MLB Player News

Wheeler (illness) was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list Thursday.

Wheeler had been on the COVID-19 IL since Sunday after testing positive for the virus, but he'll return to the Phillies to start Thursday's matchup against the Dodgers. The 31-year-old hasn't made a start since May 4, but he's struck out 14 in 13.2 scoreless innings over his last two outings.

Pepiot was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Pepiot made his major-league debut Wednesday against the Pirates and allowed a hit and five walks while striking out three in three scoreless innings. While the right-hander will lose his spot on the major-league roster, he's still a strong candidate to start during one of the two games in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Diamondbacks.

Lodolo (back) was playing catch ahead of Thursday's game at Pittsburgh, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Lodolo was expected to be activated from the injured list and rejoin the rotation last weekend, but his return ended up being pushed back. It's unclear where exactly the 24-year-old currently stands in his recovery, but it's still good news to at least see him playing catch. Lodolo doesn't have an official timeline for his return.

Matz (3-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out seven in 6.2 innings during Thursday's 3-2 defeat against Baltimore.

After allowing a second-inning solo homer to Jorge Mateo, Matz cruised through the Baltimore lineup over the next four innings, at one point retiring 11 straight. He retired the first two batters in the seventh but then gave up a solo shot to Anthony Benboom and a single to Chris Owings and was removed. The veteran lefty allowed only one home run in his first five starts but has been tagged five times over his last two starts, spanning 8.2 innings. His next start will likely come early next week against the Mets.

Liberatore held Triple-A Norfolk to one run on four hits and four walks over six innings Thursday, striking out five and lowering his ERA to 3.83.

Through seven starts, Liberatore owns a terrific 46:12 K:BB in 40 innings; his four walks in this one were uncharacteristic and perhaps a result of trying to be extra fine in a high-profile matchup against the game's top pitching prospect, Grayson Rodriguez. Both starters gave up only one run, but Liberatore outlasted Rodriguez, who came out after five innings. A lanky lefty with a clean delivery and good movement on his pitches, Liberatore is on the doorstep of the majors, and depending on the health of the Cardinals' rotation as the year wears on, he could even have the opportunity to seize a spot permanently.

Wainwright (illness) rejoined the Cardinals on Thursday and completed a bullpen session, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Wainwright remains on the COVID-19 injured list nearly a week after testing positive for the virus, but he's now cleared all protocols after isolating from the team. The Cardinals haven't yet announced a starter for Sunday's series finale against the Giants, but the right-hander looks on track to start that game, provided he feels fine coming out of Thursday's throwing session. It's possible that Wainwright faces more limitations with his pitch count Sunday than usual, however.

Williams struck out two and worked around two hits and a walk over 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Wednesday's 8-3 loss to the Nationals.

The appearance was Williams' second out of the bullpen since he lasted only two innings in an April 23 spot start against the Diamondbacks. Due to the heavy workload he handled Wednesday, Williams likely won't be available in relief in Thursday's series finale in Washington.

Matz is listed as the starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Orioles, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

The southpaw was initially slated to start Friday against the Giants, but he'll apparently be pushed up to start a day earlier since Jordan Hicks (undisclosed) will no longer start. Matz should still be fully rested since he last pitched Saturday in San Francisco. Over his last three starts, he's posted a 9.00 ERA and 13:5 K:BB in 12 innings.

Anderson gave up three runs on seven hits across 5.1 innings during Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Red Sox. He struck out four and walked one.

Anderson gave up a two-run homer to Trevor Story in the second and a RBI single to J.D. Martinez in the third, but he was able to avoid major trouble for the most part despite not having his best stuff. Anderson was pulled with 96 pitches after allowing two of the first three batters to reach in the sixth inning, but Collin McHugh was able to get out of the jam without allowing a run. Tentatively, the 24-year-old is scheduled to pitch next against the Brewers on Monday.

Megill (4-2) took the loss Wednesday as the Mets fell 8-3 to the Nationals, surrendering eight runs on eight hits and a walk over 1.1 innings while striking out one.

After lasting at least five innings in each of his first six starts this season and allowing more than three runs only once in that stretch, Megill simply didn't have it Wednesday. Homers by Juan Soto and Nelson Cruz accounted for most of the damage, doubling the number of long balls he's served up this year, and the right-hander got the hook after 54 pitches (31 strikes). Megill will take a 4.41 ERA with a still-solid 1.13 WHIP and 37:9 K:BB through 34.2 innings into his next outing.