MLB Player News

The Dodgers remain optimistic that Buehler (elbow) will return as a starter in September, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Manager Dave Roberts noted that Buehler has made progress and is "cautiously optimistic" the right-hander can return as a starter this season. There is no more specific timetable available, and Buehler has yet to undergo any follow-up imaging on his elbow since being diagnosed with the flexor strain in mid-June.

Skubal (7-8) allowed one unearned run on two hits across six innings to earn the win in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Athletics. He walked two and struck out nine.

Skubal started the second half of the season with a bang, and it was reminiscent of how he was rolling in the first few months of the year. Perhaps the extra rest helped the lefty, who's now up to 106.2 innings after tossing a career-high 149.1 innings in 2021. It will be interesting to see what Skubal has left in the tank as the season progresses and he potentially eclipses 150 innings, but the 38-55 Tigers will certainly be cautious with the 25-year-old if he shows signs of wearing down. Skubal is tentatively slated to take the hill again Tuesday against the Padres.

Heaney (shoulder) will rejoin the Dodgers' rotation after throwing five innings during a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Thursday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Heaney threw 2.2 innings with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday, and it appears his outing in the ACL will be the final one of the rehab assignment. Assuming no setbacks, he could return as soon as Tuesday against the Nationals.

May (elbow) will throw three innings in a rehab outing with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

May threw two innings in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday and is now ready for the next start in his rehab assignment. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, May will add an additional frame in each additional outing and could join the big-league rotation after he reaches five innings with Oklahoma City. If he stays on schedule, May could make his season debut for the Dodgers in early August.

German (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list to start Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Astros.

The 29-year-old had shoulder issues surface during the offseason and landed on the 60-day IL in mid-March, but he's now poised to make his 2022 debut for New York. German appeared in five games during his rehab assignment, and he last pitched July 15 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and fired six scoreless innings. He threw 65 pitches during that outing, so he should face some workload limitations in his first couple big-league starts of the year. German will fill the rotation spot of Luis Severino, who was placed on the IL with a low-grade lat strain just before the All-Star break.

Springs (lower leg) is expected to return from the 15-day injured list to start Sunday's game in Kansas City, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Springs was moved to the IL on July 10 due to right lower leg tightness, but he'll end up spending close to the minimum amount of time on the shelf so long as he completes a bullpen session Thursday or Friday without any renewed discomfort. Before being shelved with the injury, Springs had made a productive early-season transition from the bullpen into the rotation. Over his first 11 starts, Springs has produced a 3.02 ERA while striking out 59 in 53.2 innings.

Luzardo (forearm) will make his second rehab start with Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Luzardo, who has resided on the injured list since May 15 with a left forearm strain, made his first rehab appearance July 16 with Single-A Jupiter, covering three innings and striking out three while allowing one earned run on two hits and no walks. In addition to getting a stiffer test for his second rehab start, Luzardo is also expected to build up to four innings Friday. Luzardo will probably need at least one additional rehab start beyond Friday before slotting back into the Miami rotation in early August. Prior to getting hurt, Luzardo was off to a solid start to the season with a 4.03 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 41 strikeouts over 29 innings.

Cabrera (elbow) will make his second rehab start with Double-A Pensacola on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Cabrera is expected to work four innings Friday after he covered three perfect frames in his initial outing for Pensacola on July 16. The right-hander has been on the shelf since mid-June with elbow tendinitis and may need one additional rehab outing beyond Friday before coming off the 15-day injured list. It's unclear if the Marlins will have room in the rotation for Cabrera once he's ready to return, as fellow starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (forearm) is also trending toward his return from the IL.

Dunning (ankle) is in line to return from the 15-day injured list to start the Rangers' game in Seattle on Tuesday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Dunning was placed on the IL on July 11 with a right ankle impingement, but he'll end up spending the minimum amount of time on the shelf due to the injury. The right-hander is scheduled to make a rehab start Thursday for the Rangers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate, and assuming he comes out of that outing unscathed, he shouldn't face any major workload restrictions in his return to the Texas rotation next week. Before being shut down prior to the All-Star break, Dunning went 1-6 with a 4.42 ERA and 84:37 K:BB in 95.2 innings over his 18 starts.

Paxton (elbow) remains limited to throwing bullpens and has yet to resume facing live hitters, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

According to Cotillo, Paxton suggested just under a month ago that he planned on throwing live batting practice around the All-Star break or the week after, so he could be poised to take the next step forward in his rehab from Tommy John surgery within the next few days. Paxton has previously said that he's eyeing a mid-August return, though that may be ambitious at this point since he has yet to start a minor-league rehab assignment.