MLB Player News

Ragans (groin) is throwing a two-up bullpen Wednesday and is then expected to make a rehab start this weekend, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Ragans has been on the injured list since May 17 and becomes eligible for reinstatement Sunday, but it seems as though he'll need more time before rejoining the active roster. The Royals haven't announced their full plans, but the left-hander may only need one rehab start before being activated given the brevity of his absence.

Lugo (finger) is expected to be activated from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Tigers, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

After being placed on the shelf May 17 due to a right middle finger sprain, Lugo healed quickly and will rejoin the Kansas City rotation when first eligible. Prior to being deactivated, Lugo accumulated a 3.02 ERA and a 42:15 K:BB over 56.2 innings.

Cecconi (groin) is scheduled to start Saturday's game against the Angels, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was scratched from his start Wednesday against the Dodgers due to mild groin tightness, but his outing will only end up being pushed back a few days. The injury results in a more favorable matchup for Cecconi, who has a 3.27 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 14:2 K:BB in his first two starts after opening the season on the injured list due to an oblique strain.

Rodriguez (lat/elbow) has started throwing on flat ground but remains without a timetable for return, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reported Wednesday.

Rodriguez has been on the injured list since spring training, though an April 23 diagnosis of a lat strain threw a wrench in his recovery from elbow inflammation. The 25-year-old isn't likely to rejoin the Orioles' rotation until the second half of the season, but the fact he's started up his throwing program is an encouraging development.

The Royals selected Hoffmann's contract from Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

Hoffmann has had an excellent start to the 2025 campaign at Omaha, logging a 2.84 ERA and a 37:9 K:BB over 25.1 innings spanning 19 appearances. The 25-year-old will make his MLB debut if he gets into a game, and he should be a middle-inning arm for the Royals. Evan Sisk was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Smith-Shawver and Atlanta will not play the Phillies on Wednesday after the game was postponed due to rain, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Smith-Shawver will have a second consecutive start postponed, with his May 21 outing also getting pushed back a day due to rain in Washington. Wednesday's contest will be made up Thursday, as Atlanta and Philadelphia will play a split doubleheader. Per Mark Bowman of MLB.com, Smith-Shawver will pitch in Game 1.

Wheeler won't start as scheduled Wednesday against Atlanta since the game was postponed due to inclement weather, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

The contest will be made up via a split doubleheader Thursday, with Wheeler set to take the ball for Game 2, per Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The veteran right-hander hasn't given up a run in his past three starts and has a 2.42 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 88:14 K:BB across 70.2 innings this year.

Bradish (elbow) said Wednesday he's about halfway through his bullpen progression and is hoping to throw live BP in early July, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bradish's recovery from Tommy John surgery continues to go smoothly, and he's set a target goal for the next step in his progression. If he begins facing live hitters in early July and goes out on a minor-league rehab assignment shortly thereafter, he could be back with the Orioles in August.

Parker could be in danger of losing his rotation spot after posting an 8.46 ERA, 1.81 WHIP and 20:15 K:BB through 27.2 innings over his last six starts, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The southpaw held a 1.39 ERA on April 22, but since then things have completely fallen apart for Parker, who served up three homers in 4.2 innings during his most recent outing May 27 in Seattle. The Nationals will give him more time to figure things out, but if Parker's struggles continue into June, he could be painting a bullseye on his back to lose his rotation spot when the team decides prospect Cade Cavalli is ready to be promoted from Triple-A Rochester.

Cavalli has allowed two runs in nine innings with a 13:2 K:BB over his last two starts for Triple-A Rochester, and he could be called up to join the Nationals' rotation at some point in June, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

The organization wants to make sure Cavalli will be able to handle a regular turn before promoting him, but he's begun to do exactly that at Rochester, building up to 71 pitches (43 strikes) in his most recent start May 22. The 26-year-old right-hander pitched just 8.1 innings combined in 2023 and 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be healthy now, sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball while mixing in a curveball and changeup. Mitchell Parker is also struggling for the Nats, posting an 8.46 ERA over his last six starts, and if he's unable to turn things around soon, it would provide a clear opening for Cavalli to see his first big-league action since 2022.