MLB Player News

Manager Bud Black wouldn't say when Gray's next start would come, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

Gray has turned in three consecutive shaky outings, posting a 10.80 ERA while walking nine batters and serving up five homers across 10 innings over that stretch. His struggles have prompted the Rockies to push his next start -- which was scheduled for Sunday against the Diamondbacks -- back while giving Kyle Freeland the ball in his place. It's unclear if Gray will simply take Freeland's vacated spot in the rotation Monday against the Phillies, though with the Rockies vying for a playoff spot, it wouldn't be surprising to see the right-hander skipped altogether.

Freeland is scheduled to start Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Kyle Newman of The Denver Post reports.

The young southpaw was originally scheduled to make his next start Monday against the Phillies, but the Rockies opted to skip the struggling Jon Gray's turn in the rotation and move Freeland's start up by a day instead. The southpaw, who owns a 2.95 ERA and 1.23 WHIP through 31 starts this season, will be pitching on regular rest thanks to an off day Thursday.

Eflin (11-7) struck out nine batters across five scoreless innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Mets. He allowed three hits and issued three walks.

Eflin was dialed in Wednesday, allowing just one baserunner to reach third base while tying a season high with nine whiffed batters. The young right-hander has now allowed just one run over his last two starts (11.1 innings) after giving up 16 runs across his previous four outings (16.2 innings). He'll look to keep things rolling in his next start, which will come on the road against the Rockies.

Syndergaard (12-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks across four innings. He struck out six.

Syndergaard labored through this one, as he needed 89 pitches -- 54 of which went for strikes -- to get just 12 outs. The right-hander served up a pair of homers, a solo shot to Rhys Hoskins in the first inning and a two-run homer to Odubel Herrera in the fourth, marking the first time since Opening Day he allowed multiple homers in a game. Syndergaard has now alternated quality starts with shakier outings dating back to the start of August, raising his ERA from 2.98 to 3.36 over that 10-start stretch. He'll look to finish the season on a positive note with his final two starts at home against the Braves and Marlins.

Toussaint (2-1) picked up the win Wednesday against the Cardinals, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight across 5.2 innings.

Toussaint was sharp in his return to the rotation after allowing a trio of runs during a relief appearance over the weekend. He allowed just one extra-base hit, a solo homer to Harrison Bader in the fifth inning, but otherwise was able to keep the Cardinals in check, with an RBI single in the sixth inning resulting in the only other blemish on his line. The eight strikeouts were a career high, and the young right-hander now owns a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 23:12 K:BB through four starts (22 innings) with the big club. The Braves have yet to confirm whether Toussaint will get another start before the end of the season or if he'll transition back to the bullpen. Should he remain in the rotation, Toussaint would face the Mets on the road.

Flaherty (8-8) took the loss Wednesday against the Braves, allowing five runs on five hits and two walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out six.

Flaherty allowed just one hit through the first three innings before running into trouble. He allowed a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the fourth inning and was chased with two outs in the fifth inning after allowing three more runs on two hits, two walks and a wild pitch. It was a rare blowup for the rookie, who hadn't allowed more than three runs in any of his past eight starts heading into Wednesday. Flaherty still owns a 3.08 ERA and 11.0 K/9 on the season (26 starts) and will look to bounce back in his next outing, which will come at home against the Brewers.

Walker (elbow) will begin a throwing program Monday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

Walker will start by playing catch from 45 feet before slowly progressing from there. The right-hander is expected to be out until sometime during the 2019 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in April.

Manager Mickey Callaway said Wednesday that Wheeler will be shut down for the rest of the 2018 campaign due to an innings restriction, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports.

Callaway stated, "Given the fact that Wheeler is at 101 innings more than what he pitched last year; the way he pitched, pitching deep into games...we are really excited about the year he had and we feel like we would probably be taking the best care of him that we can if we shut him down at this point." Wheeler will finish the year at 182.1 innings, posting a career-best 3.31 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with an 8.8 K/9 and 2.7 BB/9. The 28-year-old recently finished off his season on a high note, securing a third straight victory while giving up four earned runs across seven innings against Philadelphia on Monday. In his place, Corey Oswalt will take the hill Saturday versus Washington.

Sanchez (elbow) will throw some innings in the Arizona Fall League, Matt Gelb of The Athletic Philadelphia reports.

Sanchez made just eight starts this season before being shut down in early June with elbow inflammation. While the injury is concerning, his performance when on the field was stellar, as he recorded a 2.51 ERA backed up by solid strikeout (23.9 percent), walk (5.9 percent) and groundball rates (52.3 percent). He's been throwing bullpen sessions for the past few weeks and will look to make up for lost time in Arizona.

Lyles threw a scoreless inning in Tuesday's loss to the Reds.

Lyles pitched the final inning of Tuesday's game and did not allow a runner to reach base. He has been used sparingly of late, as Tuesday's appearance was just his second since Sept. 4.