MLB Player News

May (elbow) faced live hitters during an up-down throwing session Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

May threw 40 pitches during a side session last weekend, and while it's not clear how many pitches he threw Friday, his fastball was approximately 98-101 mph while facing live hitters. The right-hander is expected to have at least three more throwing sessions against live hitters, which would put him on track to begin a rehab assignment around mid-July.

Manager Dave Roberts said Friday that he's hopeful Heaney (shoulder) will be cleared to return after missing just a few starts, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Heaney landed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation Friday, but the Dodgers are optimistic that his current absence will be shorter than his two-month IL stint from earlier in the season. The southpaw will be shut down for a few days, but early reports regarding his injury are encouraging.

Luzardo (forearm) has increased his throwing distance to 105 feet, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Luzardo began a throwing program last weekend and has progressed to playing long toss. The southpaw still has several steps to clear before he's in the mix to return to game action, but he seems to be trending toward resuming mound work in the near future.

Sanchez (shoulder) will throw 20 pitches during a side session Saturday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Sanchez threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday that apparently went well since he'll take on a similar workload this weekend. The right-hander will likely work on increasing his intensity over the coming weeks, but it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to return to game action at any level prior to the end of the 2022 season.

Manager Buck Showalter said Friday that Carrasco (back) will likely make his next turn through the rotation, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Carrasco exited Wednesday's start against Houston due to lower-back tightness, but Showalter didn't sound concerned about the issue Friday. The right-hander will presumably be monitored in the coming days, but he lines up to make his next start at home against the Astros early next week as long as he's cleared to pitch.

Heaney was placed on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation Friday.

Heaney was scheduled to start Saturday's game against Atlanta but is still dealing with a left shoulder injury that will force him back to the injured list. He missed two months during his first IL stint of the season, but it's not yet clear how long he'll be sidelined during his current absence. The Dodgers haven't announced who will take Heaney's place in the rotation, but Mitch White is a potential option since he last pitched at Triple-A Oklahoma City last Saturday.

Lucchesi (elbow) said Friday that he'll advance to facing hitters soon, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Lucchesi has spent the season recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent last year. He's with the Mets in Miami this weekend and is scheduled to throw his 10th bullpen session Saturday. The southpaw has been pleased with his progress so far and is hoping to return from the injured list in early or mid-August.

Eickhoff was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Friday.

Eickhoff's contract was selected ahead of his season debut Wednesday, but he could hardly have done a worse job in his audition to stick around on a more permanent basis. In 4.1 innings against the Cubs, he allowed 10 runs on 10 hits. It's unlikely there will be much of a market for Eickhoff's services on the waiver wire considering that he's a 31-year-old who owns a 7.19 ERA since the start of the 2018 season. Austin Brice was called up to take his place on the roster.

Alexander (2-1) secured the win against St. Louis on Thursday, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing four runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five.

Alexander gave up a pair of first-inning runs but settled down thereafter to allow only two more runs the rest of the way. The right-hander registered a mere five swinging strikes but nonetheless managed a career-high five punchouts. Alexander's lack of strikeout upside limits his fantasy value, but he has thus far registered a solid 3.21 ERA through 28 major-league innings while picking up two straight wins. His 1.64 WHIP and 3.5 BB/9 provide reason to temper expectations, however.

Garrett allowed two runs (one earned) on nine hits and one walk while striking out seven across 4.2 innings Thursday against the Rockies. He did not factor into the decision.

Garrett allowed multiple hits in all but one of his five innings, but he managed to work out of danger on most occasions. He flashed interesting swing-and-miss stuff, backing his seven punchouts with 16 swinging strikes across 94 total pitches. Garrett has recorded at least five strikeouts in three of his four starts in the majors this season, and he has a 4.08 ERA across 17.2 frames.