MLB Player News

The Nationals placed Schultz on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right elbow inflammation.

Schultz didn't pitch in a Grapefruit League game after Feb. 28 due to his elbow injury, which is severe enough for him to open the season on the injured list. The earliest he can be activated from the IL is early April, but the Nationals have not indicated when the 28-year-old right-hander will embark on a rehab assignment.

The Nationals recalled Gray from Triple-A Rochester and placed him on the 60-day injured list Monday with a right flexor strain.

Gray was optioned to Rochester last week, but that move has been rescinded after the flexor strain was discovered. It's a troubling development for Gray, who missed the entire 2025 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He will not be eligible for activation until late May, and it's unclear whether Gray will be ready to pitch in games by that point.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Church will get some run in left field while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is sidelined, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese are the others in the mix for left-field reps. Church is the only one of the three that bats left-handed and that's a natural outfielder, which could give him a leg up for playing time early on. However, Marmol noted Monday that he does not plan to employ a strict platoon. Church is known more for his glove than his bat, but he have a breakout year offensively with Triple-A Memphis in 2025, slashing .329/.386/.524 with 13 home runs and 16 stolen bases.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that the team hopes Priester (wrist) is ready for his season debut by early May, Jack Stern of BrewerFanatic.com reports.

Priester is currently with the Brewers in Milwaukee and will throw a couple more bullpen sessions there before heading back to the club's spring training complex in Arizona when the Brewers begin their first road trip. The right-hander is dealing with a nerve issue related to thoracic outlet syndrome that has led to pain in his right wrist. Priester will need to make some rehab starts before rejoining the Brewers' rotation.

Schultz has been contending with right elbow discomfort of late and is expected to be placed on the injured list prior to Thursday's season opener versus the Cubs, Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com reports.

The elbow injury explains why Schultz hadn't made any Grapefruit League appearances since Feb. 28. Schultz had been enjoying a strong spring prior to missing time with the injury, but with a trip to the shelf on tap to begin the season, he'll likely be eased back in as a low-leverage reliever once he's deemed ready to make his 2026 debut. The Nationals haven't provided a timeline for when Schultz might be ready to embark on a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Cardinals reassigned Velazquez to Triple-A Memphis on Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

A non-roster invitee this spring, Velazquez put himself in position for a major-league roster spot by hitting .357/.449/.667 with four home runs and a 7:4 BB:K during Grapefruit League play. However, the Cardinals ultimately decided to send the 27-year-old to Memphis to start the season. Velazquez could still get a look with the big club if he gets off to a hot start in the minors, though that could depend on how quickly Lars Nootbaar (heels) makes it back.

Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Wetherholt will be on the team's Opening Day roster, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The Cardinals cleared a path for Wetherholt to be their Opening Day second baseman, and he's now officially won the gig after posting a .780 OPS with two home runs, two stolen bases and a 9:7 BB:K during Grapefruit League action. Wetherholt could even open the year in the leadoff spot, as he's seen lots of reps at the top of the batting order this spring and manager Oliver Marmol has acknowledged the rookie is under consideration for the slot, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

McLain will not play in Monday's exhibition game versus the Brewers due to illness, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

McLain caught a flu bug that made its way around the Reds' clubhouse, but the team anticipates the second baseman playing in Tuesday's exhibition finale. The 26-year-old is slated to open the 2026 campaign as the Reds' two-hole hitter.

Lodolo (finger) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo had to exit Sunday's Cactus League outing against the Guardians due to a blister on his left index finger. He's tentatively slated to start Saturday versus the Red Sox, but getting pushed back or placed on the injured list are viewed as likelier scenarios for the southpaw. Lodolo has a history of blister problems, so expect the Reds to proceed cautiously so as not to make the issue worse.

Sproat has made the Brewers' Opening Day rotation and is slated for his season debut Sunday versus the White Sox, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Injuries to others pushed Sproat up in the pecking order, but he might have captured a spot in the Brewers' rotation regardless. The right-hander was charged with five runs but had a 10:2 K:BB over nine innings during Cactus League play. After facing the White Sox, Sproat tentatively lines up to go up against the Royals and Nationals, giving the 25-year-old early-season streaming appeal.