MLB Player News

Ray is listed as the Padres' probable pitcher for Friday's game against the Astros in Houston.

Ray will be taking the hill on seven days' rest as he makes his debut for the Padres, who acquired him Monday in a deal that sent right-hander Miguel Mendez and shortstop Joniel Hernandez to the Giants. The 34-year-old southpaw was one of two additions to the rotation at the deadline, as the Padres also brought aboard Casey Mize from the Tigers. Ray will look to aid the Friars' playoff push over the next seven and a half weeks before heading into free agency this winter.

The Nationals paused Early's (elbow) throwing program Thursday after he felt forearm tightness during his latest live BP session, Danielle Allentuck of The Washington Post reports.

Early has been sidelined by elbow inflammation since the beginning of July. He was aiming to return from the IL to make his Nationals debut sometime in late August, but the latest setback is likely to extend his time on the shelf. Manager Blake Butera noted that the left-hander's forearm issue isn't too concerning, per Mark Zuckerman of NatsJournal.com, but the team is still going to be "ultra cautious" with Early going forward and give him some time off to rest before reevaluating and determining next steps.

An MRI on Painter's left hamstring came back clean, and he is expected to make his next start Monday in St. Louis, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports.

Painter had to be lifted from Wednesday's start versus the Nationals after four innings when his left hamstring tightened up on him. His removal was seen as a precaution, however, and the rookie hurler won't miss a turn as long as he gets through his normal between-starts bullpen session without any hiccups.

Abbott (6-7) earned the win against the Athletics on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks in 6.2 innings. He struck out four.

Abbott was efficient Thursday, firing 62 of his 88 pitches for strikes, and he hung in there for a quality start after giving up all of his three runs in the fourth inning. It was the longest outing of the season for the southpaw, who previously hadn't recorded an out in the seventh inning and has now turned in three quality starts in his past four outings. Abbott will take a 3.92 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and a troubling 99:61 K:BB over 128.2 frames into his next scheduled appearance on the road against the White Sox.

Painter said following Wednesday's 10-4 loss to to the Nationals in 11 innings that he's not worried about missing time due to the left hamstring injury that forced him out of the game after four innings, Charlotte Varnes of The Athletic reports. "I felt like I could have gone out there and still competed. [The coaching staff] felt like they didn't want to risk that," Painter said.

Making a second straight turn through the Philadelphia rotation, Painter struck out four batters and limited the Nationals to one earned run on three hits and one walk in four innings prior to his departure. Painter appeared to first tweak the hamstring in the first inning when he slipped while delivering a 3-2 pitch to Daylen Lile, but the right-hander said the hamstring didn't tighten up on him until the fourth. The Phillies have no plans to send Painter in for imaging, and so long as he's able to complete a bullpen session over the weekend without issue, he'll tentatively line up to make his next start Monday in St. Louis.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Lodolo (finger) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's road game against the White Sox, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Lodolo will be making his first appearance in the majors since he landed on the 15-day injured list shortly before the All-Star break due to a recurring blister issue on his left index finger. Since that IL move, Lodolo has been using a modified grip for his curveball as he aims to put his blister problems behind him. In his lone rehab start, the southpaw allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four over 4.1 innings for Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. He threw 65 pitches in the outing, so Lodolo won't be fully stretched out when he faces the Pale Hose.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday that there's "probably a slim chance" Greene (elbow) pitches again this season, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Greene felt discomfort in his right elbow during a bullpen session Tuesday and was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. He will receive a second opinion from Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Thursday before more is known about the hurler's long-term prognosis. Greene didn't make his 2026 debut until early July following surgery in March to have bone chips removed from his right elbow, and he also had Tommy John surgery back in 2019. It's unclear whether another operation is possible, but even if Greene is prescribed rest, he can be dropped in redraft leagues.

Stone (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday.

Excluding the lone Cactus League appearance he made this spring, Stone will be pitching in a sanctioned game Thursday for the first time since Aug. 31, 2024. The 27-year-old righty underwent shoulder surgery in October of that year and missed the entire 2025 campaign, then experienced a setback this spring that prolonged his recovery. He's apparently been able to ramp up at the Dodgers' complex in Arizona over the past month without any major issues and will now kick off what will presumably be an extended rehab assignment. Given the Dodgers' ample starting depth, Stone could be preparing for a return to the big club as a multi-inning reliever.

The Cubs recalled Garrett from Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

Acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline, Garrett's role with the Cubs for now appears to be as a long-relief option. The left-hander has been tagged for seven runs with a 5:8 K:BB over 4.1 innings in the majors this season, but he's collected a 2.90 ERA and 83:29 K:BB covering 77.2 frames in 2026 at the Triple-A level.

Miller (shoulder/back) allowed a solo home run and struck out three over two innings in his first rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Miller made his first appearance of the season at any level, as he's experienced shoulder soreness coming out of spring training and was then slowed by a back issue earlier this summer while ramping up. He averaged 96.9 mph with his four-seamer in Wednesday's outing, which isn't far off from the 97.6 mph he averaged with the pitch last season. Miller could help the major-league club down the stretch -- likely in a relief role -- but the Dodgers aren't counting on it, given the hurler's performance and injury issues dating back to 2024.