MLB Player News

Matz (back) struck out three batters and gave up four runs (two earned) on five hits and no walks over three innings in his rehab start Tuesday with Triple-A Memphis.

Matz tossed 64 pitches (45 strikes) in his sixth rehab start, with the Cardinals deliberating scaling back his workload Tuesday after he tossed 85 pitches and five innings his last time out for the Triple-A club Aug. 21. Though Matz is expected to return from the 60-day injured list to make his next appearance with the Cardinals, a decision hasn't been made whether he'll slot into the rotation or serve as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Per Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Cardinals have already confirmed their starting pitchers through Sunday, so if Matz does in fact rejoin the rotation, he won't take the hill until Monday's series opener in Milwaukee at the earliest.

Warren is scheduled to start Saturday's game versus the Cardinals at Yankee Stadium, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Warren returned from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last week and made his fourth start of the season Saturday in the Yankees' loss to the Rockies, giving up six runs (five earned) in three innings. Though Warren owns a solid 23:6 K:BB over 17.2 innings, a .451 BABIP along with three home runs has played a large part in his bloated 9.68 ERA. Warren should enjoy better results once his BABIP normalizes, but he likely won't have much runaway in the Yankees rotation after Saturday. The Yankees could get Luis Gil (back) and/or Clarke Schmidt (lat) back from the injured list the next time a fifth starter will be needed.

The Marlins optioned Munoz to Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Munoz was lit up for six earned runs on seven hits (including three home runs) and a walk in just 1.1 innings Tuesday, and he'll now head back to the minors in an effort to get back on track. Xzavion Curry was recalled from Jacksonville in a corresponding move, though it remains unclear if he will replace Munoz in the Marlins' rotation going forward.

The Marlins recalled Curry from Triple-A Jacksonville on Wednesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins optioned Roddery Munoz to Triple-A following his poor start Tuesday, so Curry will now come up from the minors and could potentially claim the fifth spot in the rotation. The 26-year-old righty owns a 5.84 ERA and 1.38 WHIP through 24.2 innings in the big leagues this season and hasn't performed well at Triple-A either (6.82 ERA, 1.48 WHIP through 60.2 innings).

Skenes did not factor into the decision in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk while striking out six in five innings.

After some shakiness early, Skenes retired seven straight batters to keep the Cubs off the scoreboard in his final three innings. Skenes departed with a 10-3 lead, but the Pirates' bullpen fell apart in the 14-10 loss, keeping Skenes' record at 8-2. The 22-year-old rookie has slowed down ever so slightly in August, allowing multiple earned runs in four of five starts this month, pitching to a 3.18 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 33:10 K:BB in 28.1 innings. Of greater concern is Skenes' pitch count -- he threw a season-low 82 pitches Wednesday after throwing 87 his last time out. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington stated last week that Skenes is on an unspecified innings limit, making Skenes' workload difficult to project over the final month of the season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Gil (back) will likely make a rehab start in five days, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Gil got through a live batting practice session Tuesday with no issues and should be in line for a rehab start Monday or Tuesday. Given that he's been on the shelf for a brief period of time with a lower-back strain, Gil shouldn't need more than one rehab start before being activated from the 15-day injured list, potentially as soon as next weekend. The New York rotation is fluid right now with Clarke Schmidt (lat) also nearing a return and likely to beat Gil back from the IL. The plan is for both Gil and Schmidt to return as starters, but one or both of them could eventually shift to relief later on in September.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Schmidt (lat) will likely make two more rehab starts before being activated from the 60-day injured list, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Schmidt was excellent in his first rehab outing with Double-A Somerset on Friday, striking out six while yielding one run over 3.2 innings. He will move up to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for his second rehab start Wednesday and will receive one more start in the minors early next week. Assuming all goes well, Schmidt should be in line for a return to the New York rotation next weekend in Chicago against the Cubs, though nothing is set in stone yet. The righty has been out since late May with a right lat strain.

Hendricks escaped with a no-decision in Wednesday's win against the Pirates, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and three walks in 1.2 innings. He struck out two.

Hendricks never found his footing in this one, surrendering a solo home run to Bryan Reynolds in the opening frame before completely unraveling in the second, yielding five additional runs on three extra-base hits before mercifully being pulled with two runners on and two out in the inning. Fortunately for Hendricks, those two runners were stranded and the Cubs rallied to a 14-10 victory, keeping Hendricks' record at 3-10. The 34-year-old veteran has been a shell of his former self this season, registering an ugly 6.75 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 6.0 K/9 in 102.2 innings. Hendricks' next start is slated to be a rematch with Pittsburgh early next week.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that Glasnow's progress from his elbow injury has been "slow moving" and indicated that the hurler will need a rehab assignment prior to returning, per Dodger Blue.

When Glasnow landed on the injured list Aug. 16, the level of concern about the right-hander was relatively low, especially considering that Glasnow said that he pushed the team not to place him on the IL or even to skip his start. However, there's now at least a bit more worry given that the All-Star hurler has made slower-than-expected progress. Glasnow did begin a throwing program this past weekend, and even with a rehab assignment a necessity before he can return to the Dodgers' rotation, it's possible that he could be back with the big club in mid-September.

Ragans (calf/hamstring) is listed as the Royals' probable starter for Saturday's game against the Astros, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Ragans had to be lifted from his last outing Monday versus the Guardians due to cramping in his left calf and hamstring. However, manager Matt Quatraro said after the game that the lefty was "fine," and it appears he's officially a go for his next scheduled start. Ragans will bring a 3.28 ERA and 187:54 K:BB over 156.1 innings into action Saturday.