MLB Player News

McCullers (forearm) threw 25 times on flat ground from 60 feet Tuesday and is scheduled to throw again Friday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The 28-year-old has been shut down since suffering setbacks while rehabbing during the offseason, and his return to throwing is a significant development in his rehab program. McCullers will need to strengthen his arm before returning to mound work and eventually facing live hitter. His return from the injured list likely remains more than a month away.

Smyly (1-0) tossed five scoreless innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Pirates. He allowed three hits and struck out one.

It was an excellent team debut for Smyly, who didn't join the Cubs until March 19. The veteran lefty has had some success before, including his respectable 4.48 ERA across 23 starts with Atlanta last season. Chicago is currently without Alec Mills (back), Wade Miley (elbow) and Adbert Alzolay (lat), so Smyly should be entrenched in the rotation for now, and he could stick there all year if he pitches well. He's currently slated to start again Sunday against the Rockies at Coors Field.

Matz (finger) is scheduled to make his second start of the season Friday against the Brewers in Milwaukee, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Matz dealt with a blister in his Cardinals debut in Sunday's loss to the Pirates, with the issue likely playing a part in the southpaw getting tagged for seven runs on nine hits and a walk over three innings. The Cardinals are apparently confident the blister won't present too many problems for Matz moving forward, though fantasy managers may want to tread carefully with the southpaw as he heads to American Family Field.

Detroit released Anderson from his minor-league contract Sunday.

The Tigers elected to move on from Anderson after he was lit up for three runs on six hits and two walks across 2.2 innings in his lone start for Triple-A Toledo last Friday. Now a free agent, the 34-year-old right-hander will look to catch on elsewhere as organizational starting depth.

Cabrera (biceps) is on the 7-day injured list at Low-A Jupiter and resumed a throwing progression Monday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

While Cabrera would likely be at Triple-A Jacksonville if he were fully healthy, general manager Kim Ng said it would be easier for him to be monitored by a number of the Marlins' different medical professionals if he were stationed in Jupiter. Cabrera also dealt with a biceps issue last spring.

Gray (finger) said Tuesday that he believes he's on track to return from the 10-day injured list when first eligible April 19, independent baseball journalist Jeff Wilson reports.

Though Gray has yet to throw a bullpen session since being placed on the IL, he's pleased with how his hand has healed after he developed a blister on one of his fingers coming out of his Rangers debut April 8 in Toronto. Due to off days Wednesday and next Monday, the Rangers will be able to get by with a four-man rotation if Gray is on fact on track to return for the start of next week's series in Seattle.

Manager Buck Showalter said that Walker (shoulder) will need to make at least one rehab start before returning from the 10-day injured list, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Walker left his start Monday against the Phillies after just two innings due to shoulder bursitis. Given that he'll require a rehab outing, Walker seems likely to miss more than one turn in the major-league rotation. David Peterson is likely to take his place temporarily, though the Mets have yet to officially announce their plans.

Montgomery was cleared to play catch after both an MRI and CT scan on his left knee administered earlier Tuesday returned negative, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Montgomery's first start of the season Sunday against the Red Sox was cut short due to left knee inflammation, but he responded well to having his knee drained following the outing. With the swelling having subsided, Montgomery was able to resume throwing Tuesday, and the expectation is that he'll make his normal pre-start bullpen session Wednesday, per Meredith Marakovits of YES Network. If all goes well in his return to the mound, Montgomery should get the green light to make his next turn through the rotation Friday in Baltimore.

Walker was placed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder bursitis Tuesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Walker himself wrote on Twitter that, "everything is all good" Tuesday after leaving his start Monday against the Phillies with right shoulder irritation, but "all good" was apparently in relation to avoiding a more severe injury. He'll still wind up missing at least one start and potentially a small handful, with the Mets yet to specify exactly when he'll be back. David Peterson pitched four scoreless innings of relief after Walker's exit Monday and is presumably in line to fill his spot in the rotation.

Watkins is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Brewers in Baltimore, Steve Melewski of MASNSports.com reports.

Since he wasn't needed out of the bullpen during Monday's 2-0 win in the series opener following his promotion from Triple-A Norfolk, Watkins will pick up a start in place of Dean Kremer (oblique), who was placed on the injured list a day ago. Kremer is projected to miss at least 3-to-4 weeks, potentially paving the way for Watkins to earn a longer-term stay in the rotation. Fantasy managers shouldn't get too excited about that prospect, however; in his 10 starts with Baltimore in 2021, Watkins turned in a 7.63 ERA.