MLB Player News

If all goes well, he should return during the middle of the week. Edouard Julien is probably first in line to get sent down to make room for him.

It was just a precaution, manager Rob Thomson said, and he’s expected to be good to go on Saturday. The sim game ended up being a 5-5 tie, with Nick Castellanos and Bryce Harper homering off Tanner Banks.

It looks like the Dodgers trust Flaherty a little more than Yamamoto in a potential Game 5. A Game 3 starter was not revealed, though it’s expected that Walker Buehler would get the ball then. Landon Knack is the other option.

Blackburn was diagnosed with a spinal fluid leak a couple of weeks ago. He was still hoping to return at that point, but things have not progressed as hoped.

Ohtani has yet to face hitters in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, so pitching in a major league game within a month would be a lot to ask. He’s just 12 1/2 months removed from the procedure, so even if pitching were his only focus, a return this year would have been optimistic.

Martinez began Tuesday’s game on the bench, but the 37-year-old will start after delivering a two-run single off the bench. With Martinez in, Jesse Winker will begin Wednesday’s game on the bench. The full lineup against Frankie Montas and the Brewers: Francisco Lindor SS, Jose Iglesias 2B, Mark Vientos 3B, Brandon Nimmo LF, Pete Alonso 1B, Martinez DH, Starling Marte RF, Tyrone Taylor CF and Francisco Alvarez behind the plate.

No surprises here. Bibee’s second season was a solid one outside of a few shaky outings to begin the year, and the 25-year-old finished with a 3.47 ERA and 187 strikeouts in his 173 2/3 innings. The right-hander will take on either the Tigers or Astros in that first start, with the Tigers currently owning a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.

Rodriguez had an up-and-down 2024 campaign while forging an 85/40 K/BB and 4.47 ERA in 86 2/3 innings. Atkins also noted that if the team were to move Rodriguez to the bullpen, he could be an “exceptional reliever.” Whether he starts the year in the bullpen likely depends on what Toronto does on the market, but even if he does begin the year in the rotation, there’s too much risk associated with him to consider him a draft option.

O’Hearn took a seat to begin Tuesday’s loss to the Royals with southpaw Cole Ragans on the mound, but he’s in the middle of the Baltimore lineup in a must-win game for the O’s against right-hander Seth Lugo. James McCann is out of the lineup with Adley Rutschman resuming catching duties. The full lineup for the Orioles: Gunnar Henderson SS, Jordan Westburg 2B, Anthony Santander RF, Colton Cowser LF, Rutschman C, O’Hearn DH, Ryan Mountcastle 1B, Cedric Mullins CF and Ramon Urias at third.

Renfroe will take the spot of Tommy Pham in the lineup as the Royals look to advance to the NLDS against the Yankees. Renfroe has hit well against Baltimore starter Zach Eflin in a small sample, going 5-for-13 with a 1.154 OPS. The full lineup: Michael Massey 2B, Bobby Witt Jr. SS, Vinnie Pasquantino DH, Salvador Perez C, Yuli Gurriel 1B, MJ Melendez LF, Renfroe RF, Kyle Isbel CF and Maikel Garcia hitting ninth at third behind Seth Lugo and the Kansas City pitching staff.

Instead, Mattingly will operate as a “more traditional” bench coach. The 63-year-old was in charge of the Toronto offense in 2024, and it didn’t go very well with Toronto ranking among the most disappointing offenses in baseball.