MLB Player News

Steele did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks over six innings against the Pirates. He struck out six.

Steele hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 26. Though he came away with a no-decision Thursday, the 28-year-old southpaw has logged quality starts in nine of his last 11 outings. Steele is 14-3 on the season with a 1.17 WHIP and 133:30 K:BB across 24 starts (138 innings). He's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Brewers in his next outing early next week.

Wright (shoulder) threw three scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out four in a rehab outing with High-A Rome on Thursday, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Wright appeared in a game for the first time since May 3 and looked sharp across 26 pitches. He'll likely be in line for a couple more rehab appearances to build up his pitch count and knock off some of the rust, though this was an encouraging first step.

Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said Thursday that Smyly will return to a bullpen role, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

It's unclear who might fill the vacant rotation spot, though Hoyer offered an intriguing "no comment" when asked if it could be top pitching prospect Jordan Wicks. Smyly was lit up for seven earned runs over 3.2 innings in his most recent start Tuesday at Detroit and holds a 5.28 ERA in 124.1 total innings (22 starts, five relief appearances) this year with Chicago.

Strasburg (neck/shoulder) is planning to announce his retirement from baseball in September, Jesse Dougherty and Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post report.

There is a news conference scheduled for Sept. 9 at Nationals Park, where Strasburg will officially call it a wrap at age 35. Washington still owes him more than $105 million on a contract that runs through 2026, and it'll be paid in full because this is an injury-related retirement, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Strasburg burst onto scene in 2010 and registered a 3.17 ERA with 1,695 strikeouts across his first 239 major-league starts (1438.2 innings), but he's battled a range of physical issues -- most notably thoracic outlet syndrome -- since helping the Nats win the World Series in 2019. The right-hander did not pitch this year and surrendered 25 runs (24 earned) in just 31.1 total big-league innings between the 2020-2022 campaigns.

Teheran (hip) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday with High-A Wisconsin.

Teheran should again be an option for the Brewers, as either a starter or long reliever, after a couple of outings on the farm. The 32-year-old right-hander had pitched to a 4.74 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 44:11 K:BB in 62.2 innings (11 starts) prior to landing on the injured list in late July with a right hip impingement.

Hill is no longer lined up to make his next turn through the rotation this weekend in Milwaukee, as the Padres have instead named Pedro Avila their starter for Saturday's game against the Brewers, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The Padres haven't formally announced that Hill will be removed from the rotation, but the veteran southpaw will have at least one turn skipped after going 0-3 with a 9.53 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in three starts since being acquired from the Pirates on Aug. 1. Hill should be available out of the bullpen this weekend and could even piggyback Avila on Saturday. Whether Hill will rejoin the rotation or continue working out of the bullpen next week will likely hinge on how Avila fares in Milwaukee.

Woodford (shoulder) yielded just one hit while striking out six over five scoreless frames in a rehab start with Double-A Springfield on Wednesday.

The right-hander needed just 56 pitches to cruise through his five innings in what could be his final rehab appearance before rejoining the Cardinals. With the rotation needs St. Louis has right now, Woodford would seem to be a good bet to be used as a starter down the stretch. He's been out since late June with a right shoulder strain.

Gomber came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Rays, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out four.

The southpaw exited the game after 82 pitches (54 strikes) in line for his career-high 10th win of the season, but the Rockies bullpen imploded late. The quality start was Gomber's fifth in eight trips to the mound since the All-Star break, a stretch in which he's posted a 3.69 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB through 46.1 innings. He figures to be an extremely risky play in his next outing, which is likely to come at home in Coors Field early next week against Atlanta.

Burnes did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing six runs on eight hits and one walk over six innings in a victory over the Twins. He struck out five.

Burnes didn't have his best stuff Wednesday, allowing back-to-back singles to open the contest before going on to surrender three home runs on the day, the most he's allowed in a start since May 22. It was the right-hander's third time this season allowing at least six earned runs, and he's now given up at least five runs in two of his last three starts. Burnes holds a 4.74 ERA through four August starts after pitching to a 1.85 ERA in July and is now winless over his last six outings.

Kershaw allowed one run on one hit while striking out four batters over two innings against Cleveland on Wednesday in a game that was suspended due to rain.

Kershaw seemed to have his stuff working early, racking up eight swinging strikes on 33 pitches and getting each of his final four outs via strikeout. He allowed a solo homer to Jose Ramirez in the first inning but held a 3-1 lead after two frames before the contest was halted and then suspended due to rain. Perhaps the short outing will be positive for Kershaw in the long run, as he's dealt with multiple injuries over the past few seasons and was making just this third start Wednesday since returning from an injury absence that lasted about six weeks. The Dodgers and Guardians will resume the suspended contest Thursday, but Kershaw obviously won't pitch in that contest and thus won't factor into the decision.