MLB Player News

Drohan is slated to make his next start in Friday's series opener against the Angels in Anaheim, Hunter Baumgardt of Fox Sports 920 Milwaukee reports.

Drohan had been lined up for his 12th start of the season Wednesday in San Francisco, but the Brewers instead decided to call up Thomas Pannone from Triple-A Nashville to make a spot start, which will build in extra rest for all five members of the rotation. The southpaw will miss out on a start in one of baseball's more pitcher-friendly venues in Oracle Park but should still make for a quality option in fantasy lineups this week while taking on an Angels squad that has posted a league-high 25.9 percent strikeout rate against lefties this season.

Canning is slated to work as a bulk reliever in Wednesday's contest versus the Rockies at Petco Park.

Left-hander Kyle Hart will work as an opener ahead of Canning, in a repeat of the arrangement the last time Canning's turn in the rotation came up Thursday in Atlanta. Canning hasn't fared well this season, either as a traditional starter (6.79 ERA) or reliever (7.71 ERA), and with the trade deadline looming, his time to make a positive impression could be running out.

Drohan has been scratched from his scheduled outing Wednesday in San Francisco, as Milwaukee will call up Thomas Pannone from Triple-A Nashville to start the series finale, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The Brewers haven't revealed whether an injury or illness factored into the decision to push Drohan off the start, or if the team simply wanted to build in extra rest for the southpaw and the other four members of the rotation. In any case, those intending to use Drohan in DFS or activating him in season-long leagues with daily lineup moves should make alternative plans. Drohan hit six innings in each of his last four starts and went 2-2 with a 4.44 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 23:5 K:BB.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Hernandez is expected to be out for 6-to-8 weeks while recovering from a left oblique strain, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.

Given the recovery timeline laid out by Tomczyk, Hernandez's 2026 campaign is most likely over, as High-A Greensboro will wrap up its season Sept. 6. After the 20-year-old right-hander totaled 74 innings between his 18 starts at High-A and Single-A Bradenton, he may have been a shutdown candidate at some point in August if the injury hadn't intervened. The oblique strain shouldn't dramatically affect Hernandez's offseason training program nor his standing as one of the top pitching prospects in the minors heading into 2027. Hernandez overwhelmed Florida State League and South Atlantic League hitters with his power arsenal during his first season in the pro ranks, racking up 118 strikeouts while pitching to a 2.43 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.

Irvin (shoulder) struck out four and allowed one walk and no hits over 3.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Friday with Double-A Harrisburg. He also hit a batter.

Irvin built up to 63 pitches (38 strikes) in the third start of his rehab assignment, during which he posted a stellar 12:0 K:BB while permitting just two hits in 11.1 scoreless frames between stops with Harrisburg and the Nationals' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate. Per MLB.com, Irvin returned to Washington to throw a bullpen session Monday, and while the club has yet to announce his next step, he appears likely to return from the 60-day injured list to start Thursday's series opener in Atlanta. Washington has already named its starters for the final three games of the series but is listing Thursday as "TBA," according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The Nationals reinstated Williams (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Williams started in each of his 60 appearances with Washington over the previous three seasons, but manager Blake Butera has already said that the veteran right-hander will return to the big club in a long-relief role after posting shaky results during his rehab assignment while working his way back from internal brace surgery, which he underwent July 17, 2025. While making stops at five different affiliates from June 28 through this past Friday, Williams compiled a 6.46 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and 18:4 K:BB in 15.1 innings.

Nationals president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said Wednesday that Early (elbow) is projected to return from the 15-day injured list in the final week of August, Byron Kerr of MLB.com reports.

After acquiring Early from the Red Sox over the weekend, the Nationals seem to be preparing for a slow buildup for the left-hander as he works his way back from elbow inflammation. He's slated to throw a two-inning simulated bullpen session within the next day or two before likely throwing a simulated game Monday in Washington, D.C. or on the road in Philadelphia. After that, Early is expected to report to an affiliate to begin a rehab assignment, and he looks like he'll need around three starts in the minors before making his Nationals debut by the end of August.

Gusto is slated to start Wednesday's game against the Phillies at loanDepot Park.

Gusto will be making his second straight turn through the Miami rotation as a replacement for the injured Max Meyer (neck). The right-hander took the hill on two days' rest his last time out Friday against the Padres and was lifted after tossing 3.1 innings and 57 pitches, but he should have a slightly longer leash Wednesday.

Chandler didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Diamondbacks despite allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and a walk across four innings. He struck out three.

Chandler appeared headed for his ninth loss of the season, but the Pirates scored six runs between the eighth and ninth innings, so Chandler was able to escape with a no-decision. Still, he hasn't been consistent lately. Over his last six starts, the 24-year-old has three outings in which he's allowed two runs or fewer, and three in which he's given up at least four runs. Chandler will look to bounce back in his next start, tentatively scheduled for Sunday at Cincinnati.

Atlanta activated Smith-Shawver (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Smith-Shawver will start the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Mets in what will be his first outing in the majors since he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2025. The right-hander looked sharp in five rehab starts, collecting a 1.53 ERA and 21:5 K:BB over 17.2 innings. Smith-Shawver threw 86 pitches in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Gwinnett last Thursday, so he should be capable of working long enough in Wednesday's start to qualify for a win. He's not currently scheduled for any additional starts with Atlanta, but Smith-Shawver could force his way into the club's immediate plans if he pitches well Wednesday.