MLB Player News
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Sean Murphy C | ATL
Braves' Sean Murphy: Completes sim game with High-A
Murphy (hip) caught three innings of a simulated game with High-A Rome on Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
Murphy has been on the shelf since the beginning of spring training while recovering from right hip surgery, but Wednesday's sim game was a step in the right direction. The catcher will have to work up to nine innings behind the plate and then do so on consecutive days before he'll be considered ready to be activated from the 10-day injured list. The plans for Murphy's upcoming rehab assignment are expected to be announced soon, but he appears to be on track to return at some point in late April or early May.
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Chris Sale SP | ATL
Braves' Chris Sale: Battling illness
Sale (illness) may not be in attendance for Thursday night's contest against the Diamondbacks, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Sale was able to battle through the illness on his way to a victory Wednesday against the A's, but manager Walt Weiss stated Thursday that the southpaw is still pretty sick and may have to watch the team's series opener in Arizona from his hotel room. It's unclear if Sale is in any danger of missing his next expected turn in the rotation Monday on the road against the Angels, but it's something to keep an eye on in the coming days.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Set for bullpen session
Strider (oblique) will throw a bullpen session in Phoenix on Friday, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Strider has been sidelined with an oblique strain for a couple weeks, and Friday's session will be a significant test for where he's at in his recovery. The right-hander is eligible to be activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, but he will likely require at least one minor-league rehab start, making a potential return on that date unattainable. More information on his path ahead should be provided following the bullpen session.
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Nick Lodolo SP | CIN
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Exits rehab start early
Lodolo (blister) exited his minor-league rehab start with Single-A Daytona on Thursday in the third inning, Pat Brennan of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Lodolo was looking to move past the blister on his left index finger by making one start with Single-A Daytona, but the blister reared its ugly head with two outs in the top of the third, forcing the southpaw out of the contest. The hope was that the 28-year-old would be able to return to the Reds in the coming days, but that now appears to be unlikely. Lodolo retired all eight batters he faced in order Thursday, striking out four in the process, and he finished having thrown just 40 pitches when he was scheduled to throw between 60 and 65.
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Patrick Bailey C | SF
Giants' Patrick Bailey: On bench Thursday
Bailey isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Bailey will take a seat Thursday after going just 2-for-18 (.111) with six strikeouts through his first six games of the year. Daniel Susac will catch instead for left-handed starter Robbie Ray, batting eighth.
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Blade Tidwell P | SF
Giants' Blade Tidwell: Recalled from Sacramento
The Giants recalled Tidwell from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
After being sent down to Triple-A to begin the regular season, Tidwell will quickly receive a call-up to the majors to replace the injured Jose Butto (forearm). Tidwell, 24, gave up 15 earned runs over 15 innings with the Mets last year, but he kicked off the 2026 campaign by striking out three batters over 2.2 scoreless innings with Sacramento.
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Jose Butto SP | SF
Giants' Jose Butto: Lands on IL
The Giants placed Butto on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right forearm fatigue, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Butto made an early exit from his appearance against the Padres on Wednesday due to a forearm issue, and he'll now spend at least the next couple of weeks on the injured list getting his forearm back to full strength. Blade Tidwell will come up from Triple-A Sacramento to take Butto's place in the bullpen.
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Ryan Ritter SS | COL
Rockies' Ryan Ritter: Optioned to Triple-A
The Rockies optioned Ritter to Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.
Ritter claimed a spot at the end of Colorado's bench to begin the regular season, but he'll now head back to Triple-A after beginning the season 1-for-7 with a run scored and three strikeouts. His demotion frees up a spot on the Rockies' active roster a day before Mickey Moniak (finger) is eligible to return from the injured list.
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Valente Bellozo SP | COL
Rockies' Valente Bellozo: Recalled to majors
The Rockies recalled Bellozo from Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday.
With Jose Quintana (hamstring) headed for the injured list, the Rockies will call upon Bellozo to fill the void in their starting rotation. The 26-year-old failed to make the Opening Day roster after posting a 6.32 ERA in the Cactus League, and he got off to a poor start in Triple-A by allowing three runs in three innings during his first outing with the Isotopes. It appears Bellozo will work out of the bullpen with Chase Dollander expected to start or work as a primary pitcher in place of Quintana on Saturday.
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Jose Quintana SP | COL
Rockies' Jose Quintana: Placed on injured list
The Rockies placed Quintana on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to a right hamstring strain, retroactive to Monday.
Quintana allowed two earned runs over 4.1 innings during his Rockies debut on Sunday, but he appears to have come away from his start with a hamstring injury. He'll miss his next couple of turns through the rotation as a result, though it remains unknown if he'll need more than a minimum-length stay on the IL. Valente Bellozo was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move and figures to take Quintana's place in the rotation.