MLB Player News

Atlanta optioned Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett after Wednesday's game against the Mets.

Smith-Shawver gave up two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out four batters in 4.1 innings during the first game of Wednesday's twin bill. It marked his first time pitching in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2025. However, his time with the big club will be short-lived, and he'll now return to Triple-A, where he posted a 1.69 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB in 10.2 innings during his rehab assignment. The 23-year-old righty figures to be a favorite to return to Atlanta if its rotation depth is tested during the final months of the season.

May took a no-decision Wednesday against the Cubs, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in five innings. He struck out three.

May, a rumored trade candidate ahead of Monday's deadline, is boosting his market value for the Cardinals at the right time. The 28-year-old right-hander has pitched at least five innings while giving up one or no runs in back-to-back starts, which comes after a rough patch that saw him surrender 18 runs over his prior five outings. If he remains with St. Louis past the deadline, May is set to take a 4.38 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 106:35 K:BB over 109 innings into a tough road matchup against the Yankees.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Glasnow (back) will begin a rehab assignment after completing Wednesday's live batting practice session, Jack Harris of the California Post reports.

Glasnow has been shelved since May 8 due to lower back spasms, but assuming he checks out fine following Wednesday's live session, he'll move on to the final stage of the recovery process. Given the length of his absence, Glasnow will likely require at least three rehab starts to build up his pitch count before he's deemed ready to rejoin the Dodgers rotation. Prior to landing on the shelf, Glasnow turned in a 2.72 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 49:13 K:BB across 39.2 innings over seven starts.

Littell did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Blue Jays, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out two over 4.2 scoreless innings.

Littell threw 50 of his 81 pitches for strikes on his way to recording his first scoreless outing since May 15. The veteran right-hander has now held opponents to one run or fewer in four of his last five starts, though the lone exception was an eight-run outing against the Athletics. Despite the recent run prevention, Littell has struggled to miss bats throughout 2026, ranking in the fifth percentile of qualified pitchers in expected batting average and whiff rate. He owns a 4.94 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 68:34 K:BB across 105.2 innings this season and is tentatively scheduled to face the Phillies early next week.

Jones (2-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings.

Jones was perfect through the first three innings on just 29 pitches before Arizona finally broke through. A leadoff double in the fourth was followed by Gabriel Moreno's two-run homer, and Jones later surrendered another run in the sixth. The three runs matched the combined total he had allowed over his previous four starts. After failing to complete six frames in any of his first seven outings this season, Jones has now reached that mark in three of his last four outings. He'll carry a 3.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 58:15 K:BB into his next start, scheduled tentatively for Tuesday against the Brewers.

Rodriguez (10-3) earned the win Wednesday against the Pirates, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out two over eight scoreless innings.

Rodriguez never faced more than four batters in an inning and retired nine straight hitters at one point during his dominant outing. He generated 15 whiffs despite recording just two strikeouts and limited Pittsburgh to only five hard-hit balls. Wednesday's outing marked the second time this season he has completed eight innings. Rodriguez has now won five of his last six decisions and will carry a 2.48 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 88:45 K:BB into his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Padres.

Gusto did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Phillies, allowing six runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out three over five innings.

Gusto breezed through the first two innings before Philadelphia's lineup broke through, scoring six runs over the next three frames. The fifth inning proved especially costly, with Trea Turner launching a solo homer as part of a three-run rally. The six runs marked the most Gusto has allowed in an outing this season. The right-hander exited in line for the loss, but Miami answered with six runs of their own over the next few innings to erase the deficit in the eventual victory. Across eight starts and five relief appearances, Gusto owns a 5.31 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 34:13 K:BB over 39 innings.

Luzardo did not factor into the decision Wednesday against the Marlins, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five over 6.1 innings.

Entering Wednesday, Luzardo had not allowed more than one earned run in any of his previous six starts. He cruised through the first four innings, yielding just one hit, before Miami broke through for three runs in the fifth, highlighted by Heriberto Hernandez's two-run homer. Luzardo's outing ended after Otto Lopez delivered an RBI single in the seventh, and two inherited runners later came around to score. His five strikeouts were the fewest he's had in a start since June 5. Despite the rough outing, Luzardo still owns a 3.57 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 157:41 K:BB across 128.2 innings this season. He is scheduled to face Washington in his next start and will seek to bounce back against MLB's most productive lineup.

Nationals manager Blake Butera said Wednesday that Irvin (shoulder) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Thursday's game in Atlanta, Kyle Williams of TheBanner.com reports.

Irvin has been shelved since late May while working his way back from a right shoulder strain. He pitched well in three rehab starts, covering 11.1 shutout frames with a 12:1 K:BB and just two hits allowed. Irvin authored a 5.23 ERA in 11 starts before getting hurt, however, so his leash on a rotation spot with Washington may not be long.

Imanaga is no longer listed as the Cubs' starting pitcher for Thursday's game in St. Louis and will instead take the hill Friday versus the Yankees at Wrigley Field, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Imanaga isn't dealing with any known injury, so the Cubs' decision to push him back a day simply appears to be a measure to give him and the other members of the Cubs rotation some extra rest. Javier Assad will move from the bullpen to make a start Thursday, sliding into the rotation spot that previously belonged to Jameson Taillon.