MLB Player News

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that the team could bring Kershaw (shoulder) back from the 60-day injured list to make his season debut in a start against the Giants next week, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports.

Kershaw has been ramping up recently after undergoing left shoulder surgery in the offseason. He began a minor-league rehab assignment June 19 but had to put it on hold for over three weeks after experiencing soreness, though he was able to resume the stint July 13. In his most recent rehab start Friday with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Kershaw allowed three runs on six hits while striking out two batters over four innings. The future Hall of Famer tossed 67 pitches and sported a fastball that topped out at 91.7 miles per hour, so while he's nearing a typical starter's workload, he'll almost certainly be operating under a pitch limit in his Dodgers season debut. If Kershaw forgoes another rehab appearance and instead rejoins Los Angeles, he'd likely start either Wednesday or Thursday at home against the Giants.

Paddack was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right forearm strain Saturday.

Paddack last pitched Sunday against the Giants, surrendering two runs (one earned) over five innings, potentially picking up a forearm injury in the process. The right-hander could be set for an extended absence as a result of the injury being to his throwing arm, but only time will tell. It's unclear who will replace Paddack in Minnesota's starting rotation, but in the meantime, outfielder Austin Martin (oblique) was activated from the 10-day injured list Saturday, filling in the hole on the major-league roster.

Atlanta added Elder to its roster ahead of his start in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader versus the Cardinals.

Elder hasn't enjoyed the same success in the majors this season (5.71 ERA) as he had last year (3.81 ERA), but he'll be called upon nonetheless to get Atlanta through the final game of Saturday's twin bill. The 25-year-old right-hander already faced St. Louis earlier this season, taking a loss after allowing two runs in six innings while striking out four batters. He'll likely be sent back to Triple-A Gwinnett following the end of the game.

Cortes (4-9) took the loss against the Rays on Saturday, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks with one strikeout over 4.1 innings.

Cortes entered Saturday with a 1.81 ERA in 10 home starts but surrendered a season-high six earned runs, including three homers across the fourth and fifth innings. The Rays have the southpaw's number this season, as he generated only five swinging strikes on 92 pitches and fell to 0-3 against them in four chances. On the year, he owns a 3.99 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 111:24 K:BB across 119.2 innings and lines up for a road matchup with the Red Sox next week.

Bradley (5-4) earned the win against the Yankees on Saturday, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out five over seven scoreless innings.

The only hit Bradley allowed was a leadoff double to Ben Rice, and he concluded his outing by retiring 11 consecutive batters. The 23-year-old has now tossed seven scoreless frames in back-to-back starts and has yielded two earned runs or fewer in eight straight. He owns a 2.63 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 90:26 K:BB across 75.1 innings and lines up for a home matchup with the Reds next week.

Olson was removed from Saturday's outing against the Blue Jays as a result of right shoulder soreness.

Olson threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit while walking two batters prior to exiting the contest having thrown 30 total pitches. Considering the soreness is in his throwing shoulder, Olson is an obvious candidate for a potential stint on the injured list, but more information on his status will likely come in the near future.

The Phillies optioned Mercado to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Mercado was lit up for six earned runs in four innings during his last appearance against Oakland on Sunday, and he'll now head back to Triple-A in order to right the ship. Yunior Marte was recalled from Lehigh Valley to fill the open spot in Philadelphia's bullpen.

Dunning (shoulder) had his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday.

Dunning has been on the 15-day injured list since July 5 as a result of right shoulder soreness, but he's now one step closer to his return to the big leagues. The right-hander pitched two scoreless innings in his only rehab start with Double-A Frisco on Sunday and it's possible that Dunning will only need one outing with Round Rock before being activated from the IL.

Hicks was scratched from his scheduled start Sunday against the Rockies, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The Giants haven't indicated Hicks is dealing with any sort of injury, so it's possible him being scratched from his start indicates a move to the bullpen, or the team may simply want to postpone his next outing. Either way, Hayden Birdsong will start on the mound for San Francisco on Sunday instead.

Marsh appeared out of the bullpen in Friday's 7-1 win over the White Sox, allowing two hits and striking out one over one scoreless inning.

Marsh's last start before the All-Star break was July 10, so this relief appearance was likely just to get him back into his pitching rhythm in a lopsided game. The Royals haven't specified their pitching plans beyond this weekend, but it's safe to assume Marsh will take the hill at some point during their three-game series versus the Diamondbacks that begins Monday. Through 91.2 innings, Marsh has a mediocre 4.52 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 84:29 K:BB across 18 appearances (17 starts).