MLB Player News

The Cubs optioned Barnes to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.

Barnes made one appearance during his brief stint with the big club, yielding four runs (three earned) over three innings in Monday's loss to the Phillies. The Cubs will replace him with a fresh relief arm.

The Cubs placed Roberts on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with an undisclosed injury.

It's unclear what injury Roberts is dealing with, but it will cost him at least the next couple weeks of action. The right-hander has made three scoreless appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen this season.

The Rockies recalled Gordon from Triple-A Albuquerque on Tuesday.

Gordon has been sharp early on at Albuquerque, posting a 2.76 ERA and 15:4 K:BB over his first 16.1 innings. The righty holds a career 7.06 ERA in 23 starts in the majors, however, and appears pegged for a long-relief role with the Rockies.

Bohm is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Bohm's absence from the lineup is his first of the season that's a pure lineup decision, as his previous time on the bench April 7 in San Francisco was due to minor groin tightness. The 29-year-old third baseman launched a three-run home run Opening Day but is batting just .145 (8-for-55) with one extra-base hit in the ensuing 14 contests. Bohm has been dropped from the cleanup spot for the past week, batting sixth, seventh or eighth in his last four starts.

Priester (wrist) is tracking toward beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville next week, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Priester is slated to throw a two-up live batting practice session at the Brewers' spring training complex Thursday, and if that goes well he will be cleared to pitch in rehab games. Working his way back from symptoms related to thoracic outlet syndrome, Priester missed all of spring training, so he will need a few rehab outings before being considered for the Brewers' rotation.

Chourio's estimated return from a fracture in his left hand has been pushed back into early May, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The 22-year-old's fractured hand has been showing signs of healing, but he hadn't been cleared to resume hitting as of late last week. Chourio landed on the shelf just before Opening Day and was given an initial return timeline of 2-to-4 weeks, but it appears his absence will be extending beyond that. Milwaukee's outfield depth is being tested early this season, with Christian Yelich (groin) also landing on the injured list.

Yelich (groin) is expected to be sidelined until mid- to late-May, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Yelich landed on the 10-day injured list earlier Tuesday with a left adductor strain, and it appears he's looking at a 4-to-6 week absence. It's a significant loss for the Brewers and for fantasy managers that used a top-100 pick on Yelich this spring. Gary Sanchez is in line for the bulk of the reps at designated hitter for now while Yelich is out, though Andrew Vaughn (hand) and Jake Bauers could share first base and DH once Vaughn is healthy.

Mikolas is expected to serve as a bulk reliever behind opening pitcher PJ Poulin in Tuesday's game in Pittsburgh, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The Pirates typically roll out a starting lineup featuring two left-handed hitters (Oneil Cruz and Brandon Lowe) with OPSes north of 1.000 in the top two spots, so the Nationals will hope to neutralize them or force Pittsburgh to alter its batting order by having the left-handed Poulin begin the game. Poulin is unlikely to cover more than an inning or two before giving way to Mikolas, who should get a softer landing to begin his appearance by facing the back end of the Pittsburgh lineup. Mikolas struggled mightily through in first three starts with Washington, giving up 19 runs (17 earned) on 22 hits and seven walks over 12.1 innings.

The Phillies recalled Shugart from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

The right-hander missed out on the Opening Day roster but will round out Philadelphia's bullpen following the demotion of Seth Johnson. Shugart had a 3.40 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 31:17 K:BB across 45 innings out of the bullpen for the Pirates last season.

The Phillies optioned Johnson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.

Johnson's stint in the big leagues lasted only one day. He was tagged for five runs (three earned) over 1.2 innings in Monday's win over the Cubs. Johnson is being replaced on the roster by Chase Shugart, who will give the Phillies a fresh bullpen arm.