MLB Player News

Sampson will make a spot start for the Reds on Saturday against the Diamondbacks, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Sampson will take John Lamb's spot in the rotation for one turn, and with that plus the Reds' off days coming forward, that should buy enough time for Homer Bailey to be ready. "It's going to be a one-start scenario," manager Bryan Price said. "If everything that goes well with Homer the next time or two out, then I think it's realistic to at least project a possibility that we could have Homer by the end of the month."

Pries was traded to the Cubs on Wednesday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports.

The 26-year-old righty is basically a swingman, long-reliever type who was a throw-in in the deal that sent Dan Vogelbach to Seattle and Mike Montgomery to the Cubs. He has a 3.65 ERA and 21:7 K:BB in 24.2 innings at Triple-A Tacoma this season.

Hendricks (9-6) threw 6.1 shutout innings Wednesday, striking out seven and earning the win against the Mets.

Hendricks continues his phenomenal 2016 campaign with his shutdown performance at home against the reigning NL champions. The 26-year-old Dartmouth graduate has dominated hitters despite his lack of velocity (his fastball averages less than 90 mph), and has managed to strike out 96 hitters over 18 starts. Hendricks 9-6 record is actually worse than one might think given his 2.27 ERA and the Cubs' dominant offense that's leading the NL in runs. Hendricks is slated to face the rival White Sox in his next start.

Manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that the team expects Kershaw (back) to return this season, but Roberts also said that based on his personal experience, season-ending surgery is also a possibility, SportsNetLA's Alanna Rizzo reports.

Season-ending surgery would be a death blow for the Dodgers and Kershaw's fantasy owners, and given Kershaw's work ethic it seems like he will exhaust all avenues of getting back on the mound this season. There is really nothing for Kershaw's owners to do other than hope for the best at this point. He has been temporarily shut down until his back pain subsides and is without a timetable to resume throwing.

Rea (5-4) threw six innings and allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks while punching out two in a loss in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Rea was originally slated to pitch Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, but that game was rained out, lining him up for the day game Wednesday. The long ball was Rea's downfall Wednesday, as he allowed homers in the second, fourth, and sixth innings. He managed to get through six innings and keep the game close, but the Padres were unable to muster much offense against Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez. Rea hasn't exactly been dominant this year, with a 5.01 ERA and 72 strikeouts against 40 walks.

Martinez (9-6), starting Wednesday afternoon in a makeup of a rainout Tuesday, threw seven strong innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out five en route to a win over San Diego.

Martinez had been slated to start Tuesday's game before it was rained out, which made Wednesday his first start since July 9th. Martinez's fine performance was his eighth quality start in his last nine tries, and brought his ERA to 2.83. He continues to be the star of the Cardinals' rotation, leading the group in ERA and WHIP.

Taillon reported no symptoms or soreness Wednesday after getting hit in the head by a comebacker during his start against the Brewers on Tuesday night, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

For now, Taillon is still being monitored under the concussion protocol, but all signs point to him being available for his next scheduled start assuming that nothing surfaces in the coming days.

With the news that Reynaldo Lopez was sent back to Triple-A and Joe Ross will need to make a rehab start, Lucas Giolito is the favorite to start for the Nationals on Sunday against the Padres, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.

Giolito is coming off a great start in his Triple-A debut, allowing no runs and striking out seven in 6.2 innings. While he has yet to officially be named the starter for Sunday, there doesn't seem to be a ready alternative for the Nationals at this time.

Wood (elbow) will undergo an elbow debridement Wednesday and is expected to miss eight weeks, Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The eight-week recovery estimate would suggest Wood has a chance to return before the end of the regular season barring any setbacks. Wood made 10 starts before hitting the DL, posting a 3.99 ERA while flashing signs of electric stuff as evidenced by his 9.9 K/9. His status should be updated routinely as he progresses through his rehab program.

Greinke (oblique) is expected to throw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since the injury, FanRag Sports' Jack Magruder reports.

He left his start on June 28 with the oblique injury, and it took a little over three weeks for him to get back on a mound. There is no timetable for him to head out on a rehab assignment or throw a simulated game, although if Wednesday's session goes well, the team should start mapping out the next steps in his recovery. At this point an early-August return seems like the most likely scenario.