MLB Player News

Atlanta hasn't officially announced a starter for Tuesday's game against the Phillies, but manager Brian Snitker previously indicated the Lopez (forearm) was expected to be re-inserted into the rotation early this week, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Max Fried and Spencer Schwellenbach are penciled in to pitch Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, potentially leaving Tuesday open for Lopez to make his return from the injured list. The right-hander threw 71 pitches over four innings during his rehab start last Tuesday with Triple-A Gwinnett, so he shouldn't have significant workload limitations in his return to Atlanta's rotation.

Pirates GM Ben Cherington said Sunday that Jones (lat) will make at least one more rehab start before returning from the 15-day injured list, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

The right-hander has struggled in his two rehab outings for Triple-A Indianapolis with six earned runs allowed across six innings. Jones encouragingly built up his workload to 67 pitching during his last appearance, but the Pirates might want to see him regain some effectiveness before re-inserting him into the big-league rotation.

Scherzer (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Sunday and is scheduled to pitch again Wednesday, possibly in a rehab start or live batting practice, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The right-hander threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Friday and was quickly back on the mound Sunday, which is encouraging as he makes his return from a bout of shoulder soreness that required a nerve injection. Scherzer last took the mound for Texas in late July, and he could be back in the rotation before the end of August if he can continue trending in the right direction Wednesday.

Blanco (finger) is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

The right-hander reported some finger soreness after being hit by a comebacker during his previous start Wednesday, but he'll be ready to make his next turn through the rotation Tuesday versus Boston. Blanco has pitched well in his first three starts of August with a 2.40 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB across 15 innings.

Kuehler is on the full-season injured list at High-A Rome after undergoing Tommy John surgery in July, Scott Kennedy of SI.com reports.

Kuehler logged a 2.52 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and a 44:20 K:BB in 50 innings across 11 starts for Single-A Augusta and then gave up eight runs in three innings in his lone start for Rome on June 30. It's possible that the 22-year-old righty will eventually shift to the bullpen, where his fastball/slider combo could play up and his shaky command would be less of an issue. He may not recover in time to pitch for an affiliate in 2025.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Sunday that Verlander (neck) is tentatively scheduled to return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against Boston, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander completed his second rehab outing Thursday with Double-A Corpus Christi, tossing 57 pitches over four innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out five. The 41-year-old threw a live bullpen session at Minute Maid Park on Sunday, and Espada and the Astros staff apparently came away satisfied with how the right-hander looked during the workout. Verlander is now on track to make his first start for the Astros since June 9, after a stiff neck had kept him on the shelf for more than two months. Across 10 starts with Houston this season, Verlander has gone 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 57 frames.

Canning (4-11) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing seven runs on eight hits and one walk over 4.1 innings while striking out three.

Canning got himself into trouble right out of the gate, allowing three consecutive hits to open the contest, including a three-run shot off the bat of Marcell Ozuna. The right-hander would surrender another run in the second, along with a second long ball in the fifth, marking the first time he's coughed up multiple homers since June 13 against the Diamondbacks. The seven runs charged to Canning on Saturday also marked a season high, and he's now lost three of his last four decisions (spanning eight starts).

Mize (hamstring) struck out three over 3.1 scoreless innings Tuesday in his second rehab start with Triple-A Toledo. He gave up one hit and one walk and hit a batter while tossing 50 pitches (34 strikes).

Mize has yet to permit a run through his first two rehab outings and has posted a 5:2 K:BB across 5.2 innings. Since he was initially placed on the 15-day injured list July 3 with a strained left hamstring before being transferred to the 60-day IL, Mize won't be eligible for activation until Aug. 30, but he appears well on his way to being ready to reclaim a spot in the Detroit rotation on that date. He's scheduled to make his third rehab start for Toledo on Sunday and will likely make one or two more starts after that before being reinstated from the IL.

Wicks (oblique) struck out three and allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks in his second rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Iowa. "He's got a minimum of two [rehab starts] left before he's kind of ready to pitch for us regardless," Cubs manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com on Friday, when asked about a timeline for Wicks to return from the 60-day injured list. "So, he's got time left. I think at the start of it, health is most important. And as we get closer to making a decision, then results start to get factored in more, absolutely."

Wicks has been on the IL since mid-June with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, but he's been able to steadily ramp up his workload over his first two rehab starts, tossing 43 pitches Aug. 10 and 59 pitches Thursday. The results haven't been impressive, however, as Wicks has covered just 3.2 innings between those outings while giving up 10 earned runs on nine hits -- including four home runs -- and four walks. Counsell expressed confidence that Wicks will be able to knock off the rust in his subsequent rehab outings, and the fact that the skipper notes that the lefty will make at least two more starts in the minors suggests that Wicks probably won't be activated until the final weekend of August, at the earliest. Kyle Hendricks should continue to hold down a spot at the back end of the Chicago rotation while Wicks is on the farm.

Sale (14-3) earned the win over the Angels on Saturday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out 10.

Sale stifled the Angels' lineup for most of the night, allowing only two batters to reach second base over the first five innings before surrendering two runs -- one of which came across on a wild pitch -- in the sixth. The lefty induced 17 whiffs on the night and posted double-digit strikeouts for the third consecutive start. Sale has now won his four last decisions (spanning eight starts) and hasn't surrendered more than two runs since June 1 against the Athletics (a span of 12 starts).