on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a left forearm strain.

Means will be eased along slowly into the season after he experienced a flareup in his surgically repaired left elbow back in October. According to MLB.com, Means was about a month behind the Orioles' healthy pitchers in his throwing progression when he reported to spring training Feb. 14, so he only recently reached the point in his ramp-up program where he's able to face hitters. Means is expected to report to Triple-A Norfolk in the near future for a rehab assignment and is likely to make multiple starts on the farm before the Orioles are comfortable bringing him back from the IL.

The Pirates placed Contreras (personal) on the paternity list Thursday.

Contreras will be away from the team between one and three days while he tends to more important matters. Jose Hernandez was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.

The Orioles placed Bradish (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.

The fact that Bradish is opening the season on the 15-day IL rather than the 60-day IL supports the notion that the Orioles are hopeful the 27-year-old will avoid a longer-term absence to begin the season while he recovers from a right UCL sprain. Bradish remains likely to miss all of April, but since he resumed throwing bullpen sessions more than two weeks ago, the right-hander is seemingly on pace to pitch at some point in May, barring any setbacks in the ramp-up process.