MLB Player News

Cease (9-8) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out 10 over seven shutout innings to earn the win Saturday over the Guardians.

In three of his last five starts, Cease has delivered one-hit ball, though this was arguably his most dominant outing of the season. It was also his fourth start of the year with double-digit strikeouts. Cease is now at a 3.76 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 159:37 K:BB through 122 innings over 21 starts. He's projected for a road start versus Washington next week, though that could become a more challenging assignment at Baltimore if the Padres opt to call up a fifth starter for their first time through the rotation after the All-Star break.

The Dodgers will activate Kershaw (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list to start Thursday's game against the Giants, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Earlier Saturday, manager Dave Roberts accidentally stated Kershaw would start Wednesday and Tyler Glasnow (back) would start Thursday, but the Dodgers will instead flip the order in which the two pitchers will make their respective returns from the IL. Kershaw experienced a couple of setbacks in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery that pushed back his 2024 debut, but he checked out fine upon making two minor-league rehab starts this month, allowing three runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across seven innings. He got up to 67 pitches in his most recent outing Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, so it's expected he'll be on some sort of pitch count Thursday.

Glasnow (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Giants, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Earlier Saturday, manager Dave Roberts accidentally said that Glasnow would start Thursday and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) would start Wednesday, but the two pitchers will actually flip spots in the pitching schedule. Glasnow didn't go on a minor-league rehab assignment after being placed on the IL shortly before the All-Star break, but he should be able to provide the Dodgers with plenty of length in his return to the rotation after he threw 58 pitches across three simulated innings Friday. Even so, Glasnow will likely be operating on some sort of restriction with his pitch count Wednesday in his return to the Dodgers rotation.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Glasnow (back) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game against the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

After throwing 58 pitches over three simulated innings Friday, Glasnow said that he expected to return to the rotation Wednesday, but the Dodgers will wait an extra day before activating him. Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) will return from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut for the Dodgers on Wednesday, while Glasnow gets the ball for the series finale Thursday. The 30-year-old Glasnow turned in a 3.47 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP with 143 strikeouts across 109 innings before landing on the IL on July 9 with lower-back tightness.

Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Kershaw (shoulder) will return from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Giants, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Kershaw had been rumored to start at some point during the Dodgers' four-game home series against the Giants, and Roberts confirmed that the veteran lefty will make his season debut Wednesday. In his latest rehab outing Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kershaw threw four innings and 67 pitches, so he'll likely be operating under some sort of pitch count Wednesday. Since resuming his rehab assignment July 13, Kershaw has made two starts, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk with seven strikeouts over seven innings.

Cobb (hip/shoulder) will start for Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

Cobb has made four minor-league appearances, but Saturday's will be his first at the Triple-A level. The 35-year-old threw 3.1 innings in his last outing and seems to be one or two more rehab starts away from being activated from the 60-day injured list. Cobb underwent offseason surgery on his left hip, and his rehab was complicated by a shoulder issue that popped up in April.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the team could bring Kershaw (shoulder) back from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut in a start against the Giants next week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw has been ramping up recently after undergoing left shoulder surgery in the offseason. He began a minor-league rehab assignment June 19 but had to put it on hold for over three weeks after experiencing soreness, though he was able to resume the stint July 13. In his most recent rehab start Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kershaw allowed three runs on six hits while striking out two batters over four innings. The future Hall of Famer tossed 67 pitches and sported a fastball that topped out at 91.7 miles per hour, so while he's nearing a typical starter's workload, he'll almost certainly be operating under a pitch limit in his Dodgers season debut. If Kershaw forgoes another rehab appearance and instead rejoins Los Angeles, he'd likely start either Wednesday or Thursday at home against the Giants.

Atlanta added Elder to its roster ahead of his start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.

Elder hasn't enjoyed the same success in the majors this season (5.71 ERA) as he had last year (3.81 ERA), but he'll be called upon nonetheless to get Atlanta through the final game of Saturday's twin bill. The 25-year-old right-hander already faced St. Louis earlier this season, taking a loss after allowing two runs in six innings while striking out four batters. He'll likely be sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett following the end of the game.

The Phillies optioned Mercado to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Mercado was lit up for six earned runs in four innings during his last appearance against Oakland on Sunday, and he'll now head back to Triple-A in order to right the ship. Yunior Marte was recalled from Lehigh Valley to fill the open spot in Philadelphia's bullpen.

Hicks was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday against the Rockies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The Giants haven't indicated Hicks is dealing with any sort of injury, so it's possible him being scratched from his start indicates a move to the bullpen, or the team may simply want to postpone his next outing. Either way, Hayden Birdsong will start on the mound for San Francisco on Sunday instead.