MLB Player News

Butto was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse by the Mets on Monday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Butto pitched well on Sunday while allowing just a run against the Athletics over five innings, but he's sent down to provide a fresh arm in the bullpen. Edwin Uceta takes his place on the roster. Butto will likely be an up-and-down option for the Mets throughout the 2023 campaign.

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said that Blackburn came away from his latest rehab start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday with a blister on his middle finger, and the right-hander's next appearance is in doubt, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports

Blackburn struggled in the outing with four runs allowed on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings, and the blister likely played a part in it. Considering that Blackburn was already rehabbing a middle finger avulsion before developing the blister, he may require some time off for the blister to heal before he resumes his rehab assignment.

Hendricks (shoulder) threw 36 pitches over two innings of a simulated outing before Monday's game against the Athletics and felt great afterwards, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Hendricks continues to make positive progress from the shoulder strain that has sidelined him to begin the 2023 season. The next step for the right-hander could be a rehab assignment in hopes of him being part of the Cubs' rotation by the end of April or early in May.

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Eflin (back) looked good in a bullpen session Monday and is on track to return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday against the White sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Eflin was placed on the IL on April 11 due to lower-back tightness, but barring any further setbacks, he should be in line for activation when first eligible this weekend. The right-hander had pitched well before the injury, compiling a 3.27 ERA and 12:1 K:BB over 11 innings.

Musgrove (toe/shoulder) struck out eight over five innings and allowed four earned runs on six hits and no walks in his rehab start Sunday with Triple-A El Paso.

The rehab outing was Musgrove's second with El Paso after he previously covered 4.1 innings in his first start April 6. He built up to 69 pitches in Sunday's outing, so Musgrove looks like he'll be ready to handle something close to a normal workload if the Padres are comfortable bringing him back from the 15-day injured list at some point during this weekend's four-game series in Arizona. Ryan Weathers is the most likely candidate to move to the bullpen or head to Triple-A once Musgrove is formally cleared to rejoin the big-league rotation.

Marquez (forearm) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Before he's formally cleared to resume mound work, Marquez will play catch off flat ground from 90 feet Monday. The Rockies have optimism that the right forearm strain Marquez sustained in an April 10 start won't require anything more than a 15-day stint on the injured list, but he still has a few hurdles to clear in the recovery process to make that a reality.

Seattle reinstated Gonzales from the paternity list Monday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

Gonzales was away from the team for three days following the birth of his child. The left-hander is scheduled to make his next start Wednesday against the Brewers.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro said Bubic will require a second opinion on his elbow after he was diagnosed Sunday with a left flexor strain, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Bubic was placed on the 15-day injured list after initial tests revealed the flexor strain, but Quatraro notes that the Royals still have some "underlying concerns' about the health of the lefty's elbow and will have him get another checkup. The Royals are expected to have an updated timeline on Bubic's return later Monday once the second medical opinion is completed, but the southpaw looks like he could be at risk of missing more than the minimum 15 days.

The Marlins announced Monday that Sanchez (shoulder) "felt good" after pitching in an extended spring training game over the weekend, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanchez is steadily building up from right shoulder surgery, and barring any setbacks, he looks like he should be ready to make his first appearance in affiliated ball since 2020 in the upcoming weeks. He'll throw a bullpen session Wednesday before likely facing hitters in another simulated game this weekend.

The Marlins announced Monday that Meyer (elbow) has increased his throwing distance off flat ground to 90 feet, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

It's another marginal step forward for Meyer in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, as the right-hander had been limited to playing catch from 75 feet over the past two weeks. Meyer still appears to be at least a couple weeks away from completing his flat-ground throwing progression before he's cleared to start throwing off a mound.