MLB Player News

Watkins allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in three innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Tuesday.

Watkins didn't get much help from the defense Tuesday, though he also committed an error that led to the Brewers' two runs in the third inning. The right-hander received the first opportunity to take Dean Kremer's (oblique) spot in the rotation, but this wasn't an encouraging performance. Keegan Akin followed Watkins as a long reliever and threw 2.2 scoreless innings, particularly notable considering he and Watkins could be competing for a starting role down the line. If Watkins gets another turn with the starting rotation, he lines up to face Oakland next week, though Alexander Wells is also an option to draw a spot start.

Snell (groin) will be placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Snell was scratched from his scheduled start against the Diamondbacks on Sunday due to groin tightness. Although the southpaw said that the issue is "way more minor" than the groin injury that forced him to miss time late in the 2021 season, he'll still be forced to spend time on the 10-day IL. The move will likely be backdated by a few days, but it's not yet clear when Snell will be able to return to game action.

Reds manager David Bell said that Castillo (shoulder) checked out fine after throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Castillo is scheduled to throw live batting practice this weekend in Los Angeles at some point during the Reds' four-game series with the Dodgers. If all goes well, Castillo could be sent out on a brief minor-league rehab assignment thereafter. The right-hander looks on track to return from the injured list at some point in late April or early May.

Lynch (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Cardinals after giving up six runs on nine hits and a walk. He struck out seven in the 81-pitch outing.

Lynch put the Royals in an early 3-0 hole, as he served up a two-run home run to Nolan Arenado and a solo blast to Albert Pujols in the first inning. He followed up with a pair of smooth frames, but Lynch was stun by the long ball again in the bottom of the fourth, when Andrew Knizner sent a two-strike slider over the fence for a three-run blast. Lynch closed the night with a scoreless, 10-pitch fifth inning, but the damage from the home runs was too much from him to overcome.

Heaney pitched 4.1 innings against Minnesota on Tuesday, allowing an unearned run on three hits and no walks while striking out five. He did not factor in the decision.

Heaney didn't stay in the game long enough to qualify for a victory, but he certainly impressed his new team with 4.1 innings of three-hit ball. The left-hander racked up 15 swinging strikes on just 67 pitches, and per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Twins batters whiffed on eight of the 19 swings they took against Heaney's modified, sharper breaking ball. Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic notes that the veteran hurler threw more breaking balls than fastballs in a game for the first time in his career Tuesday, giving further reason for his fantasy managers to hope that the standout performance was more than just an aberration in a cold and rainy environment in Minnesota. Heaney is expected to make his next start at home against Cincinnati on Sunday.

Lauer gave up four runs -- three earned -- over 4.1 innings and did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's victory over the Orioles. He allowed three hits and posted a 5:2 K:BB in the contest.

Lauer was not sharp Tuesday, but he limited the damage and the Brewers' offense and bullpen wound up taking him off the hook. He posted a 2.23 ERA in 80.2 innings over his final 15 appearances of the 2021 campaign, so he presumably has some level of security despite being at the back end of the Brewers' rotation.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Priester (oblique) won't return to game action for approximately two weeks, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Priester landed on the 7-day minor-league injured list last week, but he hurt his oblique about a week before. The right-hander will likely be forced to miss a month of action in total, but he should make his 2022 debut at Double-A Altoona once he's cleared to return.

The Reds officially selected Lodolo's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.

Cincinnati already confirmed a day ago that Lodolo would pick up the start in Wednesday's series finale with the Guardians, but the team didn't formally activate him until the day of the game. Riley O'Brien was designated for assignment to create room on the 40-man roster for Lodolo, who should be guaranteed a rotation spot until at least one of Luis Castillo (shoulder) or Mike Minor (shoulder) return from the injured list. After a brilliant 2021 campaign between Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville in which Lodolo compiled a 2.31 ERA and 0.97 WHIP while striking out 38.8 percent of the batters he faced across 50.2 innings, it's not out of the question for the young lefty to perform well enough to permanently stay with the big club even after both Castillo and Minor return.

Wainwright and the Cardinals won't face the Royals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The two teams will make up the interleague game May 2. As a result of Wednesday's postponement, the Cardinals will most likely push each of their five starters back a day in the schedule. Wainwright is thus expected to make his next start Thursday against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Greinke and the Royals won't face the Cardinals on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in St. Louis, Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star reports.

The two teams will make up the interleague game May 2. As a result of Wednesday's postponement, the Royals will most likely push each of their five starters back a day in the schedule. Greinke is thus expected to make his next start Thursday versus the Tigers in Kansas City.