MLB Player News

Syndergaard (lat) will throw live batting practice within the next couple days while continuing his progression with High-A Port St. Lucie, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Syndergaard is set to face live hitters for the first time since late April, when he made his last start before going on the 60-day DL. The right-hander is beginning to ramp up his efforts in the hopes of returning soon, but all parties are stressing precaution with the club's playoff hopes hanging by a thread. There will likely be a better sense of a timetable for Syndergaard following his BP session, but if all goes well, a rehab assignment shouldn't be too far away.

Pill underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery Wednesday, James Wagner of The New York Times reports.

Pill, who was placed on the minor-league disabled list at the beginning of the month, will spend the rest of the 2017 campaign on the shelf. In seven games with the Mets this year, the right-hander compiled a 5.32 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 22 innings.

Wheeler (arm) had his throwing program cut short Thursday and is officially being shut down for the rest of the season, Kristie Ackert of The New York Daily News reports.

With little left to play for in 2017, the Mets decided there was no reason to try and rush Wheeler back into action this year, especially considering the 86.1 innings he pitched this season were his first in the big leagues since 2014. Expect the right-hander to be recovered from the stress reaction in his upper arm in time for spring training, but an innings cap in 2018 remains a possibility as the team tries to keep Wheeler healthy.

Lugo (shoulder) is in line to be the starter for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against Washington, Mike Puma of The New York Post reports.

The right-hander is expected to throw a bullpen session Friday that will provide more clarity to the situation ahead of Sunday's twin bill. Lugo was placed on the disabled list just over a week ago due to right shoulder impingement, but it appears as though he's recovering fast from the setback, which originally appeared to warrant an extended stay on the DL. Although Lugo may be unable to return for Sunday's game, the 27-year-old will likely be back on the mound no later than next weekend.

Ray (concussion) was activated from the disabled list ahead of his start Thursday against the Mets.

Ray has been out for the entire month of August while recovering from a comebacker that struck the southpaw during his start against the Cardinals on July 28. He was able to appear in a rehab outing for High-A Visalia a week ago, striking out 11 batters in 4.2 innings while allowing two earned runs. The 25-year-old appears to be fully ready to work following the scary incident, and looks to get back on track with a matinee start against New York. Matt Koch was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday night in order to make room for Ray on the active roster.

Manager Terry Collins indicated that Lugo (shoulder) was scheduled to begin a throwing program Wednesday, Chris Bumbaca of MLB.com reports.

It's unclear if Lugo, who hit the disabled list last week with the right shoulder impingement, was actually able to complete what Collins labeled a "touch-and-feel" session, but more word on Lugo's condition should be available before the weekend. If Lugo did indeed throw Wednesday without discomfort, he could begin throwing off a mound as soon as Friday. The Mets have yet to announce if Lugo will require a rehab assignment before being activated from the DL.

Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley in advance of his start Thursday against the Marlins, Meghan Montemurro of The News Journal reports.

It initially appeared earlier in the week that Thompson, who owns a 5-13 record with a 5.34 ERA in the minors this season, would make just one turn with the big club, but that may have changed after the Phillies demoted the struggling Nick Pivetta to Triple-A following Pivetta's start Tuesday. That being said, Thompson will likely still need to turn in an effective outing Thursday in order to ensure himself another turn through the rotation. To make room on the active roster for Thompson, right-handed reliever Ricardo Pinto was optioned to Lehigh Valley.

Nicolino (2-2) lasted only 2.1 innings in Wednesday's 8-0 loss to the Phillies, giving up six runs on eight hits and a pair of walks.

Well, that was ugly. Injuries and demotions have made Nicolino only an occasional part of Miami's rotation this year, and this outing certainly won't help his case for clinging to a spot. With marginal stuff, a brutal strikeout rate (5.2 K/9), and a propensity for allowing both walks and homers, Nicolino offers little to no intrigue in the fantasy community.

Flexen (3-2) held the Diamondbacks to two runs on six hits and four walks over six innings Wednesday, striking out five and coming away with the win.

Generally speaking, issuing four free passes in Arizona's ballpark -- especially to the hitters at the top of the order -- is a dangerous game, but Flexen was able to work his way out of trouble on multiple occasions. He did so with some help from his defense, as center fielder Juan Lagares nailed A.J. Pollock trying to score on a shallow flyball in the fifth. After scuffling through his first two big-league starts, Flexen's now won three of his last four, but he also has an ugly 15:15 K:BB in that span. He may be of some use in deep leagues if you can pick your spots carefully, but the upside isn't very high.

Williams shut the Dodgers out over eight innings Wednesday, allowing seven hits and four walks while striking out five. He didn't factor into the decision in the eventual 10-inning win.

The storyline of this game is dominated by opposing starter Rich Hill's effort -- perfect through eight, a no-no through nine, and then a leadoff homer in the 10th that sent the Pirates to the win column -- but Williams deserves plaudits for putting matching zeroes up on the scoreboard. It's not always pretty and it may not be sustainable, as his 28:17 K:BB over his last six starts will attest, but this was a strong bounce-back effort for Williams coming off a three-homer, eight-run disaster against St. Louis. The sinker-balling righty's next turn lines up for Monday at Wrigley Field; he's made four appearances against the Cubs this season, giving up eight earned runs in 13.2 innings (5.27 ERA).