MLB Player News

Valdez (12-5) earned the win Monday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over 5.2 innings against the Rays. He struck out nine.

Valdez allowed Taylor Walls to double his season total in extra-base hits but otherwise allowed just a couple of singles and a walk that tallied merely one run. Valdez was on track for a quality start, but a two-out walk left him at 101 pitches and his night ended one out shy of his 13th such effort on the season. The veteran lefty hasn't taken the loss during any of his last nine starts, going 7-0 with a 2.68 ERA and 1.12 WHIP while punching out 66 batters over 57 innings during that stretch. He's next slated to take the hill in a highly favorable home matchup against the fledgling White Sox.

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.

Plesac was released by the Angels on Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Plesac was working at Triple-A Salt Lake prior to his release, where he accrued a 5.69 ERA and 1.46 WHIP with a 65:33 K:BB across 99.1 innings with the Bees. He failed to find his footing while up with the Angels in 2024, allowing 11 earned runs on 12 hits and seven walks while fanning five over 12 frames (three starts).

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.

Scherzer (shoulder) will undergo an MRI on Monday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scherzer has missed nearly two weeks of action with right shoulder fatigue and has not progressed as hoped, so he's been sent back to Dallas for further evaluation, which will include an MRI. There might be more information available on Scherzer's status later Monday or perhaps Tuesday once the test results are in. He'll need to ramp things back up before returning, so even if the MRI comes back clean, it's going to be a while before Scherzer pitches for the Rangers again.

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.