MLB Player News

Wood (illness) will be activated from the COVID-19 injured list to start Saturday's game against Atlanta, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Wood has been on the COVID list since testing positive for the virus at the end of August. The southpaw completed a simulated game Wednesday but is still expected to face some workload limitations Saturday given his lengthy absence. He'll resume his campaign with a 4.08 ERA and 1.23 WHIP.

Dunn (shoulder) was sent back to Seattle for an MRI on Friday and will not pitch again this season, Corey Brock of The Athletic reports.

Dunn was working his way back from a shoulder strain that has kept him sidelined since mid-June. He threw just four pitches in a rehab game for Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday before exiting with an apparent setback, the severity of which should become clear following his MRI.

Valdez (finger) may not take the ball for Monday's start against the Angels, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.

It was previously reported that Valdez was in line to start Monday after being scratched from his Thursday start, but manager Dusty Baker did not commit to that plan when asked Friday. That being said, so long as the left-hander comes out of Friday's throwing session with no problems, he should be good to toe the rubber in Monday's series opener.

Flaherty (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session Saturday, after which the Cardinals will determine the next step in his rehab, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Flaherty has been out since late August with a shoulder strain. He threw 30 pitches, all of them fastballs, in a bullpen session Thursday and appears to be ramping up quickly as he attempts to make it back before the end of the season, though he isn't expected to return as a starter.

Velasquez was selected from Triple-A El Paso to start Friday's game against the Cardinals.

San Diego signed Velasquez to a minor-league deal Wednesday and it was later reported that he would be added to the major-league roster to start Friday. The right-hander will temporarily take Blake Snell's (groin) rotation spot, though it's unclear how many starts he'll ultimately make during the final weeks of the season. Velasquez posted a 5.95 ERA and 1.48 WHIP across 81.2 innings with the Phillies before being released earlier this week.

Manager Aaron Boone said Severino (shoulder) looked "really sharp" during Friday's two-inning live batting practice session, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

It's the first time since his rehab assignment was halted in mid-August that Severino has faced live hitters, and he'll likely require another session or two, at least, before being activated from the injured list. The 27-year-old is poised to fill a bullpen role for the Yankees upon his return.

Gonsolin will pitch multiple innings in relief of Clayton Kershaw on Sunday before returning to the starting rotation next week, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports.

With the Dodgers having an off day this upcoming Monday, the club can utilize Gonsolin on Sunday in a long relief role and have Julio Urias start on full rest Tuesday against the Rockies. Gonsolin tentatively lines up to make his next start Sept. 25 against Arizona.

DeGrom (elbow) will throw a side session within the next couple days, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The 33-year-old resumed mound work Tuesday with a 10-pitch session, and he'll continue ramping up his workload this weekend. There's just over two weeks left in the regular season, so deGrom is running out of time to make his return before the end of the campaign.

Lopez (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster, but Lopez remains eligible to return this season since he's already been on the shelf more than 60 days. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch to batters Saturday as he nears the final stages of his rehab work.

Berrios (abdomen) will start with no restrictions Sunday against the Twins, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.

Berrios has felt good the past few days after dealing with left abdominal tightness during Tuesday's outing, so he'll remain on a five-day schedule and take the mound Sunday. The right-hander has a 1.98 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 30:2 K:BB in 27.1 innings across his past four starts, and he'll attempt to continue that strong form versus last-place Minnesota.