MLB Player News

Rea (5-5) yielded six runs on eight hits and three walks over four innings Friday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Pirates.

All six runs against Rea came in the first two innings of Friday's ugly start. He's coughed up 11 runs in his last two appearances, raising his season ERA from 4.53 to 5.11 in the process. In six outings since the start of July, Rea has posted a 6.32 ERA while allowing nine home runs. He may get shifted to a bullpen role with Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) expected to return to the rotation Sunday.

Ashcraft did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over eight innings in the Reds' 6-3 loss to Washington. He struck out five.

The right-hander allowed just one run through seven innings and was a pitch away from escaping the eighth with a 3-1 lead, but Joey Meneses smashed a two-run homer to tie the game on Ashcraft's 100th pitch of the night. It was still another positive outing overall for Ashcraft, who has delivered six quality starts in his last seven turns to bring his ERA down to 5.18 for the season.

Stripling will start Saturday's game against the Athletics, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Stripling worked behind an opener his last time out and posted respectable numbers, but he will move back into a traditional starting role Saturday. He had been building up in the rotation in the weeks following his return from a back injury, tossing quality starts over six innings in his July 19 and 24 appearances. The right-hander has a 3.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 19:1 K:BB in 26.2 innings since being activated from the injured list in early July.

Wesneski allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over three innings in Friday's 8-0 loss to Atlanta.

Wesneski mopped up after starter Kyle Hendricks allowed seven runs over four innings. The Cubs became buyers at the deadline, which leaves Wesneski on the outside looking in at a rotation spot, at least for the time being. He threw 50 pitches Friday, with the lone blemish being a homer allowed to Austin Riley in the seventh inning.

Hendricks (4-6) took the loss Friday, allowing seven runs on eight hits over four innings against Atlanta. He struck out three without issuing a walk.

Hendricks had been pitching well, posting a 3.26 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his last three starts coming into Friday, but he ran into the buzzsaw that is the Atlanta lineup. The NL East leaders hit three home runs in the game -- two against Hendricks -- to tie the 2019 Twins for the most home runs through 107 games in MLB history, per Sarah Langs of MLB.com. Hendricks has shown this season that he still has some of his old magic, but the right-hander will remain susceptible to the occasional blowup given his lack of whiffs.

Fried (3-1) earned the win Friday, allowing three hits over six scoreless innings against the Cubs. He struck out eight without issuing a walk.

Making his first start in the majors since May 5, Fried showed no ill effects from the forearm injury that cost him three months. In fact, he appeared close to peak form, as the lefty got 16 called strikes and nine swinging strikes on 72 pitches. Expect him to add to his workload over his next couple starts, with the team looking to build Fried up gradually after the long layoff. He lines up for a road start in Pittsburgh next week.

Wacha (shoulder) will make a rehab start for Triple-A El Paso on Saturday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

The expectation is that Wacha will throw between 50-60 pitches in his first live action since July 1. Wacha has been ramping up slowly after a brief shutdown period following his placement on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation. He figures to require at least one more rehab outing beyond Saturday before slotting back into the Padres' rotation.

Musgrove was diagnosed with inflammation in his right shoulder capsule Friday and placed on the 15-day injured list. He will be shut down for at least three weeks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Shoulder soreness kept Musgrove from making his scheduled start Wednesday against Colorado, and the issue has now been identified as something that will keep him on the shelf for a considerable amount of time. The Padres haven't yet ruled out Musgrove for the rest of the season, but they might need the incentive of a late playoff push to put him back on the mound in 2023.

Falter said he will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Saturday against the Brewers, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The transaction likely won't be made official until shortly before Saturday's game, but Falter is currently with the big club and preparing to make his first MLB start since May and his first with Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old southpaw held a 5.13 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 40.1 innings this season with the Phillies before he was dealt to the Pirates on Tuesday. He'll be facing a Brewers offense that ranks last in the National League with a .692 OPS and has struggled against left-handers all season (.683 OPS).

The Dodgers optioned Sheehan to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday.

In a corresponding move, the Dodgers will likely activate the newly acquired Ryan Yarbrough, who is expected to serve as a bulk reliever Saturday versus the Paders. Sheehan essentially piggybacked Julio Urias in Thursday's win over the Athletics after the southpaw was limited to five innings due to a split fingernail. After replacing Urias, Sheehan went the rest of the way to pick up a four-inning save, so he wouldn't have been an option to pitch for the next few days. It wouldn't be surprising to see the 23-year-old righty back in the big leagues later this season.