MLB Player News

Springs didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Brewers, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out eight.

The lefty got tagged for two runs in the first frame but settled down after that, giving the Rays a chance to tie things up before he hit the showers. Springs generated 16 swinging strikes among his 85 pitches and fell one strikeout short of his season high, and he'll take an impressive 2.56 ERA and 91:18 K:BB through 84.1 innings on the year into his next outing.

Walker (10-3) picked up the win in Wednesday's 10-2 rout of the Reds, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.

The Mets handed the right-hander a 6-0 lead before the Reds got to Walker for a couple runs in the fourth inning, but he recovered to deliver his 11th quality start of the season. It was a solid rebound performance after he got hammered by Atlanta in his last outing, and he'll take a 3.43 ERA and 85:31 K:BB through 110.1 innings on the year into his next one.

Stripling (hip) will make a rehab start at Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports.

Stripling has been sidelined since Aug. 3 due to a right glute/hip strain, but he threw off a mound Monday and has been cleared to return to game action in the minors Friday. Since he hasn't missed much time, it's possible that the right-hander will be cleared to return from the injured list after just one rehab start.

Pepiot was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City ahead of Wednesday's start against the Twins, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The Dodgers used a four-man rotation in recent days, but Pepiot will return to the majors Wednesday after spending just over a month in the minors. It's possible that Pepiot draws several starts for the major-league club while Clayton Kershaw (back) is on the injured list. Pepiot posted a 3.20 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 19.2 innings over three starts in the minors following his demotion.

The Astros will activate McCullers (forearm) from the 60-day injured list to start Saturday's game against the Athletics at Minute Maid Park, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Houston had been running a five-man rotation since dealing away Jake Odorizzi ahead of last week's trade deadline, but McCullers' return from the IL will bring the Astros back to six starters. The right-hander will be making his first appearance for the big club since the ALDS last fall, after an offseason setback in his recovery from a flexor tendon strain kept him on the shelf for the first four months of the current campaign. McCullers wrapped up his four-start rehab assignment with a five-inning, 86-pitch effort at Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday, so he's unlikely to face any major workload restrictions while he takes the hill this weekend on five days' rest.

The Cardinals recalled Woodford from Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

St. Louis will bring Woodford aboard as a replacement in the bullpen for the struggling T.J. McFarland, who was designated for assignment in a corresponding transaction. Woodford has been a full-time starter at Memphis this season, so he'll be stretched out enough to serve as a multi-inning relief option while he's with the big club.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said there's a "good chance" Wacha (shoulder) will be activated from the 15-day injured list Sunday against the Yankees, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

In anticipation of Wacha's return, Cora said that Rich Hill -- who started Tuesday against Atlanta -- will be available out of the bullpen for the weekend series rather than returning to the hill Sunday on his standard four days' rest. Assuming Wacha experiences no setbacks with his shoulder during an upcoming bullpen session, he looks like he'll face no restrictions in his start against the Yankees. While making the second start of his rehab assignment at Double-A Portland on Tuesday, Wacha struck out five over 4.1 innings (79 pitches) while allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks.

The Guardians reinstated Civale (wrist) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his scheduled start for Wednesday's game in Detroit.

Civale had been sidelined since the All-Star break with a right wrist sprain, but he'll be back in action Wednesday to put the Guardians rotation back at full strength. Since the right-hander tossed four innings and 55 pitches in his lone rehab start at Triple-A Columbus over the weekend, he could face a restricted pitch count Wednesday. Civale is unlikely to face any further workload restrictions in any of his starts to follow.

Seattle manager Scott Servais said Wednesday that Flexen will shift to the bullpen, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

The Mariners foreshadowed Flexen's move to a relief role during their 1-0 win over the Yankees in 13 innings Tuesday, when he was spotted warming up in the bullpen late in the contest. Flexen wasn't ultimately needed to enter the game, but the Mariners will opt to shorten their rotation to five men after he was lit up for five runs over six innings in his most recent start Saturday against the Angels. Seattle could look to bring Flexen back into the rotation later in the season if workload concerns crop up for rookie George Kirby, but for the time being, the veteran right-hander will retain little fantasy value while he likely handles a low-leverage multi-inning role out of the bullpen.

Rodriguez (lat) threw 25 pitches off a mound Wednesday, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Rodriguez's throwing session Wednesday marked the first time that he's thrown off a full mound since landing on the injured list in early June; Kubatko notes that the right-hander threw off a half-mound Monday. Though the 22-year-old was shut down for several weeks after sustaining his injury June 1, the Orioles are optimistic that he'll be able to return to action for Triple-A Norfolk before the end of the season.