MLB Player News

Imanaga (7-1) picked up the win in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings. He struck out six without walking a batter.

The 30-year-old rookie delivered his eighth quality start in his first 13 big-league outings on 103 pitches (69 strikes), with the only run against Imanaga coming after a leadoff double by Alec Burleson in the fourth inning. Imanaga will take a 1.89 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 78:11 K:BB through 76 innings into his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home next weekend against the Mets.

Walker dropped to 3-2 on the season in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Orioles, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

Walker was given an early 2-0 lead, but the Orioles chipped away with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a solo home run by Anthony Santander in the fourth. Santander then broke the tie with a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Walker was pulled with one out to go in the frame at 92 pitches. Walker has pitched into the sixth inning in his past two starts but has not recorded a quality start or a win since May 11. On the season, he now owns a 5.33 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 40:18 K:BB in 49 innings and tentatively lines up to start next weekend against the Diamondbacks.

Kelly (shoulder) is expected to be held out through the All-Star break, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports Saturday.

Manager Torey Lovullo noted that Kelly hasn't thrown beyond 75 feet yet and is being brought along slowly. The 35-year-old has been sidelined since late April and didn't start a throwing program until June 4. If he does end up sitting through the All-Star break, Kelly wouldn't be back until July 19 at the earliest.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Friday that Musgrove (elbow) is getting closer to picking up a ball and starting a throwing program, per MLB.com.

Musgrove was diagnosed with a bone spur in his right elbow in early June and consequently received PRP and cortisone injections. While Shildt said Friday that the veteran pitcher could resume throwing soon, he didn't give specifics on a timeline. Given that Musgrove dealt with a similar injury in May, the Padres are unlikely to rush him back, and he's probably at least a month away from a return.

Clevinger (elbow) is expected to make two starts at Triple-A Charlotte before returning to the White Sox during a seven-game homestand that begins June 24, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Clevinger is lined up for starts with Charlotte on Tuesday and June 23 and is expected to join the White Sox in the days after his June 23 outing. The 33-year-old was placed on the IL with right elbow inflammation May 28 but has been facing batters since June 7. Once healthy, Clevinger could knock Jonathan Cannon or Drew Thorpe out of the rotation.

Darvish (groin) threw a bullpen session Friday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Darvish simulated three innings in the session, tossing 60 pitches. The veteran hurler said before throwing the bullpen that he expects the session to be sufficient ramp-up to allow him to return to the Padres' rotation without a rehab assignment. Per Acee, Darvish could start a game during San Diego's homestand against Milwaukee that begins next Thursday.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone stated early this week that Brubaker (elbow) is "getting ready to go out on an assignment," per MLB.com.

Brubaker is over 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery and has been throwing to live hitters for about five weeks. The 30-year-old hasn't pitched in a game since the 2022 season, so he'll presumably need a rehab assignment consisting of several starts. Brubaker could be ready to join the big-league club around the All-Star break, but given the success of the team's starting staff thus far and the impending return of Gerrit Cole (elbow), there doesn't appear to be room in the rotation for Brubaker at the moment.

Scherzer (back/arm) is expected to throw 70-to-75 pitches in a rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday, which will be his final rehab start before being activated from the 60-day injured list, barring a setback, Josh Kirshenbaum of MLB.com reports.

Saturday's start will be Scherzer's second rehab appearance since he resumed the minor-league assignment with Round Rock this past Sunday, when he tossed four scoreless innings. If all goes well Saturday, Scherzer will be ready to return to the active roster and make his 2024 debut as soon as Wednesday versus the Mets after undergoing an offseason back surgery and dealing with thumb and forearm issues throughout his recovery.

Wicks was diagnosed Saturday with a Grade 2 right oblique strain, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Manager Craig Counsell didn't offer much of a timeline for Wicks' recovery, mentioning only that Wicks was "going to miss some time." However, a Grade 2 sprain likely indicates that Wicks will be sidelined for significantly longer than the minimum 15 days, leaving his rotation spot to Kyle Hendricks for the foreseeable future. Wicks sustained the injury Friday during his first start since April after spending a month on the 15-day injured list due to a forearm injury. The Cubs placed him on the IL prior to Saturday's game against the Cardinals.

Scherzer (back) will make another rehab start with Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday against Tacoma.

Scherzer will be back on the mound for the second start of his rehab assignment after tossing four scoreless innings while striking out five Sunday against Triple-A Oklahoma City. The right-hander has yet to make his season debut as he's been recovering from offseason back surgery and then a subsequent thumb injury he suffered in April. If all goes well against Tacoma, it's possible that it will be Scherzer's final rehab outing.