MLB Player News

Kershaw acknowledged Thursday that he's dealing with left shoulder inflammation, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw said his shoulder got "cranky" toward the end of his last start Tuesday in Colorado, though he was able to cover six scoreless innings while notching his 10th win of the season. He received a cortisone injection and won't throw for the next few days, but the Dodgers aren't placing him on the injured list just yet and he could still fit in another outing before the All-Star break. When that outing would be is uncertain, and there probably won't be any more clarity on his schedule until after this brief shutdown period. "I'm not gonna be stupid about it," the veteran southpaw told reporters Thursday.

X-rays turned up negative Thursday on Olson's left knee, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Olson limped off the field after getting struck by a comebacker in the second inning of his start Thursday afternoon against the Rangers. He told reporters after the game that he expects to take his next scheduled turn in the Tigers' rotation, but the 23-year-old right-hander will be closely evaluated over the next few days before any decisions are made. Detroit's pitching staff has been brutalized by injuries in recent weeks.

Marsh will be called up from Triple-A Omaha to start for the Royals on Friday versus the Dodgers, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

Jordan Lyles was supposed to take that turn, but he's been scratched because of an illness. Marsh, a second-round pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State, has pitched to a rather uninspiring 4.62 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 75:31 K:BB in 62.1 innings (14 starts) this season between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Omaha. He's not a recommended fantasy streamer against Los Angeles.

Lyles was scratched from his scheduled start Friday versus the Dodgers due to an illness, Jaylon T. Thompson of The Kansas City Star reports.

Alec Marsh will be called up from Triple-A Omaha to start in place of Lyles, who should be able to slot back into the Royals' rotation next week. The 32-year-old has allowed the most earned runs (68) of any major-league pitcher this season.

Cobb (oblique) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday versus the Mets, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Cobb proved his health in a rehab start Saturday with Single-A San Jose, tallying nine strikeouts over 3.2 innings of one-run ball. He's been on the shelf since June 15 because of a mild left oblique strain.

The Dodgers optioned Grove to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Grove gave up four earned runs on eight hits and two walks in a five-inning start Wednesday at Coors Field. The 26-year-old swingman heads back to the minors with a 7.54 ERA in 37 total major-league innings for the year.

Olson was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after being hit by a comebacker Thursday versus the Rangers, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports. He allowed one run with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings before exiting.

It's good news for an initial diagnosis, although it's not clear at this point whether Olson is set to undergo any additional testing. The right-hander's next turn is tentatively scheduled for early next week at home versus the Athletics, but it's too soon to say whether he'll be ready to take the ball that day.

Olson was removed from Thursday's start against the Rangers in the second inning after being hit on the left leg by a comebacker, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.

He was struck by a 103.5-mph shot off the bat of Josh Smith and immediately crumpled to the ground in pain. Olson eventually walked off the field under his own power following a lengthy chat with Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and the athletic trainer. The right-hander was charged with one run on three hits and a walk before leaving.

Sale (shoulder) was cleared to begin a throwing program Thursday after getting encouraging results from an MRI, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Sale is just three weeks removed from being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left scapula, but he's pain-free and able to pick up a ball again. The left-hander will now start the slow build-up process toward a return to the mound, which the Red Sox hope can come in early August, when he's first eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL.

Manager Pedro Grifol indicated Thursday that Kopech could have his turn in the White Sox' rotation skipped this weekend, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Kopech's next turn lines up for Sunday in Oakland, but the White Sox currently have that spot listed as TBA. The right-hander might make just one start next week prior to the All-Star break and then get an extended break before his first outing of the second half as the team looks to keep him fresh. Kopech is on pace for about 170 innings this season after throwing around 180 frames combined the previous two campaigns and zero from 2019-20.