MLB Player News

Mikolas was ejected from Thursday's game against the Cubs, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Mikolas threw at Ian Happ on consecutive pitches after Happ hit Willson Contreras in the head on his backswing. The second offering hit Happ, and Mikolas was ultimately tossed from the game. Because Mikolas completed 0.2 innings and threw only 14 pitches, he could be an option to start on short rest.

Woodford (shoulder) is slated to throw a bullpen session Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Woodford resumed throwing on flat ground earlier this month and is now ready to advance to mound work. The 26-year-old swingman has been limited to six starts and six relief appearances this season with the Cardinals due to multiple shoulder injuries, but he could be an important factor down the stretch if St. Louis moves multiple pitchers ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Single-A Visalia reinstated Sims (elbow) from its 60-day injured list Monday.

Sims is still awaiting his full-season debut, but he looks like he'll get the opportunity to pitch for Visalia within the next few days now that he's been activated after completed his recovery from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent prior to being drafted last summer. The 22-year-old right-hander joined the Single-A club after he struck out 11 while allowing three earned runs on seven hits and four walks in 10 innings during his extended rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.

Triple-A Memphis placed Thomas on its 7-day injured list June 6 due to an unspecified injury.

The 25-year-old lefty has yet to start up a rehab assignment in the lower minors and is thus likely at least a week or more away from returning from the IL. Before being shelved with the unspecified injury, Thomas posted a 5.73 ERA, 1.79 WHIP and 43:18 K:BB across 59.2 innings at Memphis this season.

Gallen (11-5) took the loss Wednesday against the Cardinals after he allowed five runs on seven hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out eight.

Gallen returned for the seventh after he gave up three runs through the first six innings, but he recorded just one out in the frame and surrendered two more runs. The right-hander has scuffled in three starts since the All-Star break with 11 runs allowed, including five homers, across 18.1 innings. Gallen still has a strong 3.36 ERA and 1.08 WHIP for the season, but he may need to rediscover his more dominant form to give the Diamondbacks a realistic chance of claiming the NL West crown.

Flaherty took a no-decision Wednesday in Arizona after he gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks in five-plus innings. He struck out four.

The right-hander was staked a 2-0 lead but was unable to maintain the advantage, as the Diamondbacks tallied two runs in the third inning and another in the sixth. Flaherty has given up at least three runs in each of his past three starts and has a 5.29 ERA across 17 innings during that stretch. It was possibly his last start with the Cardinals since his next turn through the rotation won't come until after the trade deadline.

Suarez came away with a no-decision Wednesday against the Orioles, giving up four runs on seven hits and a walk over six-plus innings. He struck out six.

The southpaw was nursing a 4-3 lead when he took the mound for the top of the seventh inning, but after James McCann greeted him with a leadoff double, Suarez got the hook and had to watch Seranthony Dominguez allow the inherited runner to score. After a brilliant June, Suarez hasn't picked up a win in five July starts, getting tagged for at least three runs in each one and posting a 6.11 ERA, 1.75 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB through 28 innings on the month. Should the Phillies add starting pitching at the trade deadline, Suarez might well be the pitcher who gets bumped from the rotation.

Lugo (4-5) took the loss Wednesday, giving up two runs on three hits over seven innings as the Padres fell 3-2 to the Pirates. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The right-hander generated an eye-popping 31 called or swinging strikes on only 84 pitches, but he got little run support and left the mound down 2-1 after solo shots by Ji-Man Choi in the second inning and Bryan Reynolds in the fourth. Lugo has delivered four quality starts in his last five outings, and since returning to the rotation in mid-June he's posted a 3.12 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 41:5 K:BB through 40.1 innings. He faces a tough challenge in his next start, however, which is likely to come early next week in Coors Field.

Oviedo (4-11) picked up the win in Wednesday's 3-2 victory over the Padres, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander tossed only 53 of 90 pitches for strikes, but he avoided serious damage and was able to collect his first win since May 19, having gone 0-8 in the 11 outings since. Oviedo will carry a 4.60 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 106:49 K:BB through 117.1 innings into his next start, likely to come at home next week against the Tigers.

Gonsolin (5-4) took the loss Wednesday as the Dodgers fell 8-1 to the Blue Jays, giving up five runs on seven hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander continues to wilt in the summer heat. Gonsolin has been tagged for at least four runs in six of his last seven starts, stumbling to a 7,25 ERA over that stretch despite a superficially respectable 1.39 WHIP. The 29-year-old's 19.7 percent strikeout rate and 9.7 percent swinging strike rate on the season are career lows, as is his 92.6 mph average on his fastball, and Gonsolin could be tough to deploy even as a streaming option in the second half if he can't regain some of those lost whiffs. He's next set to take the mound at home next week against the A's.