MLB Player News

Single-A Carolina placed Knoth on the 7-day injured list Aug. 27 with an undisclosed injury.

It was an understandably uneven first full season for Knoth, who turned 19 just a couple weeks before landing on the shelf. The 6-foot-1 righty logged a 4.48 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 96:40 K:BB in 84.1 innings across 21 starts, although his 3.58 xFIP suggests he was a bit unlucky. He had three starts with seven strikeouts and one start where he struck out nine in 4.2 innings, so the swing-and-miss upside is there. However, he also had a five-walk start and a four-walk start. Knoth still has a high ceiling, but in addition to needing to improve his command and changeup, there's now this undisclosed injury to monitor heading into the offseason.

Birdsong (5-5) allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings to earn the win over the Diamondbacks on Monday.

Birdsong has followed up a seven-start winless stretch with back-to-back victories. The rookie right-hander has allowed seven runs over 18.2 innings across four starts in September. He's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 77:40 K:BB through 67.2 innings over 15 starts this season. Birdsong is tentatively projected to make his last start of the regular season at home versus the Cardinals.

Rodriguez (3-4) allowed five runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out eight over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Giants on Monday.

Rodriguez gave up three long balls, including an inside-the-park homer by Matt Chapman in the third inning that put the Giants ahead. The five runs allowed matched a season high for Rodriguez, and this was the third time he failed to complete five innings. He's now at a 5.56 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB through 45.1 innings over nine starts. The southpaw is tentatively projected for one more start in the regular season, which would be at home versus the Padres.

Walker won't make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Cubs but could pitch in relief, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

Walker was knocked around in his last start Thursday against the Mets (eight runs on six hits and three walks), and he'll likely have a difficult time making Philadelphia's postseason roster unless things change in his final appearance or two of the regular season. Tanner Banks will be called on to serve as the opener, and Gelb notes that Walker and Kolby Allard are candidates to pitch in long relief. Walker's spot in the rotation won't come up again with only four games remaining after Tuesday.

Nola (13-8) earned the win Monday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings against the Cubs. He struck out seven.

Nola shut out the Cubs through six frames but ran into trouble in the seventh, failing to record an out while allowing a couple of runs on a walk and three hits. Despite the rocky end to his night, Nola maintained a quality start while cruising to his 13th victory of the season, clinching the first National League East division title for the Phillies since 2011. This marks the fourth-straight season and sixth-straight non-COVID season Nola has started at least 32 games, while the 13 wins are the second most of his 10-year career. The veteran righty is in line to start on the final day of the regular season Sunday in Washington, but he could have a more limited workload with the Phillies positioning themselves for the start of the playoffs.

Nelson (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Nelson is working his way through right shoulder inflammation, which landed him on the 15-day injured list Sept. 14. Barring any setbacks Tuesday, the 26-year-old could be activated after a minimum-length stay, which would line him up for the weekend series against the Padres that begins Friday. Manger Torey Lovullo told reporters Monday that whether Nelson operates as a starter or reliever will depend on what pitch count the right-hander can comfortably manage.

McCaughan came away with a no-decision in Sunday's loss to Atlanta, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over four innings. He struck out five.

The right-hander was lifted after 67 pitches (43 strikes), the fourth time in five September outings that McCaughan has failed to last five innings. He's stumbled to a 5.91 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 21.1 innings on the month, but the Marlins don't have any better healthy options to fill their rotation to close out the season. McCaughan lines up to make his final start on the road this weekend in Toronto.

Montgomery didn't factor in the decision Sunday against the Brewers after giving up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks over 4.1 innings.

The left-hander generated 13 swinging strikes but was unable to get through five frames on 91 pitches. It was the second straight start for Montgomery after making four appearances out of the bullpen, and he's combined to allowed six runs on 12 hits with a 10:4 K:BB across nine frames in his two turns through the rotation. The 31-year-old could shift back to the bullpen for the final few games of the regular season if Ryne Nelson (shoulder) is able to return from the injured list this weekend against the Padres.

Montas surrendered eight runs (seven earned) on six hits and two walks over 2.2 innings during Sunday's win against the Diamondbacks. He struck out four and did not factor in the decision.

The right-hander was tagged for more than four runs in a start for the first time since being acquired by the Brewers, and half of the Diamondbacks' damage against him came via three long balls. Montas has served up five homers in his past two outings, but Milwaukee rallied Sunday to save him from a second straight loss. The 31-year-old has a 4.56 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 64:22 K:BB across 53.1 innings through 10 starts with the Brewers, and his final outing of the regular season lines up for this weekend versus the Mets.

Sale will make his next start Wednesday against the Mets, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The veteran lefty was originally in line to pitch Tuesday, which would have set him up for a two-start week to close out the schedule, but Sale's average fastball velocity was down over two miles per hour in his last outing Thursday against the Reds. As a result, Atlanta elected to be cautious with its ace and bump him back a day. Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach now gets the chance for a two-step with potential starts Tuesday and Sunday, while Sale would be available to pitch the first game of the wild-card series, should the team make the postseason. He also has a possible NL Cy Young Award, and even a triple crown, hanging in the balance -- Sale leads the Senior Circuit with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts.