MLB Player News

Perez (elbow) will make his next rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Jacksonville, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is moving up to the Marlins' highest minor-league affiliate after he yielded three runs (two earned) with a 12:3 K:BB over 10 innings covering five rehab starts with Single-A Jupiter. Perez went four frames and threw 49 pitches in his most recent outing Friday and will continue to increase his workload at Jacksonville, with eyes on returning from the 60-day injured list in early June.

McDermott was added to the Orioles' taxi squad Monday and is expected to start Tuesday's game in Milwaukee, Danielle Allentuck of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

McDermott showed flashes in a spot start last week against the Twins, striking out five while yielding four runs over three innings. He missed the first month of the season with a lat injury and hasn't thrown more than 65 pitches in any outing, so McDermott is unlikely to go deep into Tuesday's start unless he's efficient.

The Astros added Walter to their taxi squad Monday and could call him from Triple-A Sugar Land to start Tuesday's game against the Rays in Tampa, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Walter has been sharp with Sugar Land in 2025, posting a 2.27 ERA and 34:7 K:BB over 35.2 innings covering five starts and four relief appearances. The southpaw's lone previous big-league action came back in 2023, when he turned in a 6.26 ERA over nine relief appearances with the Red Sox. If Walter does in fact get called up to start Tuesday, he could be sent back down to Sugar Land after the game.

The Phillies optioned Abel to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The idea all along was for Abel's major-league debut Sunday against the Pirates to be a spot start, and the Phillies have stuck to the plan even after the rookie struck out nine over six scoreless innings. Taijuan Walker will now enter the rotation this week as the replacement for Aaron Nola (ankle). Abel will go back into Lehigh Valley's rotation but is sure to garner additional looks in the majors this season.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Monday in an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that he expects Greene (groin) to return fromt he 15-day injured list to make a start this weekend against the Cubs.

Greene threw a bullpen session Sunday and "came through that real well," per Francona. Assuming the right-hander bounces back from the mound work with no hiccups, he will skip a rehab assignment and go right back into the Reds rotation this weekend at Great American Ball Park. Greene is coming back from a Grade 1 right groin strain, which he suffered May 7. It's not clear what kind of workload restrictions, if any, he will have in his return to the bump.

Messick has a 1.33 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 31:9 K:BB in 20.1 innings over his last four starts for Triple-A Columbus.

Messick's 11.3 percent walk rate in his first year at Triple-A is the worst mark of his career, but his 33.3 percent strikeout rate trails only Bubba Chandler among qualified International League starters. Messick is a bulky 6-foot lefty with a plus changeup and a fastball that ranges from 89-to-94 mph. He throws the kitchen sink at hitters, and it's been keeping Triple-A batters off balance, especially lately. Messick could get a chance in the majors this summer, although he is not yet on the 40-man roster.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Spiers (shoulder) began a throwing progression Saturday at the team's spring training facility in Arizona, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.

Spiers will likely remain in Arizona for at least the next couple of weeks to continue ramping up before the Reds map out a minor-league rehab assignment for him. The 27-year-old righty had started in two of his three appearances for Cincinnati before landing on the shelf April 20 with a right shoulder impingement, but he might have to settle for a long-relief role once he's activated.

Montero is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Sean Guenther in Monday's game in St. Louis, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The Cardinals typically use two left-handed batters -- Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan -- among their top three spots in the lineup, so the Tigers will have the left-handed Guenther open the game with the hope of stymieing the St. Louis offense early on. Guenther is unlikely to work more than a couple of innings before giving way to Montero, who will be making his second straight appearance in a bulk-relief role after covering 3.1 frames and giving up three earned runs out of the bullpen last Tuesday against the Red Sox. Montero should stick around as the de facto fifth member of the Detroit rotation until Casey Mize (hamstring) is cleared to return from the 15-day injured list.

Rocker (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment later this week as long as he bounces back well from a two-inning live batting practice session he threw Sunday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Rocker's stuff looked "good" Sunday, adding that the right-hander's rehab assignment will be a lengthy one as he gets stretched back out following a three-week shutdown period. Rocker has been out for almost four weeks with a right shoulder impingement. He logged an 8.10 ERA in his first five starts this season before the injury and wouldn't seem to be guaranteed a spot in the Texas rotation once he's activated from the 15-day injured list.

Verlander revealed after Sunday's start against the Athletics that he was dealing with a physical issue that affected his velocity and mechanics, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Verlander intimated that he was experiencing the issue before the start began and the Giants were aware he was compromised but were comfortable with him taking the ball. The righty averaged only 91.3 mph with his four-seamer in the outing, walking five and allowing two runs over four innings. Verlander declined to offer more details on what injury he's battling, but he said he's "pretty optimistic" he'll be able to make his next scheduled start Saturday on the road versus the Nationals. The 42-year-old was limited to only 17 starts last season because of shoulder and neck problems.