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Bubic (elbow) struck out three and allowed one hit and zero walks over three scoreless innings in his rehab start Sunday for Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Advice: After a trio of abbreviated rehab outings in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, Bubic shifted his assignment to the Double-A level over the weekend and was unfazed by higher-caliber competition. He needed just 36 pitches to retire nine batters, doing so while allowing just one baserunner. Bubic's 30-day rehab window will come to a close in the first week of June, but the Royals haven't yet decided what role he'll fill once he's activated from the 60-day injured list. While he looks as though he'll get stretched out for starting duty in the minors, Bubic could have to settle for a long-relief role upon his activation if No. 5 starter Alec Marsh continues to thrive at the back end of the Kansas City rotation. Rotowire.com 37 minutes ago

Matz (back) was cleared to resume playing catch Tuesday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Advice: Matz has been shut down from throwing since receiving a second pain-killing injection in his lower back May 12. The Cardinals haven't set a return timeline for the 32-year-old lefty, though a clearer picture may emerge once he gets back to throwing off a mound. Rotowire.com 49 minutes ago

Joe Boyle (back) will make a minor league rehab start this week for Triple-A Las Vegas.

Advice: It’s unclear how many rehab outings Boyle will require at this juncture, but he’s working his way back from a back strain that sent him to the injured list earlier this month. The 24-year-old righty hasn’t really solved his omnipresent control issues to the point that he’ll be an effective and impactful contributor for fantasy managers. Rotoworld 53 minutes ago

Rasmussen (elbow) was scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday at the Rays' spring training facility, MLB.com reports.

Advice: An MLB.com report earlier this month suggested that Rasmussen had been slated to pitch in an extended spring training game May 20, but it's unclear if that actually came to fruition. In any case, Rasmussen's ability to step back on a mound Tuesday represents a positive step forward in his recovery from the internal brace procedure he underwent on his right elbow July 24, 2023. Though the hybrid procedure is designed to accelerate Rasmussen's recovery timeline compared to Tommy John surgery, expect the Rays to ease him along slowly through his throwing program, given that he had previously underwent two Tommy John surgeries earlier in his career. President of baseball operations Erik Neander said in spring training that Rasmussen could be an option to rejoin the big-league pitching staff in the latter months of the 2024 season if all goes well in his rehab program. Rotowire.com Today, 4:56 pm

Drew Smyly (hip) struck out five over three perfect innings on Tuesday in a minor league rehab start for High-A South Bend.

Advice: It’s a bit unclear what type of role Smyly will wind up occupying once he’s ready to return to Chicago, but it’s possible he’ll get another crack in the starting rotation, or end up as a multi-inning reliever. The 34-year-old southpaw has been out since late April due to a right hip impingement. Rotoworld Today, 4:44 pm