MLB Player News

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said that he expects Woodruff (elbow/ankle/shoulder) to return from the 60-day injured list to start Sunday's game against the Marlins in Miami, Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin reports.

Woodruff has faced a long road back from his October 2023 capsule repair surgery on his right shoulder and was further set back during his rehab assignment when he battled right ankle tendinitis in May and a right elbow contusion in June, but he's finally ready to make his 2025 debut for Milwaukee. Over the course of his 10-start assignment between High-A Wisconsin and Triple-A Nashville, Woodruff accrued a 2.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 35:12 K:BB in 42 innings. He built up to 82 pitches in his final minor-league outing Sunday, and while the Brewers will likely keep a close eye on his workload in Miami, Woodruff should be able to work deep enough into the game to qualify for a win. Woodruff owns a career 3.10 ERA over parts of seven big-league seasons and looks like a worthy speculative pickup in most fantasy leagues where he's available, though managers should keep expectations in check while he makes his first MLB appearance in 652 days.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Olson's (finger) next start will be in the majors, and the right-hander could be activated from the 15-day injured list to pitch Friday in Cleveland, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Olson has been shelved since mid-May due to right ring finger inflammation but is ready to rejoin the Tigers rotation after making three rehab starts. He went four innings and threw 74 pitches in his most recent outing for Triple-A Toledo last Wednesday, so Olson will have a somewhat limited pitch count this weekend. The righty has been superb in nine starts for Detroit this season, collecting a 2.96 ERA and 51:19 K:BB over 48.2 innings.

The Cubs released Woodford on Tuesday.

Woodford had an opt-out clause in his minor-league contract that allowed him to test free agency if he wasn't promoted to the big leagues by Tuesday. After previously opting out of his minor-league deal with the Yankees earlier this season, Woodford signed with the Cubs in June and posted a 4.57 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 20:3 K:BB in 21.2 innings over four appearances (three starts) with Triple-A Iowa.

The Padres selected Nunez's contract from Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

Nunez earned the call-up after posting a 2.70 ERA and 49:14 K:BB over 30 innings between Double-A San Antonio and El Paso. The 26-year-old will be making his major-league debut when/if he gets into a game.

The Padres optioned Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.

Waldron will head back to the minors after he permitted four runs over 4.2 innings Monday while taking a loss in a spot start versus the Phillies. San Diego called up right-hander Eduarniel Nunez to replace Waldron on the 26-man active roster.

The Nationals appointed Lara from Triple-A Rochester to serve as their 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader with the Tigers.

Lara will be available out of the bullpen for both games of the twin bill and will be making his MLB debut if he ends up being used in either contest. The 22-year-old righty has been serving as a starter between stops at Rochester, Double-A Harrisburg and High-A Wilmington this season, accruing a 7.71 ERA, 2.08 WHIP and 25:16 K:BB in 30.1 innings.

The Dodgers could recall Sheehan from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start or pitch in bulk relief in Sunday's game against the Astros in Los Angeles, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Manager Dave Roberts has yet to fully confirm the Dodgers' pitching plans for the three-game series with Houston beyond noting that Shohei Ohtani is in line to open Saturday's game and is expected to be followed by Justin Wrobleski in bulk relief, per Plunkett. Ben Casparius is expected to pitch either as a starter or bulk reliever in Friday's series opener, and since Yoshinobu Yamamoto won't be asked to pitch on four days' rest Sunday, the Dodgers will have to break in a new member of the rotation that day. Sheehan looks to be the most logical option to fill the void, after he pitched well in his 2025 debut with the Dodgers on June 18 versus the Padres, striking out six and allowing one earned run over four innings. The Dodgers optioned Sheehan to Triple-A after that start, and he went on to strike out 13 batters over six perfect innings for Oklahoma City last Wednesday. Sheehan was much less sharp for Oklahoma City on Tuesday -- he gave up four earned runs on six hits and one walk over 2.1 innings -- but because he threw only 59 pitches, he should be capable of giving the Dodgers four or five innings Sunday if he gets called up.

Burke will pitch in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Brandon Eisert in Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

The Dodgers typically have two left-handed hitters (Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman) in the top four spots in the order, so the White Sox will likely have the left-handed Eisert work the opening frame or two before turning the game over to the right-handed Burke. The 25-year-old has previously worked as a bulk reliever April 25 against the Athletics and May 30 against the Orioles, covering 11.1 innings between those appearances while striking out 11 and yielding six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and three walks.

Skenes didn't factor into the decision in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Cardinals, allowing five hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.

The 23-year-old phenom found himself locked in an unlikely pitchers' duel with Andre Pallante, but Skenes bowed out early after needing 88 pitches (59 strikes) to record his 15 outs. He's failed to last more than five innings in three of his last four starts but has remained effective despite the inefficiency, posting a 2.70 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 23:10 K:BB through 20 innings over that stretch. Skenes will look for his first win since May 28 in his next trip to the mound, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week in Kansas City.

Pallante came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 1-0 loss to the Pirates, scattering one hit and two walks over seven scoreless innings. He struck out three.

The righty was brilliant in his seventh quality start of the season, not even allowing a Pittsburgh runner to get into scoring position, but the St. Louis offense couldn't solve Paul Skenes and the Bucs' bullpen. Pallante has given up three earned runs or fewer in five straight trips to the mound, posting a 2.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 19:8 K:BB in 28.1 innings over that span, but he has just a 1-1 record to show for it. He'll look for more run support in his next outing, which lines up to come at home early next week against the Nationals.