MLB Player News

Brubaker (arm) threw a live bullpen session Monday, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

The newly acquired Miguel Andujar stepped in to take swings against Brubaker, who completed his first live work since landing on the 15-day injured list Sept. 18 with right arm inflammation. Brubaker looks like he'll have a chance to return before the Pirates' season comes to a close Oct. 5, but he probably won't have enough time to build back up to a traditional starter's workload.

Overton came on in relief during Saturday's 10-1 loss to the Brewers and struck out one while allowing five earned runs on four hits and three walks.

Overton, who was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday after having not pitched for the Reds since May 17 due to a stress reaction in his lower back, essentially piggybacked starter Graham Ashcraft (biceps), who covered four innings in his own return from the IL. Prior to landing on the shelf, Overton had produced a 1.82 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 24.2 innings over his four starts with the big club, but the underlying numbers (4.72 xFIP, 3.4 K-BB%) offered little hope that he would be able to maintain that level of run prevention. Regression came hard Saturday for Overton, who may work out of the bullpen for the remaining week and a half of the season if the Reds avoid losing any more starting pitchers to injuries.

Ashby covered 1.2 innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Reds, allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks.

In his return from the 15-day injured list last Tuesday, Ashby made a two-inning start against the Mets, but he shifted to a relief role for the Brewers' series finale with the Reds. Ashby ended up following starter Freddy Peralta, who was capped at two innings following his own return from the IL on Sunday. Since both Peralta and Eric Lauer both came off the IL over the weekend and were limited in their respective starts, the Brewers could need Ashby to piggyback one of the two pitchers during their upcoming outings against the Marlins this weekend.

Elder is scheduled to start Monday's game in Washington.

With Spencer Strider (oblique) landing on the injured list last week, Elder looks poised to finish the regular season as a member of Atlanta's rotation. The rookie right-hander fared well in his most recent start Sept. 21 against Washington, striking out six in a no-decision while allowing one earned run on four hits and two walks across 5.2 frames.

Gibson yielded five runs on seven hits and two walks over five frames against Atlanta on Sunday. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision.

Surprisingly, Gibson was in line for the victory when he left the game, but Atlanta would ultimately win in extras. He's been tagged with 24 runs over his last five starts, raising his season ERA from 4.08 to 4.84 during that span. The 34-year-old righty allowed two runs in the first inning Sunday and later coughed up a two-run shot to Dansby Swanson in the fourth. Gibson is lined up to make his final start of the regular season in Washington.

Wainwright (11-11) took the loss during Sunday's 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Dodgers, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks with one strikeout in three innings.

Wainwright didn't have his stuff working Sunday as he faced 19 batters and tossed 77 pitches through three innings, permitting at least two baserunners and one run in each frame. The 41-year-old has slowed notably through five September starts with a 6.38 ERA and just nine strikeouts through 24 innings compared to a 3.51 mark and 6.7 K/9 average for the season. He's tentatively scheduled to take the mound again next vs. Pittsburgh.

Morton allowed six runs on six hits and three walks over 4.2 innings against the Phillies on Sunday. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.

Atlanta ended up winning in extras Sunday, preventing Morton from falling to 9-7 after the rough outing. He coughed up three runs in the first inning and was taken deep twice by Kyle Schwarber. Morton has yielded at least four runs in four of his last six outings, raising his season ERA to 4.29 through 167.2 innings. He's expected to make his final start of the regular season next week at home against the Mets.

Grove (1-0) earned the win during Sunday's 4-1 victory over St. Louis, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts in five innings.

Grove was spotted an early two-run lead and limited St. Louis to one run on three baserunners in the second inning en route to his first career win. Manger Dave Roberts opted to pull the 25-year-old after only 69 pitches with the heart of the Cardinals' lineup due to bat a third time in the sixth, and he's now gone exactly five innings in each of three September starts. Grove possesses a 4.07 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 21 strikeouts in 24.1 innings across six appearances and five starts.

Lodolo allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out six in six innings of a 2-1 win over Milwaukee. He did not factor into the decision.

All four hits against Lodolo came in the second inning, with the big blow being a solo homer by Hunter Renfroe on the first pitch of the frame. Over his final four innings, he retired 12 of the 13 batters he faced and ended the outing by striking out the side in the sixth. The 24-year-old has proven he belongs in the big leagues over his last eight starts, compiling a 2.84 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 62:10 K:BB in 50.2 innings. His next, and perhaps final, start of the season will likely come next weekend in Chicago against the Cubs.

Peralta (shoulder) allowed two hits and a walk while striking out three in two innings in a 2-1 loss Sunday in Cincinnati. He did not factor into the decision.

Peralta was activated before Sunday's game after spending time on the injured list with a shoulder issue. Since he did not have any rehab outings, it's no surprise that he lasted just two innings and tossed only 44 pitches. With nine games to go for Milwaukee, the lefty is likely to get one more start, next weekend against Miami.