MLB Player News

Wheeler (shoulder) could return to the mound within the next week, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Wheeler managed to throw 13 pitches from the slope of the mound Friday, per Puma, though he still hasn't attempted to toss a side session. The Mets are optimistic about the right-hander's chances of returning in the near future, however, as they'd like to give Wheeler an opportunity to prove his health to teams around the league prior to the trade deadline.

Wood (back) will throw a bullpen session Saturday before making another rehab start for Double-A Chattanooga on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Wood completed his third rehab outing Wednesday and threw 38 pitches over two scoreless innings, but the appearance ended early due to rain. The 28-year-old is scheduled to throw 75-to-80 pitches Monday as he continues building up his arm strength.

Smyly is scheduled to start Sunday's game at Pittsburgh, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

Smyly's contract with the Phillies is still pending a physical, but assuming everything checks out he'll enter the starting rotation Sunday. The 30-year-old had an 8.42 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 52:34 K:BB over 13 games with the Rangers prior to being released in late June.

Velasquez will make his next start Wednesday at Detroit, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.

The free-agent signing of Drew Smyly was thought to be pushing Velasquez back to a bullpen role, but Nick Pivetta will instead make the transition. Velasquez originally lined up to start Sunday, but he now has a more appealing matchup versus the Tigers. The 27-year-old has a 4.87 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 70:24 K:BB through 61 innings this season.

Velasquez's rotation spot appears to be at risk after the Phillies signed Drew Smyly on Friday, seemingly for a starting role, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Velasquez has started 11 games this season and appeared in a further 10 in relief. He's had better results out of the bullpen, posting a 4.35 ERA in relief and a 4.97 ERA when starting, though his FIP has been nearly identical in each situation, coming in at 5.83 as a reliever and 5.88 as a starter. Smyly owns an awful 8.42 ERA in 51.1 innings this season, so his hold on a rotation spot will presumably be very weak.

Smyly signed a major-league contract with the Phillies on Friday and could enter the starting rotation Sunday versus the Pirates, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Smyly was released by the Rangers in late June and subsequently signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers, but he opted out of that deal Thursday and will make his way back to the majors with the Phillies. The 30-year-old struggled with an 8.42 ERA, 1.91 WHIP and 52:34 K:BB in 13 games with Texas, but it appears he'll receive another starting chance in Philadelphia.

Toussaint was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

Toussaint was sent down after allowing three runs in 2.1 innings Thursday against the Nationals. His ERA now sits at 5.62 on the season, with his inflated 13.1 percent walk rate the primary culprit. Wes Parsons and Patrick Weigel were called up in corresponding moves for Toussaint and Kyle Wright being optioned.

Wright (0-3) was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett following his spot start against the Nationals on Thursday.

With Max Fried (finger) and Kevin Gausman (foot) still on the IL and Mike Foltynewicz trying to find his 2018 form in Triple-A, the Braves needed someone to make a spot start. Wright had struggled in each of his prior three starts, but this one was his worst. He went 2.2 innings while allowing seven runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. That bumped his ERA up to 9.72 on the year. The Braves figure to get Gausman back Sunday and Fried toward the back end of next week, which means they won't be needing Wright anytime soon unless another injury within the rotation occurs.

Parsons was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

The 26-year-old began 2019 with the major-league club, but was optioned after recording an ERA of 3.77 and a 12:11 K:BB over 14.1 innings. Since being optioned to Triple-A, he's amassed an ERA of 2.08 with a 41:15 K:BB over 43.1 innings. The right-hander should claim a place in the bullpen for now after Kyle Wright and Touki Toussaint were optioned to Triple-A in corresponding moves.

Hamels (oblique) will throw a bullpen session sometime this weekend, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

This will be the second bullpen of the week for Hamels, who also threw one Wednesday and claimed that he felt great afterward. The veteran left-hander, who has been out since June 29 with a left oblique strain, is still about a week or so away from rejoining the Cubs' rotation, Tony Andracki of NBC Sports Chicago reports. Prior to the injury, Hamels was 6-3 with a 2.98 ERA and a 97:35 K:BB over 99.2 innings.