MLB Player News

Manager Oli Marmol told reporters Monday that Matz did not feel any back pain following his rehab outing with Triple-A Memphis on Sunday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Matz came away with the no decision Sunday after allowing one run on two hits while striking out three across four frames. His next rehab appearance will take place Friday, and the plan is for the 33-year-old southpaw to toss five innings and approximately 75-to-80 pitches. Matz has not pitched for the Cardinals since late April due to a herniated disc in his back, though he could be on his way back to the big club if he comes out of Friday's outing unscathed.

The Brewers optioned Hall to Triple-A Nashville on Monday.

Hall had some good moments in his return from the 60-day injured list Sunday, as he struck out a career-high nine batters while allowing three runs over 4.2 innings in a spot start against the Reds. However, the Brewers will stick with a five-man rotation moving forward, so Hall will head back to Nashville and stay stretched out while he waits for a starting spot to open up.

Lopez (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.

Lopez's upcoming start with Gwinnett may be the only one he requires before returning from the 15-day injured list, potentially setting him up to rejoin Atlanta's rotation either Sunday on the road against the Angels or back at home next Monday versus the Phillies. The right-hander hadn't made a start since July 28 because of right forearm inflammation.

Darvish (personal) has yet to rejoin the Padres since landing on the restricted list July 6, but he has been working out and throwing on his own and most recently tossed a live batting practice session at a San Diego-area high school Sunday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Darvish hasn't pitched for the Padres since May 29, as he first landed on the injured list with a left groin strain, then made a rehab start June 17 with High-A Fort Wayne before experiencing minor elbow inflammation. He had resumed his throwing program before he stepped away from the team in early July to tend to the personal matter, and neither injury is believed to be a concern at this point. While the veteran righty hasn't informed the Padres whether he plans to return to the team in 2024, the fact that he's been ramping up his throwing would seem to suggest that he intends to come back this season. The Padres are likely to remain mum on Darvish's situation until he formally rejoins the club, but his potential late-season return would provide a significant boost to a surging squad that now finds itself within striking distance of the Dodgers for the division lead. Over his first 11 starts this season before going on the IL and then the restricted list, Darvish went 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 53:15 K:BB in 56.1 innings.

The Padres outrighted Wolf to Triple-A El Paso after he cleared waivers Saturday.

Wolf will remain in the organization after he went unclaimed upon being moved off the Padres' 40-man roster Thursday. The 25-year-old lefty previously made a spot start for the Padres in 2023 but has spent the entire 2024 campaign in the minors since being reacquired from the Pirates shortly after Opening Day. Over 23 outings (18 starts) for El Paso this season, Wolf owns a 7.21 ERA and 1.89 WHIP across 83.2 innings.

Lynn (knee) said in an appearance on the "Foul Territory" program that he'll throw a bullpen session Monday.

While the hurler noted that he should have more clarity on his timetable after the throwing session, he hopes to return from the 15-day injured list "hopefully within the next time or two through the rotation." Lynn has been sidelined since late July with right knee inflammation.

Oviedo (elbow) has increased his throwing distance off flat ground to 105 feet as of Aug. 2, MLB.com reports.

Oviedo has been slowly increasing the distance in which he's playing catch since being cleared to begin a throwing program May 20, approximately six months after he underwent Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is hopeful to be fully cleared for spring training in 2025, but he'll still need to resume mound work and face hitters over the offseason in order to enter camp with no restrictions.

Ashcraft's placement on Triple-A Indianapolis' 7-day injured list July 12 was the result of recurrent symptoms of lateral forearm tightness, MLB.com reports.

After suffering the injury during his July 6 start for Indianapolis, Ashcraft met with Dr. Keith Meister, who had previously performed the right-hander's Tommy John surgery in 2021. Fortunately for Ashcraft, his latest forearm issue was confirmed to be muscle-related, so the expectation is that he'll be able to recover from the injury with rest and rehab. Ashcraft resumed playing catch in late July and is still hopeful to return to action before the end of the 2024 season.

Jones (lat) covered 2.2 innings and struck out three while giving up two earned runs on one hit and one walk in his rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Pitching in a game for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list July 4 with a Grade 2 lat strain, Jones tossed 47 pitches (30 strikes) and induced six swings and misses. After walking the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first inning, Jones then served up a two-run home run, but he retired the final eight hitters he faced before exiting. The 23-year-old righty will likely need one or two more rehab starts before making his return from the 15-day injured list.

Kelly (3-0) earned a win over the Phillies on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings.

All of the damage against Kelly came in the opening frame after Alec Bohm drove in two runs on a double to center field. From there, Kelly was able to settle in, retiring 14 of the next 16 batters he faced. Kelly wasn't on much of a workload restriction either, finishing with 85 pitches before his day was done. The return of the 35-year-old gives the Diamondbacks a healthy rotation for the first time this year after they also added Eduardo Rodriguez to the mix earlier in the week. Kelly now holds a 2.43 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 23:8 K:BB in 29.2 innings and will face the Rays on the road in his next start over the weekend.