MLB Player News

Oviedo (elbow) increased his throwing distance to 90 feet to begin July, MLB.com reports.

Oviedo is progressing in his return from Tommy John surgery and recently increased his throwing distance from 75 feet. He is expected to be ready to begin the 2025 season.

Birdsong did not factor in the decision during Sunday's loss to Cleveland. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over 4.2 innings while recording five strikeouts.

Birdsong kept the Guardians quiet until he coughed up a pair of runs in the fourth inning. He's recorded exactly five punchouts in each of his first three big-league starts and has yet to go deeper than five innings. Birdsong generated 13 swinging strikes, including five with his slider. He'll carry a 4.40 ERA into his next start, which is projected to be at home against the Twins.

Ashcraft (5-5) yielded a run on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against Detroit.

Ashcraft gave up just one run in the fourth inning but was still stuck with the loss as the Reds couldn't get much going against Tarik Skubal. Ashcraft has not completed six innings in an MLB start since May 1; since then, he's gone 2-4 with a brutal 6.54 ERA over nine appearances. He now owns a 5.24 ERA with a 57:27 K:BB through 77.1 innings. As of now, it's unclear if Ashcraft will get another turn in the rotation. If he does, he could be in line for a home matchup against the Marlins.

Cabrera yielded two runs on four hits and a walk in a no-decision Sunday. He struck out four during Miami's win over the White Sox.

Cabrera made his first MLB appearance since May 7 after a two-month stint on the IL due to a shoulder issue. He looked solid through three scoreless frames before coughing up a two-run homer to Danny Mendick in the fourth inning. Cabrera walked just one batter but struggled to command the strike zone, throwing just 47 of 82 pitches for strikes. He's now sporting a 6.84 ERA with a 35:15 K:BB through 25 innings. Cabrera's next outing is projected to be in Cincinnati.

The Marlins transferred Weathers (finger) to the 60-day injured list Sunday.

The left-hander has been shut down from throwing due to an index finger strain since he landed on the shelf June 8, so he was already likely to be sidelined for 60-plus days. Weathers is expected to be re-evaluated soon, and he could be back with the Marlins sometime in August if cleared to resume throwing after that evaluation.

Gibson (7-3) earned the win Sunday over the Nationals, allowing three runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out eight.

Gibson got through the first five innings surrendering just two runs but allowed the first three hitters to reach in the sixth before getting pulled. The veteran has won three of his last four starts and has had quality starts in four of his last seven outings. The 36-year-old has helped stabilize the Cardinals rotation -- he has a 3.96 ERA and 1.29 WHIP through 97.2 innings.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday that Assad (forearm) could be activated from the injured list prior to the All-Star break, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

The right-hander landed on the shelf in late June with a strained forearm, but he wasn't shut down from throwing for long and had a bullpen session Friday. The Cubs have a doubleheader Saturday in St. Louis, and that would be a logicial point for him to be re-insterted into the rotation ahead of the All-Star break.

Herz (1-3) took the loss Sunday against the Cardinals. He allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts over 4.1 innings.

Herz pitched a clean first and third inning but ran into trouble the rest of the time before getting pulled in the fifth. His rollercoaster rookie campaign continues as he's scattered impressive starts, like the two with double-digit strikeouts, with rough outings like the one on Sunday. The 23-year-old has a 5.17 ERA with 41 strikeouts over 31.1 innings this season.

Munoz is slated to start Thursday's game against the Astros in Houston.

In his last appearance Friday against the White Sox, Munoz piggybacked starter Bryan Hoeing for four innings, giving up two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two batters over his 87 pitches. Both Munoz and Hoeing will get their own starts this week, as Hoeing is slated to toe the rubber Wednesday while Munoz gets the ball for the series finale. Munoz holds a 5.48 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 40:24 K:BB through 44.1 innings in the majors this season.

Kershaw (shoulder) threw a two-inning simulated game Sunday in Los Angeles, the Associated Press reports. "It was good to see him throw two innings. We accomplished what we wanted to," manager Dave Roberts said after Kershaw's workout.

Kershaw has resided on the injured list all season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last November, but he looks like he could be ready to make his 2024 debut for the Dodgers at some point within the next month. The 36-year-old had previously made a three-inning rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on June 19, but he was then shut down from throwing for the next week after experiencing lingering soreness in his shoulder. According to Roberts, Kershaw is in line to resume his rehab assignment next Saturday, likely with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Kershaw is expected to cover three innings in that outing, and he's likely to require at least two rehab starts beyond that one before the Dodgers bring him back from the 60-day IL.