MLB Player News

Williams didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Nationals, allowing two runs on 10 hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out three.

The Nats had at least one runner in scoring position in every inning against Williams, but the right-hander avoided any big rallies and was actually in line for a win when the Mets grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the sixth inning while he was still the pitcher of record. Unfortunately, Edwin Diaz blew the save in the ninth. Williams has a remarkable 1.50 ERA through 24.1 innings since joining the Mets in August to fill a swingman role, but his 1.33 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB over that stretch highlight how lucky he's been for his new club.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Gray (forearm) is expected to return from the 10-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Giants in Colorado, Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post reports.

Gray was moved to the injured list Sept. 1 with right forearm tightness, but he looks like he'll end up missing the minimum amount of the time due to the injury. He checked out fine after completing a simulated game Saturday, and assuming he comes out of a bullpen session Monday without any further setbacks, he should be on track to reclaim his rotation spot by the middle of the week. Ryan Feltner, who made a spot start in Sunday's loss to Atlanta, will likely move to the bullpen to clear room in the rotation for Gray.

Kershaw (forearm) could rejoin the major-league rotation this weekend, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw will toss three innings in his first rehab start at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday, and manager Dave Roberts revealed that the southpaw will rejoin the Dodgers' rotation for his next start if he feels good following his three-inning Triple-A outing. Kershaw will tentatively line up to start Sunday against the Padres, assuming Tuesday's Triple-A start goes as planned.

Overton was claimed off waivers by the Pirates on Monday, Jamie Campbell of Sportsnet reports.

Overton was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Friday, but he'll land a spot on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster after he tossed 6.2 scoreless innings across four appearances in the big leagues this year. The right-hander has spent most of the season with the Triple-A club and has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Cardinals manager Mike Shildt suggested that Woodford could replace Kwang Hyun Kim in the rotation when the latter's turn next comes up Thursday against the Dodgers in St. Louis, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. "We'll see," Shildt said, regarding whether Woodford or Kim would receive the starting nod Thursday.

After being called up from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Woodford was initially expected to fill a multi-inning relief role for St. Louis over the final month of the season. He may have earned himself a look in the rotation, however, after he successfully filled in for a struggling Kim in Saturday's loss to Milwaukee. After Kim served up four runs on seven hits and a walk while lasting just 1.2 innings in the outing, Woodford came on to strike out five over 5.1 innings of long relief. Considering the Cardinals initially wanted to move Kim to the bullpen before Jack Flaherty's (shoulder) move to the injured list in late August altered those plans, it wouldn't be surprising if the southpaw now shifted to a relief role after Woodford had the chance to get stretched out for starting duty in the loss to Milwaukee.

Flaherty (shoulder) resumed playing catch Sunday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Flaherty's first throwing session apparently went well, as he'll throw again from 90 feet Monday. The right-hander still has to ramp up his intensity before he's considered to return to game action, but he's made good progress in his recovery recently.

Manager Mike Shildt wouldn't commit to Kim making his next turn through the St. Louis rotation in Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. "We'll see," Shildt said, when asked if Kim or Jake Woodford would start Thursday.

According to Jones, the way in which Shildt spoke about the matter would seem to point to Woodford getting the starting nod Thursday. A rotation shakeup wouldn't be surprising, considering that Kim was expected to spend the final five weeks of the season in a relief role until Jack Flaherty's (shoulder) move back to the injured list forced the Cardinals to alter those plans. Though Kim turned in a decent showing Aug. 29 in Pittsburgh in his first start in place of Flaherty, the southpaw was lit up for four runs on seven hits and a walk over 1.2 innings in Saturday's loss to the Brewers. Meanwhile, Woodford shined in long relief behind Kim, striking out five over 5.1 shutout innings to potentially earn himself a look in the rotation in the process.

Morton signed a one-year, $20 million contract extension with Atlanta on Monday.

Morton is slated to spend at least one more season in Atlanta, and his deal includes a $20 million club option for the 2023 campaign. The 37-year-old sputtered to a 5.08 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 39 innings across his first eight starts of the season, but he's turned things around recently with a 2.79 ERA and 40:7 K:BB in 29 innings across his last five appearances.

Castillo (7-15) was tagged with the loss Sunday against the Tigers after allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits and two walks while fanning seven across six innings.

Castillo tossed his fifth straight quality start but has been unable to deliver many wins in that span, going 1-4 with a 2.81 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 32 innings through that stretch. Castillo endured a slow start to the season but has picked things up of late and has allowed more than three earned runs just once since the beginning of June.

Morton (13-5) allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four over seven innings to earn the win over the Rockies on Sunday.

Morton was dominant once again, posting his 12th quality start in 15 outings since June 17. The only two hits the 37-year-old gave up were to Raimel Tapia, who led off the fourth with a triple before scoring to put the Rockies on the board. Morton later gave up a second run in the seventh after issuing a leadoff walk and eventually allowing the runner to score on a sacrifice fly. His four strikeouts were the lowest total he's had since June 11 but he was still able to generate 14 whiffs. He now sits at a 3.47 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 185:51 K:BB over 158 innings and lines up to face the Marlins at home next weekend.