Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) will play in extended spring training games in Fort Myers, Fla., starting next Monday, April 14. Yoshida won't start a minor-league rehab assignment until he is throwing at 100 percent. Manager Alex Cora said Yoshida's throwing right now is inconsistent. The 31-year-old Japanese outfielder played in 11 spring training games and hit .286 (10-for-35) with a home run and seven RBI, but he was never cleared to play defense after having offseason shoulder surgery and is still working on a throwing program in Arizona. Masataka has great bat-to-ball skills, but his limited power has been a disappointment in fantasy since he arrived in the States in 2023. It's unlikely we'll see him make his 2025 big-league debut until May, and when he does return, he'll probably be the odd-man out with Rafael Devers serving as the regular DH.

The Seattle Mariners announced on Thursday that infielder Ryan Bliss (biceps) will have surgery on his torn left biceps on Friday and is expected to miss four to five months. Bliss was put on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday after suffering the serious injury during a swing in Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros. The 25-year-old will be out for the foreseeable future and will eventually be moved to the 60-day IL. It's a tough break for Bliss, who had been serving as the team's primary second baseman before the injury. Before the injury, the former second-rounder by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021 out of Auburn was hitting just .200 (7-for-35) with a home run, double, three RBI, two steals and a run scored in 11 games. With Bliss out for a while, expect Dylan Moore to see most of the playing time at the keystone, with Miles Mastrobuoni and Leo Rivas occasionally filling in.

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned right-hander Chris Roycroft to Triple-A Memphis on Thursday and are calling up right-hander Roddery Munoz from Memphis in a corresponding move, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo. In four appearances at Memphis, Munoz has allowed an earned runs on three hits while walking five and striking out seven in five innings. Roycroft had a strong spring training but allowed runs in three of his seven appearances in the regular season. The 27-year-old just hadn't been sharp with his command but will surely be given a chance again this year in St. Louis' bullpen in lower-leverage situations. Munoz, a 24-year-old Dominican, made his major-league debut last year with the Miami Marlins and had a 6.53 ERA and 1.58 WHIP with 70 strikeouts and 42 walks in 82 2/3 innings over 18 outings (17 starts).

With St. Louis Cardinals relievers Chris Roycroft and Ryan Hernandez off to shaky starts in 2025, it appears that right-hander Kyle Leahy is going to be given more opportunities in the late innings out of the bullpen. Leahy started the eighth inning in a scoreless tie in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the highest-leverage situation Leahy has appeared in this season. He pitched around a walk and struck out two. The 27-year-old has quietly been one of St. Louis' best pitchers early on, appearing in six games while allowing one earned run over 7 2/3 frames. He hasn't allowed a hit since March 27 while walking three and striking out 10. Leahy is effective against lefties and righties thanks to a six-pitch arsenal, and he's more valuable to the Cardinals because of his ability to pitch multiple innings. Leahy might be worth a look in fantasy leagues that count holds.

The Miami Marlins announced that they optioned right-hander Valente Bellozo to Triple-A Jacksonville after Wednesday's game to make room for right-hander Sandy Alcantara, who was reinstated from the paternity list on Thursday. Alcantara was placed on the paternity list early this week, and Bellozo was brought up to make a spot start on Monday against the New York Mets. The 25-year-old took the loss in that outing, allowing an earned run on five hits while walking two and striking out two in just 3 2/3 innings. In his first start of the year on March 29 against the Pirates, the Mexican hurler had a no-decision while giving up an earned run, walking two and striking out four in 4 1/3 innings. Bellozo will surely make more spot starts for the Marlins this year, but for now he'll head back to Jacksonville and continue to develop. Alcantara will make his next start on Saturday against the Washington Nationals.