MLB Player News

Kershaw will be shut down for at least one week after feeling soreness in his surgically repaired left shoulder during a bullpen session over the weekend, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw underwent an MRI, which didn't reveal any new damage to the shoulder, so the hope is that this is just a minor setback. He had been slated for his second rehab start Tuesday, but that will be delayed indefinitely. Kershaw was still several weeks away from a return even before the setback and now any timetable would be approximate.

Perez (groin) is expected to rejoin the rotation this weekend in Atlanta, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Perez got his pitch count up to 65 in a rehab outing with Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday and threw some more pitches in the bullpen following the appearance. He's rejoined the Pirates in Cincinnati and will throw a bullpen session Tuesday. While the team has not yet declared a date for his return to the rotation, it's fully expected to happen this weekend. Perez has been shelved since late May with a strained left groin.

Musgrove (elbow) will play catch Monday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Musgrove has been throwing plyometric balls in recent days, but Monday marks his first time playing catch since he landed on the 15-day injured list at the beginning of the month. Surgery hasn't been ruled out down the road for the right-hander, but he'll attempt to come back from the IL without an operation. Even if the non-surgical route proves effective for Musgrove, he's still several weeks away from a potential return.

Ross (back) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic reports.

Ross suffered a setback with his back injury earlier this month but is ready to test things from the bump again. A return before the end of the first half for the righty was ruled out Monday by Brewers manager Pat Murphy, as Ross will need multiple throwing sessions from the mound and eventually a rehab assignment.

The Cardinals promoted Mathews from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield on Monday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Mathews is one of the biggest risers among pitching prospects this season, having dominated at both Single-A Palm Beach and Peoria, collecting a 2.18 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 110:20 K:BB over 74.1 innings in 13 starts between the two stops. His 110 punchouts lead all minor leaguers. Mathews was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and didn't pitch in pro ball last season after throwing 124.2 innings in the spring as a senior at Stanford. He has elevated his standing in 2024 by showing a velocity spike.

Kelly (shoulder) said Friday that he's eyeing the Diamondbacks' mid-August road trip as a target for his return from the 60-day injured list, Jake Oliver of SI.com reports. "Originally we thought it was kind of All-Star break but with how the progression lines up, it's probably a little bit later than that," Kelly said, when asked about his return timeline. "In my mind, I'm hoping I'm on that Tampa, Miami, and Boston trip. I've wanted to go on that trip all year and that seems to be around the right time that I'm back in there but obviously, things can change as we go along."

The three-city road trip that Kelly alluded to begins Aug. 16 in Tampa and wraps up Aug. 25, so the right-hander has shifted his focus toward returning roughly a month after the All-Star break. Placed on the IL on April 23 with a right shoulder strain, Kelly has had a slow recovery thus far from what he said is the first soft-tissue injury he's dealt with during his 15-year professional career. On a positive note, Kelly reiterated that he's continuing to throw, but he remains limited to playing catch off flat ground from 75 feet and hasn't stepped back on the mound since landing on the shelf. With Kelly suggesting that his return is still likely another two months away, fantasy managers in redraft leagues with limited IL spots who have been stashing him during his prolonged absence may be best served cutting bait at this point.

Lowe won his fourth straight start Sunday for Single-A Lake Elsinore, tossing five innings and striking out six while giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks.

Lowe didn't make any appearances for Lake Elsinore after April 26 last season while he was shut down with shoulder inflammation, but he returned to full health for spring training and has thus far avoided the injured list in 2024. Through his 12 starts at Single-A covering 49 innings, Lowe has turned in a 2.94 ERA while striking out 64 batters and walking 21.

Gallen (hamstring) is slated to throw a live batting practice session Monday, MLB.com reports.

Gallen threw 52 pitches in a previous simulated game this past Tuesday, so he'll likely increase his workload a bit in Monday's throwing session. If all goes well, the right-hander will likely be activated from the 15-day injured list during the Diamondbacks' series against Oakland that begins Friday. Gallen has been on the shelf since May 30 with a right hamstring strain.

Webb (6-6) took the loss Sunday against St. Louis, allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out eight.

Webb struggled early, yielding two doubles and two singles as part of a three-run first inning before surrendering another run in the second frame. While Webb settled in afterward, the damage was already done, as the Giants failed to generate a hit until the seventh inning. The 27-year-old has completed at least six innings in nine consecutive starts and matched his season high in strikeouts Sunday. He's one of five players with 100 innings pitched this season and owns a 3.16 ERA and a 91:23 K:BB. Webb is scheduled for a home start against the Dodgers next weekend.

Gray (9-4) picked up the win Sunday against San Francisco, allowing one run on one hit with no walks across seven innings. He struck out eight.

Gray took a perfect game into the seventh inning before Patrick Bailey launched a solo home run with two outs. Although the Cardinals' bullpen gave up two more runs, Gray was able to claim his ninth win of 2024, his most wins in a season since 2019. The 34-year-old has completed at least seven innings in three consecutive starts and owns a 2.95 ERA along with an 11.1 K/9 across 83.1 innings. He's on track to face the Reds during a four-game series late next week.