The Cubs are hopeful Steele will be cleared to throw a bullpen session at some point during the current road trip, which runs until Sunday in Colorado, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Manager Craig Counsell noted that Steele hasn't experienced any issues while playing catch, so the next step will be for the southpaw to resume throwing off a mound. He'll likely be asked to complete a side session or two before getting the green light to face live hitters.

Bellozo (2-3) took the loss Monday against the Pirates. He allowed three runs (one earned) over 5.1 innings with six hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Bellozo battled Monday but was on the wrong end of another dominating performance by Paul Skenes. Bellozo threw six shutout innings in a no-decision his last time out following back-to-back starts of six or more runs, so Monday's start is another positive sign. The rookie right-hander has allowed two runs or less in seven of his 10 starts this season, but in his other three starts he's allowed 17 runs. Bellozo's 15.4 percent strikeout rate would be the worst mark among qualified big-league starters if he'd thrown enough innings to qualify.

Skenes (10-2) got the win Monday over the Marlins, giving up one run on six hits and one walk while striking out nine over six innings.

Skenes was sharp yet again Monday, holding the Marlins to one run through six innings. Skenes recorded nine strikeouts and surpassed Cy Blanton in 1935 for the most strikeouts by a Pirates rookie in franchise history. Skenes now has 151 strikeouts this season, making him the fifth pitcher since 1920 with 150 or more strikeouts in his first 20 pitching appearances. The 22-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.10, and he now has 14 quality starts in his first 20 big-league appearances.

Morton (8-8) took the loss Monday, giving up one run on six hits and two walks over 6.2 innings in a 1-0 loss to the Mets. He struck out seven.

Morton put together one of his better efforts of the season in a losing effort Monday. He pitched into the seventh inning for just the fifth time this season and held the Reds to a single run on an RBI double by Ty France in the third inning. The 40-year-old got lit up for eight runs against the Brewers early in August but has bounced back nicely since then with a 2.88 ERA over his last six starts. 

Glasnow (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday followed by a simulated game Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

This is another step in the right direction for Glasnow, who successfully fired a 25-pitch bullpen session Saturday. If he's able to get through Tuesday's bullpen and Friday's sim game without issue, the right-hander could be sent out on a rehab assignment as early as next week.

Kershaw (toe) was spotted throwing off a makeshift mound at Dodger Stadium on Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ardaya added that Kershaw was testing his ability to push off his big left toe by not wearing a shoe. It's another step in the right direction for Kershaw, who landed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 31 due to a bone spur in his left big toe. A timeline for the veteran southpaw's return remains unclear.

The Phillies will call Allard up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start in Saturday's game against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies will avoid skipping the No. 5 spot in their rotation by calling up Allard to provide a spot start Saturday, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Allard has won in each of his last two starts with the big club, and across four major-league outings this season (three starts), the 27-year-old southpaw holds a 2-0 record with a 3.50 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB over 18 innings.

Manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Blackburn (hand) was scratched from his start Monday against the Blue Jays due to a back issue, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Blackburn was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 25 after taking a comebacker off his pitching hand. He was slated to return from the IL to start Monday, but the Mets opted to delay activating him once the back issue cropped up. Mendoza added that the Mets will monitor Blackburn's back over the next couple of days, and the right-hander will not pitch in the upcoming series in Toronto, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.

The Phillies optioned Johnson to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Johnson's stay in Philadelphia will last just one start, as he'll head back to Triple-A after he was lit up for nine earned runs over 2.1 innings during his MLB debut in Sunday's 10-1 loss to the Marlins. The Phillies recalled left-hander Tyler Gilbert to provide some extra coverage in the bullpen in the short term, but it's not immediately clear whom Philadelphia might turn to as Johnson's replacement in the rotation.

Senzatela allowed five earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five across 3.2 innings to take the loss in a rehab outing Sunday with Double-A Hartford.

Senzatela took a step back in his results in the shaky outing, but he also ramped up to 68 pitches. That was the highest mark of his five rehab starts, and he appears to be on track for activation from the 60-day injured list perhaps as soon as next weekend.