MLB Player News

Phillies manager Rob Thomson suggested Saturday that Turnbull (lat) is highly unlikely to fill a rotation spot once he's ready to return from the 15-day injured list, MLB.com reports. "It's going to be tough at this point," Thomson said when asked about bringing Turnbull back as a starter.

Turnbull had a productive six-start run for the Phillies to begin the season before shifting to the bullpen, but he moved back into the rotation in late June, when No. 5 starter Taijuan Walker landed on the shelf. His second stint in the rotation ended after just one start, as Turnbull was diagnosed with a right lat strain following his June 26 outing versus the Tigers. Given the long-term nature of the injury, Turnbull was always going to face an uphill battle making a full recovery and having enough time to get stretched back out for a starting role before the end of the season. After Turnbull experienced soreness during a recent bullpen session earlier this month, the Phillies seem to have now officially closed the door on the right-hander contributing as a starter. Thomson suggested that Turnbull isn't dealing with any major setback and is expected to get back on the mound later in the week following some extra rest as he prepares to fill a multi-inning relief role for the Phillies upon his return. The Phillies likely won't have a clear target date for Turnbulll to come off the IL until he begins a minor-league rehab assignment.

Suarez (back) is scheduled to throw an extended live batting practice session Tuesday, MLB.com reports. "We're going to push him a little bit," manager Rob Thomson said of the upcoming session.

Thomson said that Suarez tossed a "touch-and-feel" bullpen session Sunday in Arizona, which followed a 36-pitch simulated game this past Thursday. Suarez looks set to ramp up the volume and intensity of his pitches Tuesday, after which the Phillies might have a better idea regarding when he might return from the 15-day injured list. Thomson suggested that Suarez won't be activated until after the Phillies' homestand that ends Sunday, so the left-hander shouldn't be expected to rejoin the rotation until at least next Tuesday in Atlanta.

Senzatela (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with High-A Spokane, MLB.com reports.

Senzatela will report to the Rockies' Northwest League affiliate after he tossed one inning in a simulated game at the organization's spring training complex in Scottsdale, Ariz. this past week. His outing Tuesday will mark his first action in affiliated ball since May 10, 2023, with Senzatela getting Tommy John surgery just over two months after that date. Senzatela has seemingly navigated the long recovery process free of setbacks and will now gradually built back up during his rehab assignment. He's scheduled to cover two innings Tuesday and could be ready to make his return from the 60-day injured list in late August or early September.

Freeland acknowledged after his start in Sunday's 9-8 win over Atlanta that he developed a blister on his left pinky finger early in the fourth inning of the game, MLB.com reports. "My curveball was not great -- I kept pulling it, couldn't land it where I wanted it to land, and had some very uncompetitive attempts with the curveball," Freeland said after the game. "I could feel my thumb hitting it [the pinky] from the start of the game. There was one where I felt it clipped it clean."

Freeland took a no-decision and was charged with three earned runs before he was lifted with two outs in the fourth inning. The southpaw didn't suggest that the blister was anything that will put him at risk of landing on the injured list, but the Rockies have yet to officially confirm that Freeland will be able to make his next start. Freeland tentatively lines up to take the hill this weekend against the Padres, though with an off day on tap Thursday, the Rockies could skip his turn and temporarily get by with a four-man rotation if there's any concern about his ability to pitch through the finger issue.

Quantrill (forearm) is scheduled to make his next start Friday against the Padres at Coors Field, MLB.com reports.

Quantrill had previously been lined up to take the hill for Monday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks, but he was pushed back in the pitching schedule after experiencing soreness at the top of his right forearm coming out of his most recent start Aug. 4 in San Diego. The right-hander said that he was able to resume throwing Saturday, so assuming he's able to make it out of a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday no worse for the wear, he shouldn't face any restrictions when he toes the rubber Friday in Colorado.

Snell pitched 6.1 scoreless innings against Atlanta on Monday, allowing two hits and walking three batters while striking out 11.

Snell's excellence was on par with that of opposing starter Chris Sale, who fired seven scoreless frames with 12 punchouts. Snell didn't go quite as deep into the contest as Sale due to his 114 pitches, but he nonetheless recorded his sixth straight quality start after failing to accomplish that feat over his initial seven contests of the campaign. Snell struggled to begin his tenure with San Francisco and then missed over a month from early June to early July due to a groin strain. Since returning from that injury, the southpaw has been dominant, posting a 0.99 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 60:14 K:BB over 45.1 frames.

Sale allowed three hits and struck out 12 batters over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against San Francisco on Monday.

Sale and Giants starter Blake Snell locked into a southpaw pitching duel that included a combined 23 strikeouts over 13.1 scoreless frames. Sale's strikeout total was a season high and marked his second consecutive contest with double-digit punchouts. The veteran lefty extended his streak of starts allowing two or fewer earned runs to 11, and he's racked up a 95:20 K:BB over 67 innings during that span. Sale has built a strong case to this point for NL Cy Young honors -- he leads qualified starters in the circuit in ERA (2.61) and ranks second in both WHIP (0.97) and punchouts (177) while tying for the major-league lead with 13 victories.

Rodgers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Monday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

Rodgers gave Colorado its first lead with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and added a solo shot to center field in the sixth. The long ball extended the infielder's hitting streak to seven games, and he's had at least one hit in 11 of his past 12 contests. During the latter stretch, Rodgers is batting .391 (18-for-46) with two home runs, six doubles, eight RBI and eight runs scored.

Blalock allowed three runs on six hits and no walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against Arizona on Monday.

This was just the second major-league appearance for Blalock -- his first came was a one-inning relief cameo June 20 while he was still with Milwaukee. The righty fared pretty well in his first MLB start, holding the Diamondbacks to one run through five innings before consecutive two-out hits in the sixth resulted in two more runs crossing the plate against him. Blalock promisingly didn't walk any batters, and he induced 10 whiffs on 96 pitches. The Rockies' rotation has been hit hard by injuries of late, so Blalock figures to have earned himself at least another start, which tentatively lines up to come at home against San Diego.

Martinez earned a save against the Rockies on Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless inning.

Martinez came on in the ninth frame to protect a one-run lead and gave up a single to leadoff batter Michael Toglia. However, the righty reliever then got Jake Cave to ground into a double play before retiring Elias Diaz on a groundout to end the game. Martinez extended his scoreless streak to seven outings and notched his third save in his past four appearances. With each successful outing, he's tightening his grip on the team's closer role.