MLB Player News

The Padres are expected to reinstate Darvish (back) from the 10-day injured list this week and have him make a start during the team's three-game series with the Dodgers that begins Tuesday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After throwing a pair of bullpen sessions over the weekend without incident, Darvish looks like he'll be ready to return from the IL without having to make a minor-league rehab start beforehand. The Padres are presumably penciling in Darvish to start the first game of the series Tuesday, and he should have few limitations, if any, with his pitch count in his return to action. Darvish's impending return is a huge boon for a San Diego pitching staff that has been hit hard by the injury bug in recent weeks.

The Giants placed DeSclafani on the 10-day injured list Sunday with right ankle inflammation, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

San Francisco was initially optimistic that DeSclafani wouldn't miss a turn through the rotation after he exited his most recent start Wednesday with ankle discomfort. After a follow-up MRI revealed nothing concerning, DeSclafani was cleared to played catch Saturday, and he was expected to complete a bullpen session Sunday as a final test of his health. However, Kerry Crowley of The San Jose Mercury News relays that DeSclafani was only able to play catch and never stepped on the mound Sunday before heading to the dugout after meeting with manager Gabe Kapler and the Giants training staff. The team has yet to provide an update regarding whether DeSclafani suffered a setback, or if he's simply being moved to the IL as a precaution. Either way, the Giants will now require a replacement for DeSclafani in the rotation beginning with Tuesday's game against the Mets.

Musgrove pitched six innings against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine. He did not factor in the decision.

The right-hander surrendered a home run to leadoff hitter Odubel Herrera in the first inning, but that was the only tally the Phillies could muster against Musgrove in the contest. The quality start was Musgrove's fifth in his past six games, and he has registered a 2.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 over that span. His next start is tentatively scheduled to come against the Dodgers next week.

The Brewers recalled Ashby from Triple-A Nashville on Sunday.

The lefty fills the need for a fresh bullpen arm in Sunday's series finale against Washington. Ashby has rebounded from his disastrous debut to hold opponents scoreless in his last six innings of work, striking out five and walking none in that two-game span. He may be used in a long-relief role if Adrian Houser doesn't last long in his first start since Aug. 3.

The Cardinals reinstated Kim (elbow) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He's scheduled to work out of the bullpen moving forward, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

While working in a starting role prior to landing on the IL with elbow inflammation, the lefty went 6-6 with a 3.36 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 91 innings. It will be interesting to see how Kim's velocity changes, if at all, as a reliever tasked with shorter outings. He'll presumably be available for spot starts as well, if necessary. Junior Fernandez was optioned to Triple-A Memphis in a corresponding move.

The Brewers activated Houser (illness) from the COVID-19 injured list Sunday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Houser tested positive for the virus Aug. 6 but is back to start Sunday's series finale against the Nationals. There's been no indication he's working on a pitch count; however, manager Craig Counsell figures to be cautious with the righty's workload in his first outing since Aug. 3. The Brewers have yet to announce a corresponding move.

Smyly (9-3) earned the win over Baltimore on Saturday, pitching five innings and allowing three runs on five hits and no walks while striking out eight.

The southpaw gave up a trio of solo homers in the contest, but those were the only runs the Orioles mustered. Smyly tied a season high with eight strikeouts and extended his streak of outings without a loss to 14. He hasn't been especially dominant in that span but has managed a 7-0 record along with a 3.67 ERA and 67:24 K:BB across 68.2 innings. He'll try to keep things going in next his start, which is lined up to come against the Giants at home next weekend.

Gausman allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings in a no-decision versus Oakland on Saturday.

It was another unconvincing start for Gausman, as a costly first-inning error by Wilmer Flores ultimately allowed three unearned runs to score. Gausman also gave up a run on a wild pitch in the fourth prior to Jarlin Garcia relieving him. Through 146 innings, Gausman has posted a 2.47 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 174:46 K:BB across 25 starts, but he's given up 22 runs (18 earned) in his last 31.1 innings since the All-Star break. He'll look to get back on track in a tough road matchup in Atlanta during next weekend's three-game series.

Hill (6-5) took the loss Saturday versus the Dodgers. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out two in five innings.

This was the 41-year-old's first loss as a Met. All three runs Hill allowed came on solo home runs. It marks the second time in his last five starts that Hill's allowed multiple homers, although he kept the ball in the yard in the other three outings. For the year, he owns a 4.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 107:43 K:BB across 122 innings. The southpaw lines up for a home start versus Washington during next weekend's three-game series.

Lorenzen allowed two hits and struck out one over 1.2 innings of scoreless work, picking up the save in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Marlins.

Lorenzen inherited a tricky two-on, one-out situation in the eighth inning with the Reds up by three Saturday night. Although he allowed one of his inherited runners to score, he induced a double play ball from Bryan De La Cruz to escape the jam. He benefitted from another double play in the ninth to pick up his second save of the season. After returning from a hamstring injury July 30, the right-hander has yet to allow an earned run in 10 outings. If he can remain healthy, he's likely to work in some of the Reds' high-leverage situations alongside Mychal Givens.