MLB Player News

Imanaga (5-7) took the loss Saturday against the Cardinals, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. He struck out eight.

Imanaga had plenty of swing-and-miss stuff going, fanning eight and generating 16 whiffs, but he was still inefficient with 86 pitches on the evening. Saturday disrupted a seven-start streak of at least five innings for the 32-year-old left-hander, who also tied a season high in walks. Imanaga is next lined up for a relatively tough assignment at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, holding a 4.28 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 100:26 K:BB over 103 innings.

Leahy (7-4) notched the win Saturday against the Cubs, allowing no runs on three hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out six.

Leahy was magnificent Saturday, scattering three singles across five shutout frames. It was somewhat surprising to the 29-year-old right-hander get pulled after just 77 pitches given how well he was performing, but it's worth noting he's crossed the 90-pitch marker just four times in 117 stars for the year. Leahy will aim to further improve on a 3.86 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 73:33 K:BB over 86.1 innings against the division-rival Brewers in his next scheduled outing.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that Woodruff was diagnosed with an inflamed labrum in his right shoulder following his early exit from Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks and will be placed on the injured list, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Woodruff will go on the IL for the second time this season due to a labrum injury, with his first stint lasting about six weeks. If he faces a similar recovery timeline this time around, Woodruff wouldn't be a rotation option for the Brewers until at least early August. Woodruff ended up taking the loss in Saturday, when he allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out six across 3.2 innings.

Sale (9-6) notched the win Saturday against the Mets, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out three.

Sale was cruising along Saturday with four shutout innings, but he was chased after allowing four consecutive Mets to reach to begin the sixth. The All-Star southpaw wasn't overly dominant, matching a season low in strikeouts and getting take deep twice for just the second time this season. The victory was never truly in doubt, however, since he received plenty of run support. Sale will carry a stellar 2.27 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 112:24 K:BB over 95 innings into a challenging road test in Pittsburgh for his next scheduled appearance.

Luzardo (7-4) earned the win over Kansas City on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks while striking out nine batters over six innings.

Luzardo overwhelmed KC batters with 19 whiffs en route to nine punchouts. The left-hander recorded his third quality start over his past four outings and kept the ball in the park for the third consecutive appearance. Luzardo has surrendered five or more earned runs five times this season, but in his other 13 starts he's given up two or fewer earned runs. Collectively, that's added up to a 3.75 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 125:33 K:BB over 103.1 innings.

Woodruff was removed in the fourth inning of Saturday's start against the Diamondbacks due to an apparent injury, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.

Woodruff's velocity was noticeably down prior to his exit, with his fastball sitting around 87 mph and his changeup at 73 mph in the fourth inning, per Sophia Minnaert of Brewers.tv. Woodruff left the mound with a trainer, and he'll finish his night having allowed three runs on two hits and one walk while striking out six across 3.2 innings. A recurrence of the shoulder issues that have bothered Woodruff all season is a likely explanation, but an official update on his status should be provided in the near future.

Henderson (back) will be activated from the IL to make his next start for the Brewers, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Henderson last pitched for Milwaukee on May 22 and subsequently landed on the IL due to a back strain. He's since made two minor-league rehab starts, tossing a combined 6.2 innings, during which he's allowed two runs while posting an 11:2 K:BB. Henderson is now slated to return to the Brewers' rotation, and his return start is likely to come next week during Milwaukee's series against St. Louis.

Littell didn't factor into the decision Saturday as the Nationals fell 7-1 to the Pirates, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over six relief innings. He struck out three.

The veteran righty put together an impressive performance as the bulk reliever, tossing 57 of 87 pitches for strikes in the equivalent of a quality start, but opener Carson Palmquist had coughed up four runs before Littell even set foot on the mound. Littell has given up two or fewer runs in three straight outings to lower his ERA on the season to 5.02, and he's set to get his next turn through the rotation at home next weekend against the Yankees.

Ashcraft (9-3) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings in a 7-1 victory over the Nationals. He struck out seven.

James Wood led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo shot on Ashcraft's first pitch, but the right-hander shut the door from there and came one out short of his 11th quality start of the season. It was an impressive bounce-back performance after he'd been tagged for three homers and five runs in his previous outing; but despite that damage to his ratios, Ashcraft has won four straight starts. He'll take a 3.24 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 122:25 K:BB through 108.1 innings into his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Brewers.

Colorado placed Sugano (back) on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to July 1.

Sugano was slated to pitch Saturday after having a few extra days to deal with a finger injury. While that issue appears to be in the rearview mirror, the right-handed hurler recently developed back spasms that are serious enough to result in a stint on the IL. Sean Sullivan was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque on Saturday to replace Sugano in the rotation.