MLB Player News

Kershaw (1-2) picked up the win Monday against Milwaukee, allowing one run on three hits and two walks across 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

Though Kershaw was pulled after 83 pitches and hasn't surpassed 85 pitches since being activated from the injured list July 25, he went deeper than five innings for the first time. The veteran left-hander's lone run allowed came after he was removed, when Joe Kelly surrendered a home run to William Contreras that plated inherited runner Jackson Chourio. Kershaw has struck out five or more hitters in three of four starts this season and has yielded one run in back-to-back appearances. He's tentatively scheduled to close out a two-start week Saturday at St. Louis.

Gray (11-7) took the loss Monday, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Reds. He struck out nine.

Gray allowed six earned runs for the second time this season with five of those runs coming by way of two home runs off the bat of Spencer Steer. The other run allowed also came via the long ball as Elly De La Cruz followed Steer's two-run blast in the third with a solo dinger of his own. It was the third time this season Gray has allowed at least three homers in the same game. The outing lifted his ERA to 3.93 with a 1.08 WHIP over 130.2 innings while the nine strikeouts lifted his season total to 162, good for 10th best in all of baseball. His next start is slated to take place over the weekend when the Dodgers make the trip to St. Louis.

Abbott (10-9) earned the win Monday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over 6.2 innings against the Cardinals. He struck out six.

Abbott rebounded from allowing three homers in his last start to shut down the Cardinals, with a Nolan Arenado run-scoring single in the third representing the lone blemish against him. Abbott was on track to complete seven innings while allowing one run or fewer for the fifth time this season, but a two-out error by Elly De La Cruz extended the inning and Abbott was pulled after tossing 93 pitches. The 25-year-old lefty has now tossed a career-high 133 innings while holding a 3.59 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 110 strikeouts. He's next scheduled for a home matchup against the Royals.

The Pirates placed Gonzales on the 60-day injured list Monday with a left forearm strain, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The Pirates found out earlier in the day that Gonzales would require a trip to the IL, and after reviewing the extent of the injury, the club has elected to shut him down for the rest of the season. He'll finish the 2024 campaign with a 4.54 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with 23 strikeouts over 33.2 innings of work. Jake Woodford will move from the bullpen to fill Gonzales' spot in the rotation Monday in San Diego, while Pittsburgh selected the contract of Ryder Ryan from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Gonzales on the 40-man roster.

Lynn (knee) will throw another bullpen session Friday or Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Lynn completed Monday's session without issue, hurling around 20 pitches at 75 percent effort, per Denton. The team will take the next few days to ensure he's feeling strong before sending him out for another throwing session later in the week. It's unclear if Lynn, who last started July 30, will need a rehab assignment or if he'll be able to build up on the side before rejoining the rotation.

Gonzales will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left forearm strain, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

Gonzales struggled mightily in his last start Wednesday against the Padres, but the team neglected to report any injury news until Monday. It's still too early to know when Gonzales could return to the starting rotation, and Stumpf notes that the team is still gathering more information on the southpaw's injury to determine a rehab plan.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Nelson will be available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game versus the Rockies, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.

Nelson will be ready in case starter Jordan Montgomery is unable to work deep into Wednesday's outing. If Nelson is not needed Wednesday, he will start Friday in Tampa Bay. If Nelson does in fact start Friday, it could be his last one for a while, as Lovullo says the club would then go back to a five-man rotation. Lovullo wouldn't commit to Nelson being the one to lose his rotation spot when that time arrives, but he looks to be the most likely candidate. Nelson holds a 2.90 ERA and 49:11 K:BB over 49.2 innings since the beginning of July, so he certainly doesn't deserve a demotion. However, he could be the team's starter most equipped to handle a shift to relief.

Reds manager David Bell said Monday that Ashcraft (elbow) could begin a throwing program within the next 10 days, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft has been out since early July with a right elbow strain. He will need about six weeks to ramp things back up before he's ready for games, so even in a best-case scenario the right-hander is probably looking at just one or two late-season appearances.

Williamson (shoulder) is expected to begin a rehab assignment next week, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Williamson initially went on the injured list before Opening Day because of a left shoulder strain, but he was later diagnosed with a Bennett lesion in his shoulder in June. The southpaw was given multiple injections in the shoulder and has been ramping things back up to the point that he's nearly game-ready again. Williamson could join the Reds by September, perhaps in a relief role.

The Padres activated Musgrove (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

Musgrove will rejoin San Diego's rotation Monday versus the Pirates after missing 11 weeks of action with a bone spur and bone bruise in his right elbow. The veteran right-hander threw only 43 pitches in his lone rehab start, so his workload will be curtailed against Pittsburgh.