MLB Player News

Skubal (arm) is scheduled to restart his throwing program within the next couple days, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

The left-hander landed on the 10-day IL with arm fatigue earlier this week, and it's an encouraging sign he isn't expected to be shut down from throwing for long. Skubal won't be eligible to be reinstated to the active roster until Aug. 17, but it's unclear if he'll be ready at that point. Bryan Garcia was promoted to start Friday against the Rays in Skubal's place.

Gaddis had his contract selected by Cleveland and is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Astros.

The 24-year-old was promoted from Double-A Akron to Triple-A Columbus in July and will now make his way to the majors for the first time. Gaddis has a 4.07 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 114:31 K:BB over 86.1 innings between Akron and Columbus this season. If the right-hander pitches well in his debut he could make another turn or two through the rotation, depending when Aaron Civale (wrist) is able to return from the injured list.

Kershaw's back injury is expected to send him to the injured list, though the Dodgers remain optimistic that his absence won't be a long one, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Kershaw left his start Thursday against the Giants with pain in his lower back. An X-ray failed to reveal much Friday, so he'll undergo an MRI as well. Regardless of the result of that test, it looks like Kershaw will miss at least a pair of starts, but it's possible he doesn't wind up missing much more than that.

Woodruff did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks over 6.1 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Pirates. He struck out three.

Woodruff struggled with his command in the second inning, throwing a wild pitch to allow Greg Allen to advance to third before the baserunner ultimately scored on a passed ball by Victor Caratini. The right-hander settled down and recorded four scoreless frames before he allowed three of the first four hitters to reach in the seventh inning, including an RBI single by Tucupita Marcano. Woodruff was tagged with another earned run when Brad Boxberger allowed one of his inherited runners to score on a Ben Gamel single. Since a stint on the IL, Woodruff has posted a 2.18 ERA across seven starts (41.1 innings), but the ace has walked multiple batters in four of his last five outings.

Garcia had his contract selected by the Tigers, and he will start Friday's game against the Rays.

The right-hander was previously announced as Detroit's starter for the contest, and he's now officially been added to the big-league roster. Garcia made his season debut in a spot start for the Tigers last week and was demoted after giving up two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks across 3.2 innings July 29.

Brown's last six starts for Triple-A Sugar Land have seen him go 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 35:9 K:BB through 29 innings.

The strikeouts are always there for the 23-year-old fireballer, but the improved control he's shown lately -- a 2.7 BB/9 over that six-start span -- is key to Brown's eventual ascension to the big leagues. High walk rates have inflated his ratios in the minor leagues, but there's never been a question as to the quality of his raw stuff. This stretch might be enough for a promotion to the majors if Brown was with a different organization, but the Astros have no room in their rotation for now. He could in theory make an impact in 2022 as a multi-inning bullpen arm, similar to how Houston brought Cristian Javier along, but the team hasn't signaled any intention in that regard.

Mikolas took a no-decision in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader versus the Cubs. He allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings.

Mikolas had an extra day of rest after Wednesday's rainout, though he only produced middling results. The Cardinals' seventh-inning rally got him off the hook for the loss. He's turned in quality starts in five of his last six outings, and the veteran right-hander owns a 2.92 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 106:27 K:BB through 138.2 innings across 22 starts overall. Mikolas is tentatively set for a tough road start in Colorado his next time out.

Toussaint pitched in long relief during Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Athletics, covering 4.1 innings and striking out six while allowing two earned runs on two hits and five walks.

According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, the Angels listed Toussaint as their starting pitcher for the first game of Saturday's doubleheader in Seattle, but that's likely off the table after he made a 85-pitch relief appearance two days before the scheduled start. The impromptu outing came about after starter Janson Junk lasted just 2.1 innings Thursday before departing, prompting the Angels to summon Toussaint out of the bullpen to provide length.

Cabrera is starting Friday against the Cubs, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Cabrera seemed likely to start Friday after he was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Thursday, and the Marlins confirmed him as the starter a few hours before the start of the game. Over his three starts this season, he's posted a 3.45 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 15.2 innings. Manager Don Mattingly didn't commit to a pitch count for Cabrera ahead of the game but said that the team will be cautious with him during Friday's start after the right-hander threw just 61 pitches during his final rehab start July 28, McPherson reports.

Freeland (7-7) allowed two earned runs on six hits and four walks while striking out seven across 5.2 innings to earn the win Thursday against the Padres.

Freeland turned in a strong effort against the revamped Padres lineup, but his line could have looked even better. Juan Soto was credited with a triple to lead off the sixth inning, but it came on a routine fly ball that fell in between Charlie Blackmon and Yonathan Daza due to miscommunication. Freeland unraveled a bit from there and surrendered two runs before being pulled. Nevertheless, he's been on a good run of late, maintaining a 2.41 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with a 20:5 K:BB across his last three starts -- two of which have come on the road.