MLB Player News

Ward (shoulder) struck out three while allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over five innings in his most recent rehab start Friday for Double-A Harrisburg.

Ward, who has been on the shelf since July 3 with right shoulder inflammation, was making the sixth appearance of his rehab assignment overall and his second straight at Harrisburg. He's now covered exactly five innings in his last two outings and built up to 79 pitches (51 strikes) in Friday's start. Though all 22 of his appearances with Washington this season have come as a reliever, Ward looks on track to get a look as a starter once he returns from the 15-day injured list. The Nationals currently have an opening in the rotation Wednesday at Pittsburgh, and Ward could be a candidate to either start that game or work as a bulk reliever behind an opener.

Atlanta optioned Heller to Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.

Heller's latest stint with Atlanta lasted just three days, with the veteran right-hander making two relief appearances and tossing 2.1 scoreless frames. Atlanta recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd from Triple-A to make a spot start Saturday versus the Pirates, but Dodd returned to Gwinnett a day later.

Uelman, who remains on Triple-A Lehigh Valley's 60-day injured list with an undisclosed injury, began a rehab assignment at Single-A Clearwater on Thursday.

Uelman gave up an earned run on one hit while striking out a batter in one inning Thursday in his first game action at any level since June 4. The 27-year-old right-hander retains a spot on the Phillies' 40-man roster, but his long-term absence due to the unspecified injury presumably takes him out of consideration for a late-season promotion to the big club once he's fully health again.

Robertson (6-6) earned the win Sunday against the Phillies. He allowed a hit and two walks while striking out three in a scoreless inning.

Robertson certainly didn't make things easy in the seventh inning Sunday -- after striking out the first two batters in the frame, he'd load the bases on a pair of walks and a hit before ultimately punching out Alec Bohm. The Marlins would take the lead in the bottom half of the inning, giving Robertson his second win in his last three appearances. The veteran right-hander has now delivered three consecutive scoreless outings after giving up eight runs (six earned) in his previous four appearances. Tanner Scott seems to have locked down the closing job in Miami, though they'll still rely on Robertson as a high-leverage option. He now sports a 3.10 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 65:23 K:BB in 58 innings between the Marlins and Mets this season.

Scott picked up the save Sunday against the Phillies. He allowed one walk while striking out three over 1.2 scoreless innings.

Scott came on in relief of Andrew Nardi with one out in the eighth inning. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Scott struck out Edmundo Sosa and Kyle Schwarber to preserve a 5-4 lead before working around a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the ninth to earn his seventh save. The 29-year-old Scott has emerged as an elite closing option for Miami of late -- he hasn't allowed an earned run in his last 17.2 innings, striking out 21 while issuing just three walks in that span. He lowered his ERA to 2.24 on the season with a 1.04 WHIP and 92:24 K:BB across 68.1 innings.

The Padres reinstated Suarez (suspension) from the restricted list Monday.

Suarez will rejoin the Padres for the start of their three-game series in Los Angeles that begins Monday after he completed a 10-game suspension for allegedly using a foreign substance during an Aug. 21 relief appearance. The setup man holds a 5.51 ERA and 13:5 K:BB over 16.1 innings for the Padres this season.

Lambert (3-7) gave up six runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Giants.

The Rockies gave Lambert a 3-0 lead to work with in the second inning, but it was gone by the end of the third. The Giants teed off with three homers in this contest, the most Lambert's given up in an appearance this season. He's now at a 5.36 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 71:28 K:BB through 87.1 innings over 25 appearances (11 starts). The right-hander is projected for a rematch at home with the Giants in his next outing.

Doval allowed a hit and struck out one in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Rockies.

Doval has picked up three saves in five days after going over a week between opportunities. He allowed a run in his save Friday, but this was a sharper effort for the hard-throwing closer. For the season, he's up to 37 saves in 44 chances with a 2.98 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 81:24 K:BB through 60.1 innings overall.

Winn (1-2) allowed three runs on five hits and struck out nine without walking a batter over six innings to earn the win Sunday over the Rockies.

Winn's last outing was last Sunday, when he pitched five scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He got the start this time around and turned in a quality start, his second in seven appearances this season. The rookie right-hander has been effective so far with a 3.55 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB through 33 innings. It's unclear what his role will be going forward, though the Giants certainly have a need for solid starting efforts. If he remains in the rotation, his next outing would be a rematch with the Rockies in Colorado.

Merryweather worked around a walk to pitch a clean ninth inning and record the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.

Regular closer Adbert Alzolay pitched each of the last two days, so the Cubs turned to Merryweather instead Sunday. The righty did the job, recording his first save since he earned two of them with the Blue Jays back in 2021. Merryweather has been a pleasant surprise this season with a 3.18 ERA and 90 strikeouts across 65 innings out of Chicago's bullpen after he posted a 6.75 ERA for Toronto last year.