MLB Player News

Yamamoto (triceps) will throw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday, per MLB.com.

This will be Yamamoto's second sim game since he landed on the injured list in mid-June. In his first, the Japanese hurler threw 17 pitches in St. Louis on Aug. 16. Yamamoto is expected to follow Wednesday's simulated game with a three-inning sim game before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment. He could return to the Dodgers' rotation in early September.

Manager Bruce Bochy said that Scherzer (shoulder) will make a rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Friday and is on track to return from the 15-day injured list during the Rangers' series versus the White Sox early next week, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

On Tuesday, Scherzer threw another bullpen session, which Bochy said went "really well." Provided he gets through Friday's rehab outing without any complications, the veteran right-hander should slot back into the Rangers rotation Wednesday in Chicago. Scherzer has been sidelined for the entirety of August due to right shoulder fatigue but has bounced back nicely since being administered a nerve injection.

The Astros activated Verlander (neck) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Verlander will rejoin the Houston rotation Wednesday after missing more than two months of action with a neck problem. The 41-year-old threw just 57 pitches in his second of two rehab starts, so he's not yet fully stretched out as he enters a matchup versus Boston. According to Jim Bowden of MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, manager Joe Espada said that he's expecting Verlander to toss around 75-to-80 pitches Wednesday, so the veteran right-hander could struggle to work deep enough into the start to qualify for a win. Verlander has collected a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 57 innings for the Astros this season.

The Orioles selected Irvin's contract from Triple-A Norfolk on Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Irvin will draw a spot start Wednesday against the Mets, filling in for the injured Zach Eflin (shoulder). The lefty seems poised to be sent back down to Triple-A after the outing, although it's possible he could change minds if he pitches well. Irvin has posted a 4.06 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 75.1 frames with the Orioles this season.

Assad (6-3) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in a 3-1 victory over the Tigers. He struck out seven.

The seven Ks were the most for the right-hander since June 17, and Assad tossed 59 of 95 pitches for strikes as he fell just short of his fifth quality start of the season. He has yet to give up more than three runs in an outing since he recovered from a forearm strain and rejoined the Cubs' rotation just before the All-Star break, delivering a 3.30 ERA over his last 30 innings despite a worrying 20:17 K:BB and 1.60 WHIP. Assad will try to keep walking that tightrope in his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Miami.

Bradford (4-1) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on five hits over seven innings as the Rangers were downed 4-0 by the Pirates. He struck out eight without walking a batter.

The southpaw had only one bad frame -- he served up four hits including a double and a triple in the fourth inning -- but that was one more hit than Texas batters managed on the entire night against Mitch Keller and the Pittsburgh bullpen. Bradford has made seven starts this season and four of them have been quality starts, while Tuesday's eight Ks were a season high. Since returning to the rotation in August, he's produced a 3.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 22:3 K:BB in 21.2 innings. Bradford will look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Cleveland.

Jones (lat) struck out 10 and allowed one hit and no walks over five scoreless innings Tuesday in his rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis.

While making the third start of his rehab assignment for Indianapolis, Jones showed that he's likely ready to make his return from the 15-day injured list. The lone hit he allowed on the night was an infield single, and Jones generated 15 swings and misses among his 73 pitches (53 strikes) while throwing a fastball that averaged 97.6 miles per hour, per Jack McMullen of JustBaseball.com. Assuming the Pirates are comfortable with how Jones is feeling physically coming out of the rehab start, he could be activated from the 15-day injured list and rejoin the big-league rotation as soon as Monday's series opener versus the Cubs. Jones has been on the shelf since July 4 with a Grade 2 right lat strain.

Keller (11-7) picked up the win Tuesday in a 4-0 victory over the Rangers, scattering three hits over seven-plus scoreless innings. He struck out nine without walking a batter.

After getting hammered for 15 runs in 12 innings over his last two trips to the mound, Keller was razor-sharp Tuesday, firing 73 of 98 pitches for strikes and retiring the first 11 batters he faced. All three hits off the right-hander were singles, and none of the runners even managed to get to second base. The quality start was Keller's 13th of the year, while the nine strikeouts tied his season high. He'll take a 3.76 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 134:40 K:BB through 148.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Cubs.

Fedde (8-7) took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on six hits and four walks over 5.2 innings as the Cardinals fell 3-2 to the Brewers. He struck out two.

The right-hander tossed only 53 of 95 pitches for strikes, and his inefficiency left him one out short of his 11th quality start of the season. Fedde has had a bumpy beginning to his St. Louis tenure after being acquired at the trade deadline, going 1-3 in his first four starts for the team with a 4.98 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 14:8 K:BB through 21.2 innings. He'll look to get on track in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road this weekend in Minnesota.

Buehler did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's win over the Mariners, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one over four innings.

Buehler struggled once again Tuesday and recorded his lowest strikeout total of the season. The Mariners got to him early with two runs in the first and another run in the third. One positive from the outing was that Buehler did not allow a home run, which is something he's done only one other time this season. The 29-year-old now sits at a 6.09 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB in 44.1 innings. Buehler's spot in the rotation is safe for now, but he could be at risk of being moved to the bullpen for the postseason. He lines up to make another start against the Orioles next week.