MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Sasaki (finger) could be back in the rotation as soon as Sunday against the Marlins, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Sasaki is nearing his return from the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right middle finger. It looks like the 24-year-old right-hander won't go on a rehab assignment and could toe the rubber in Sunday's series finale in Miami. Sasaki had a 3.05 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 38.1 innings in his seven starts prior to his stint on the IL.

Sullivan (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque on Thursday, striking out four while yielding one run in 1.2 innings.

It's the first outing for Sullivan since he went down with a shoulder impingement in early July. The left-hander likely doesn't have enough time to get stretched back out to make any traditional starts down the stretch, but he could help the Rockies in a relief role.

Jones (4-6) earned the win over the White Sox on Thursday, allowing one hit and issuing two walks while striking out eight batters over seven scoreless innings.

Jones limited Chicago to just one knock -- a Colson Montgomery double. He racked up a whopping 20 whiffs and struck out eight while throwing an efficient 90 pitches over seven frames in his longest start of the season. It's been an up-and-down campaign for Jones in his first year back from elbow surgery, and his 4.10 ERA through 18 starts is far from dominant. However, the right-hander has kicked off September in fine form, tossing 13 shutout innings while posting a 17:3 K:BB across his first two starts of the month. He'll look to keep rolling his next time out, which is projected to be a matchup against Milwaukee at home.

Feltner (5-10) allowed four runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two batters over five innings in a loss to the Yankees on Thursday.

Feltner fell behind quickly when he gave up a two-run homer to Luis Garcia in the first inning. The Yankees plated two more runs against him in the second, and though Feltner finished his outing with three scoreless frames, the early damage was enough to send him to his 10th loss. The right-hander has given up at least four runs in four of his past five starts, stumbling to a 6.93 ERA with a 22:13 K:BB across 24.2 innings during that stretch. His season-long 5.88 ERA is sixth worst in the majors among hurlers who have tossed at least 100 innings, but Feltner still figures to finish out the campaign in Colorado's rotation. His next start is projected to be a home matchup against San Diego.

The Pirates placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Thursday with right arm discomfort, retroactive to Monday.

Ashcraft gave up three earned runs during his most recent outing Saturday against the Angels, and he appears to have come away from his start with an arm injury that's serious enough to warrant a trip to the injured list. A minimum-length stay would give him enough time to make one more start during the final week of the season, though the Pirates -- currently five games back of a wild-card spot with 16 to play -- could shut him down for the year if they're eliminated before Ashcraft is healthy. Antwone Kelly was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Wheeler took a no-decision Thursday against Houston, allowing one run on five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out nine.

Wheeler has now fired at least six innings while yielding just one run in three consecutive starts. The right-hander has also tapped back into his best swing-and-miss stuff, tallying nine strikeouts in consecutive starts after fanning six or fewer in six of his prior seven outings. He'll bring an outstanding 3.14 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 172:45 K:BB through 143.1 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Washington against the division-rival Nationals.

Perez took a no-decision Thursday against Tampa Bay, allowing four hits and two walks in seven scoreless innings. He struck out four.

Perez outdueled Nick Martinez on Thursday, scattering four singles across seven sterling frames. The southpaw showed signs of rust his last time out while pitching on extra rest, coughing up four runs over 3.2 innings in Philadelphia on Saturday, so it was encouraging to see him rebound in response after a normal between-starts protocol. He'll carry a 3.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 98:56 K:BB through 131.2 innings into his next scheduled appearance in Chicago against the Cubs.

Early (elbow) is tentatively slated to make a rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg on Sunday, MLB.com reports.

The southpaw threw 30 pitches in a bridge league game Tuesday, so he could be ready to handle around 40-to-50 during his upcoming appearance with Harrisburg. Early has yet to make his Nationals debut after being acquired from the Red Sox in July, but he may be able to join the big-league club before the end of the season if all goes well Sunday. Over 17 starts for Boston prior to being shut down with elbow inflammation, Early delivered a 3.44 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93:34 K:BB through 91.2 innings.

Santucci allowed one run on five hits over five innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The 23-year-old southpaw initially struggled upon his promotion to Triple-A at the beginning of August, but over his last three starts, Santucci has a 3.00 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 19:2 K:BB over 15 innings. A second-round pick in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Santucci isn't on the 40-man roster and won't need to be protected from the Rule 5 draft this winter, so the Mets have little incentive to bring him up to the majors before the end of the season. A strong finish at Syracuse would position him to compete for a spot in the big-league rotation next spring, however.

The Brewers optioned Sproat to Triple-A Nashville on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Sproat had been recalled earlier this week, and he was wild in his lone appearance Wednesday against the Cubs, walking four while being charged with four runs over 1.1 innings. The Brewers will announce a corresponding roster move prior to Friday's game against the Reds.