MLB Player News

Buehler (ribs) is expected to return from the 10-day disabled list and make a start during the Dodgers' three-game series with Angels next weekend, Pedro Moura of The Athletic Los Angeles reports.

Buehler was expected to require another minor-league rehab start following his July 3 outing for High-A Rancho Cucamonga, but he instead opted for a simulated game Sunday. He worked around five innings in the outing and escaped it without any issue, giving the Dodgers enough confidence to re-insert him into the rotation prior to the All-Star break. It's unclear exactly which day he'll pitch next weekend, but it may be optimal for the Dodgers to use him Sunday instead of Rich Hill, who has battled a stiff neck of late. Through 10 appearances (nine starts) in 2018, Buehler has posted a 3.44 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with a 54:12 K:BB over 52.1 innings.

Hill (neck) completed his normal pre-start bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to make his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Padres, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Hill had been planning to throw off the mound Saturday, but with his neck still a little stiff, he elected to wait an extra day. Assuming he escaped Sunday's session without any setbacks, Hill shouldn't face any restrictions while starting Tuesday on his normal rest. Hill tentatively lines up for a two-start week, with a second turn coming in the Dodgers' final game before the All-Star break July 15 against the Angels.

Eflin (finger) will start the front end of Monday's doubleheader with the Mets, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic Philadelphia reports.

Eflin exited his July 3 start against the Orioles early with a blister on his throwing hand, but he apparently completed his between-starts bullpen session without incident and convinced the Phillies he would be good to go Monday. The right-hander will oppose Zach Wheeler in Game 1 of the twin bill while Aaron Nola and Corey Oswalt go head to head in the nightcap.

Musgrove (finger) is expected come off the disabled list and start Tuesday's game against the Nationals, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Musgrove landed on the disabled list in late June with a finger infection but it looks as though he'll rejoin the Pirates in the minimum amount of time. The right-hander played catch Friday and Saturday and was scheduled to complete a normal pre-start bullpen session Sunday. Prior to hitting the DL, the 25-year-old delivered one of his best starts of the season June 29, tossing seven scoreless innings in a win over the Padres.

Miley (oblique) is expected to rejoin the Brewers during their upcoming three-game series in Miami and is a candidate to start Thursday in Pittsburgh, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Miley made his fourth rehab start Saturday and looked sharp, striking out four across four scoreless and hitless innings. This followed up another quality performance in his third rehab start, where he struck out four across 4.1 scoreless frames. The left-hander is eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list Monday, but the exact day of his activation is uncertain at this time. It should come at or before Thursday, however, when the Brewers need a fifth starter for the series opener against the Pirates.

Burnes was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs prior to Sunday's game against the Braves.

Burnes shifted to a bullpen role with the Sky Sox in mid-June, and it didn't take long for the Brewers to bring him to the majors. The 23-year-old has a 5.15 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 78.2 innings at hitter-friendly Colorado Springs, but he features a respectable 3.69 ERA and 1.19 WHIP on the road this season.

Flexen was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday prior to his start against the Rays, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Flexen was announced as the starter Friday, so the team just needed to option Drew Smith to create room on the 25-man roster. Flexen has an uninspiring 4.84 ERA and 1.73 WHIP in 13 starts with the 51s in 2018.

Ray allowed four runs on four hits -- including three home runs -- over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Padres on Saturday. He struck out seven and walked four.

Wil Myers got to Ray for a couple homers and Ray labored throughout the rest of the outing, needing 96 pitches to record 13 outs. Ray has now given up 10 runs and five homers in his last two starts (9.1 innings) after throwing six scoreless innings in his first start back from the disabled list. We know the upside with Ray, but fantasy owners may want to wait and see if Ray can turn in better results next week -- when he draws the Braves in Atlanta -- before deploying him in active lineups.

Freeland allowed one earned run on five hits and four walks while striking out four across five innings Saturday against the Mariners. He did not factor into the decision.

Freeland allowed nine baserunners but managed to avoid a disastrous outing by stranding seven on base. Struggling to find the strike zone is not a new phenomenon for Freeland as Saturday's start marked the fourth time in his last 10 starts that he has walked three or more batters. While he has avoided a blowup outing on each occasion, his lack of deceptiveness -- he has only 88 strikeouts in 110.1 innings -- makes him a risky pitcher to rely on when he puts so many runners on base.

Stripling (7-2) allowed one run on three hits while striking out seven over six innings in a win over the Angels on Saturday. He did not walk a batter.

Only Mike Trout, the game's best player, could touch Stripling -- Trout hit a home run and accounted for all three hits against the right-hander. With the six frames, Stripling now qualifies for starting-pitching leaderboards. He currently ranks second in the National League in ERA and sixth in WHIP. Stripling will look to keep it going and build on his remarkable 103:13 K:BB next week against the Padres in his final start of the first half.