MLB Player News

Schmidt was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Schmidt was called up for his first start of the season Sunday against the Mets and pitched poorly, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits and three walks in 4.1 innings of work. He'll return to the minors while waiting for his next chance but didn't do much to encourage the Yankees to give him another one any time soon.

Quintana was reinstated from the paternity list Monday.

Quintana missed the standard three days while on paternity leave. Mauricio Dubon was optioned to clear space for his return to the roster.

Syndergaard (elbow) threw off a mound Monday and is expected to face hitters in the coming days, Deesha Thosar of the New York Daily News reports.

Syndergaard's recovery from Tommy John surgery was slowed in late August when he tested positive for COVID-19, but he's resumed throwing bullpens recently. The right-hander will take another step in his recovery when he faces hitters this week, and he'll likely have a better return timetable based on how he feels afterward.

Kershaw (forearm) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Monday's start against the Diamondbacks.

Kershaw will make his first major-league appearance since July 3 after missing time due to forearm inflammation. The southpaw made a rehab appearance at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday and allowed two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out three in three innings. Although he'll be pitching on normal rest Monday, he likely won't be able to handle a full workload since he tossed just 49 pitches in his lone rehab appearance. Manager Dave Roberts noted that four innings and 60 pitches is a good target for the southpaw Monday night, per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register.

Lopez (shoulder) will throw 25-to-30 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The Marlins slowed Lopez's progression in late August after he made a three-inning rehab appearance Aug. 21, but he's now working toward building back up. It's not yet clear whether the right-hander will have enough time to rejoin the Marlins in 2021 with just under three weeks remaining in the regular season.

Baz (illness) started Saturday for Triple-A Durham in its 6-1 win over Norfolk, covering six innings and allowing one earned run on three hits and a walk while striking out 10.

The 22-year-old righty didn't miss a beat in his return to the mound after a stomach virus resulted in him being pushed back a couple days in Durham's pitching schedule. Since earning a promotion from Double-A Montgomery in mid-June, Baz has submitted a 1.76 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 64:11 K:BB in 46 innings. He could be in the mix for a call-up to the big leagues in the second half of September as the Rays look to strengthen their pitching staff ahead of the postseason.

Manager Dave Roberts confirmed Kershaw (forearm) will return from the 60-day injured list to start Monday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks in Los Angeles, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

In what will mark his first outing with the Dodgers since July 3, Kershaw will take the hill on five days' rest after he completed a three-inning rehab start Sept. 7 for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He tossed 49 pitches in that outing, so the Dodgers are likely preparing for Kershaw to give them around four innings or 60 pitches in Monday's start. Kershaw is lined up to make his second start of the week Sunday in Cincinnati, where he'll likely be able to work deeper into the outing and have a better shot at factoring into any decision.

Taillon (ankle) was spotted throwing on the field Monday prior to the Yankees' make-up game against the Twins, Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News reports.

Taillon's presence on the field to begin the week suggests he responded well to the platelet-rich plasma injection he recently received in his right ankle, but he'll still need to get back on a mound and complete a bullpen session before the Yankees pinpoint a target date for his return from the 10-day injured list. With Taillon on the shelf, rookie Luis Gil will stick in the New York rotation for the time being and pick up his fifth start with the big club Monday.

Gil will start Monday's game against the Twins.

Gil initially looked like he would only be making a spot start when the Yankees recalled him from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last week, but he'll end up making a second turn through the rotation after Jameson Taillon (ankle) was placed on the injured list a day after the rookie's outing. After opening his big-league career with 18 strikeouts in 15.2 scoreless innings in his first three starts with the Yankees, Gil took a step back in the Sept. 8 loss to the Blue Jays, lasting only 3.1 innings while allowing one run and issuing a whopping seven walks. Even in his prior three starts, Gil was still walking batters at an elevated 10.9 percent rate, so he'll still carry some risk as a season-long streamer or DFS play in a more favorable matchup versus Minnesota.

Cole (hamstring) remains the Yankees' probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Cole exited his previous start against the Blue Jays last Tuesday due to left hamstring tightness, but reports about his return have remained optimistic. He'll wind up getting two extra days of rest, but it doesn't look as though he'll require a trip to the injured list, as he's gotten through a bullpen session without issues and is reportedly ready to go.