MLB Player News

Yamamoto (tricep) said Sunday that he's been playing catch out to 200 feet, but he has yet to receive clearance for mound work and admitted that he's without a clear timeline to return from the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.

Yamamoto is eligible to come off the IL on Aug. 15, but the Dodgers don't seem to be counting on him returning at that time, with Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com instead suggesting that the team is "holding out hope" for him to resume pitching in the big leagues in late August or early September. The Dodgers will get two key members of the rotation in Tyler Glasnow (back) and Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) back from the IL this week, and the club is seemingly banking on those additions being enough to stabilize the pitching staff until Yamamoto eventually returns to the mix. After signing Yamamoto to a lavish deal this past winter, the Dodgers are cognizant of prioritizing his long-term health and ensuring that he's in optimal health by the time the playoffs begin in October. Yamamoto still appears on pace to return before the end of the regular season, but if absence extends into September, fantasy managers in redraft leagues with limited or no IL spots might not be able to justify holding him.

Haase went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI Sunday against the Twins.

Haase picked up his sixth start with the Brewers since having his contract selected from Triple-A on June 26 and posted his first multi-homer game since 2022 when he was with the Tigers. In just 21 at-bats, Haase has a .429 average with three dingers and eight RBI. He does have a 20-homer season to his credit from back in 2021, so while it's unlikely that he'll maintain this pace, his offensive reemergence could afford the Brewers the opportunity to give William Contreras a little extra rest and help keep him fresh through the second half of the season.

Pfaadt allowed a hit and a walk over seven scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Sunday. He struck out seven in the extra-innings loss.

Pfaadt was dominant, as the only hit the Cubs could muster against him was an infield single. However, Shota Imanaga dealt seven innings of one-run ball with 10 punchouts, which prevented Pfaadt from stringing together consecutive wins. Pfaadt forced 13 swinging strikes and allowed only one runner to reach scoring position. Over his last four outings, he's given up just two runs over 23.1 innings, lowering his season ERA to 3.74 over 20 starts. Pfaadt's next outing is lined up to be at home against the Pirates.

Atlanta optioned Elder to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

Elder served as the 27th man for Atlanta in Saturday's doubleheader with the Cardinals and started the second game of the twin bill, taking a loss while serving up six earned runs on eight hits and one walk over five innings. Though he'll head back to the minors, Elder could garner consideration for a return to the Atlanta rotation as a replacement for Max Fried (forearm), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday. However, since Elder would be on only three days' rest when Fried's next turn in the rotation is scheduled to come up Wednesday, expect Atlanta to have another pitcher start that game.

Triple-A Gwinnett reinstated Anderson (elbow) from its 60-day injured list Thursday.

Anderson made his 2024 debut for Gwinnett on Saturday, when he struck out four over 3.2 innings while giving up four earned runs on six hits and one walk in a no-decision against Charlotte. Before being activated from the IL, Anderson made four rehab starts across three levels, producing a 2.19 ERA and 10:1 K:BB in 12.1 innings over those outings. Anderson owns a 3.99 ERA over 266.1 career innings in the majors and still retains a spot on Atlanta's 40-man roster, but the 26-year-old hasn't appeared in the big leagues since 2022 after opening the 2023 season at Gwinnett and making one start before requiring Tommy John surgery last April. He'll likely need to string together several quality performances at Gwinnett before making a legitimate case for a return to the big leagues.

Rojas exited Sunday's contest against the Red Sox early with right forearm tightness.

Rojas was forced to leave the contest ahead of the top of the fourth inning, finishing his day 0-for-1 at the plate. More information on his status will likely be provided in the near future, but in the meantime, Cavan Biggio replaced Rojas in the Dodgers' lineup versus Boston.

Megill closed the door on his 19th save Sunday, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out one over one inning against the Twins.

Megill entered the ninth with a three-run lead but managed to make things interesting, allowing a leadoff homer to Byron Buxton followed by a Max Kepler double. While Kepler eventually came around to score on a groundout, Megill retired the final three batters to finish off his 19th save. Sunday marked the second time in three appearances that Megill has allowed two runs after having allowed no more than one earned run during any of his previous 31 appearances.

Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said Sunday that an MRI cleared Fried of any soft-tissue damage before he was placed on the 15-day injured list with left forearm neuritis, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

Though anything forearm- or elbow-related for a pitcher always brings some level of concern, the fact that Fried avoided a ligament, tendon or muscular injury following his MRI offers hope that he'll steer clear of extended absence. At the same time, Snitker said that Fried is without an official timeline for a return from the IL and won't resume throwing until his symptoms have dissipated. Fried's injury first cropped up when he felt something in his forearm while warming up for the All-Star Game on Tuesday, but the southpaw was still able to make a one-inning appearance in relief for the National League.

Neris (8-2) pitched a scoreless inning of relief to earn the win in Sunday's 2-1, 10-inning win over the Diamondbacks. He walked one and struck out one.

Neris navigated around the automatic runner on second base in the top of the 10th inning to extend his streak of scoreless appearances to eight. The strong work also earned him his eighth win out of the bullpen this season, which is tied for the team lead with Sunday's starter Shota Imanaga. While Neris has had a few hiccups along the way, he's mostly been solid for the Cubs, and the veteran should remain a decent fantasy option as long as he sticks in the closer role.

Civale did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings against the Twins. He struck out four.

Civale allowed homers to Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach, with Larnach's two-run blast in the fifth representing the biggest blow. The five runs allowed represented the most Civale has given up since the beginning of May. It was also the second time he's allowed multiple homers over his first three starts in Milwaukee, matching his previous total through the first 17 outings when he was still a member of the Rays. Civale has compiled 15.2 innings since joining the Brewers, carrying a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. He is slated for a much softer matchup in his next start, tentatively slated to take place at home against the Marlins.