MLB Player News
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Quinn Mathews SP | STL
Cardinals' Quinn Mathews: Gets another promotion
The Cardinals promoted Mathews from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.
Mathews will reach his fourth level this season in what has been a breakout campaign for the 23-year-old lefty. He leads the minor leagues with 180 strikeouts over 126.2 innings in his first three stops, posting a 2.27 ERA along the way. The left-hander was particularly dominant in his last five starts at Springfield, collecting a 0.85 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 49:5 K:BB over 31.2 innings. It might be a tough ask for Mathews to reach the majors in 2024, but he's positioning himself to spend ample time in the St. Louis rotation in 2025.
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Nick Lodolo SP | CIN
Reds' Nick Lodolo: Could miss last month
Lodolo might miss the remainder of the regular season due to his sprained finger, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "It's not concerning for the long term, but it's a rare injury that could keep him out for the year," manager David Bell said of Lodolo. "That's the bottom line."
Lodolo further said that the sprain has been bothering him for most of the summer, dating back to when he developed a blister on his pitching finger.
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Sem Robberse SP | STL
Cardinals' Sem Robberse: Working back from elbow injury
Robberse (elbow) gave up one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings in a rehab start for Single-A Palm Beach on Tuesday.
According to MLB Pipeline, Robberse started dealing with elbow tightness in June and officially began his rehab assignment Aug. 13. The Dutch righty logged a 4.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 71.2 innings across 13 appearances for Triple-A Memphis before landing on the 7-day injured list June 18.
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Braxton Ashcraft SP | PIT
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Nearing return at Triple-A
Ashcraft (forearm) threw a live batting practice session earlier this week and is expected to be activated from the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis later this week, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Ashcraft last pitched for Indianapolis in early July, so he will have missed nearly two months of action by the time he returns. The 24-year-old might have pushed for a major-league debut this season if he hadn't missed so much time, but he and the Pirates are likely now eyeing 2025.
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Marco Gonzales SP | PIT
Pirates' Marco Gonzales: Slated for flexor tendon surgery
Gonzales will undergo left flexor tendon surgery in early September and is expected to be sidelined for 9-to-12 months, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Gonzales is getting his second forearm surgery in just over a year, as he had an operation last August for a nerve issue. The lefty was ready in time for Opening Day after last year's surgery, but the upcoming procedure will be more invasive, and he could be sidelined until around midseason. Gonzales, who turns 33 in February, will be a free agent this offseason after the Pirates decline his $15 million club option for 2025.
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Miles Mikolas SP | STL
Cardinals' Miles Mikolas: Overcomes shaky start Tuesday
Mikolas came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Padres, giving up four runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out three.
The veteran righty appeared to be headed for another rough outing when San Diego jumped on him for four runs in the second inning, but Mikolas shook it off and left the mound after 93 pitches (63 strikes) with St. Louis having taken a 5-4 lead. The Cards' bullpen couldn't get him his ninth win of the year, however. Mikolas has been tagged for at least four runs in four of five August starts, leaving him with an ugly 6.39 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB through 25.1 innings on the month. He's scheduled to make his next trip to the mound on the road early next week in Milwaukee.
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Brandon Williamson SP | CIN
Reds' Brandon Williamson: Shines in short rehab start
Williamson (shoulder) struck out four and gave up one hit and one walk over 2.2 scoreless innings in his rehab start Tuesday for Triple-A Louisville.
After making four rehab starts in May and June, Williamson was pulled off his minor-league assignment when he experienced a setback with his shoulder. He was then diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder, but rather than opting for season-ending surgery to address the issue, he instead received injections to treat the injury. Williamson seems to be responding well more than two months later, and he took a major step forward in the recovery process by restarting his rehab assignment Tuesday. He tossed 50 pitches (26 strikes) in the rehab outing for Louisville, generating seven swings and misses along the way. Williamson will likely continue to build up over at least two more rehab outings before he becomes a realistic option for the Cincinnati rotation.
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Dylan Cease SP | SD
Padres' Dylan Cease: Control issues in no-decision
Cease came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Cardinals, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four and threw three wild pitches.
The right-hander got only 52 of his 96 pitches in the strike zone as he issued three or more free passes for the fourth time in his last seven starts. Over that stretch, Cease has maintained a 2.92 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB in 37 innings, though he hasn't produced a single double-digit strikeout performance in that span. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Tampa Bay.
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Spencer Schwellenbach SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Eight Ks in no-decision
Schwellenbach came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 8-6 extra-inning win over the Twins, giving up five hits and three walks over 4.2 scoreless innings. He struck out eight.
Atlanta spotted the rookie right-hander a 4-0 lead, but Schwellenbach wasn't efficient enough to take advantage as he needed 106 pitches (67 strikes) to record 14 outs. The bullpen then let Minnesota back into the game late in the later innings. Schwellenbach has allowed three runs or less in all five of his August trips to the mound, posting a 3.07 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and dazzling 42:8 K:BB through 29.1 innings on the month. He faces a tough test in his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Philadelphia.
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Jack Flaherty SP | LAD
Dodgers' Jack Flaherty: Posts quality start
Flaherty (10-6) took the loss Tuesday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five over six innings.
Flaherty was punished by the long ball Tuesday, as he allowed a solo home run to Ryan O'Hearn in the second and a two-run blast to Ramos Urias in the fifth, which proved to be the difference in the game. The loss was Flaherty's first since June 27 and he's now pitched to a 3.49 ERA over five starts with the Dodgers. For the year, the 28-year-old owns a 3.07 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 167:26 K:BB in 135 innings. He lines up for a road start against the Diamondbacks this weekend.