MLB Player News

Freeland (oblique) was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday.

The move to the injured list was to be expected for the left-hander, who will miss the rest of the season with an oblique strain after leaving Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against the Giants. Freeland finishes the 2023 campaign with a 5.03 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 94:42 K:BB across 155.2 innings. The 30-year-old inked an extension with Colorado in April of last year and is signed through at least 2026.

Sheehan pitched three scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Mariners in 11 innings. He struck out five batters and allowed one hit and no walks.

Clayton Kershaw drew the start for Los Angeles but was held to a reduced workload, tossing just 56 pitches over four scoreless frames. Sheehan took over to start the fifth inning and built upon the legendary lefty's strong outing, tossing three scoreless frames of his own. Sheehan had his swing-and-miss stuff working, racking up 15 whiffs on just 39 pitches and punching out five batters. It's not clear how the Dodgers plan to deploy him moving forward, but a piggyback role in the postseason is a possibility given Kershaw's recent shoulder troubles and the team's overall lack of rotation options.

Shuster was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

Shuster was called up to start Saturday in Miami but will return to the minors after he surrendered five runs (four earned) across three innings. The rookie left-hander has a 5.64 ERA and 30:26 K:BB across 11 starts (52.2 innings) this season.

Shuster did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks over three innings against Miami. He struck out two.

It was a disastrous beginning for Shuster as the rookie surrendered a home run to Luis Arraez to lead off the bottom of the first followed by a three-run homer to Yuli Gurriel just three batters later. The lefty would then go 1-2-3 through the second inning before allowing a fifth run in the third, though only four of the runs were earned. In his first start since being recalled to the majors, Shuster saw his command issues resurface, and he's now allowed four earned runs in each of his last three big-league outings. He's also given up two home runs in two of his last three starts.

Waldron (1-3) earned the win Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Athletics while striking out five.

Waldron allowed at least one man to reach base in all six innings in which he appeared but was mostly able to pitch his way out of trouble and keep the Padres in the game. The rookie right-hander matched his season high with five strikeouts in the contest en route to recording his first career win. He has, however, allowed at least one home run in all six of his starts this season.

Stroman struck out one and allowed a hit and an unearned run over an inning of relief in Saturday's 7-6 loss to the Diamondbacks in 13 innings.

Stroman worked out of the bullpen for the second straight day, giving the righty three total innings of relief work after not pitching in a game since the end of July. Stroman was arguably the team's best starter earlier in the season, but at this point, the Cubs seem content using him as a reliever as he builds back up following the absence. He could give the rotation a boost if the team makes the playoffs, though fantasy managers may not be able to take advantage.

Ashcraft will undergo season-ending surgery on his right big toe Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft landed on the injured list earlier this month and hoped to pitch again, but surgery obviates a return in 2023. The Reds move forward with just one pitcher from the Opening Day rotation -- Hunter Greene -- and three rookies. Ben Lively, who battled through a pectoral injury and recently returned from the COVID-19-related injured list, is also projected to start games.

Megill (8-8) took the loss Saturday as the Mets fell 3-2 to the Reds, giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out two.

The right-hander came one out short of his fifth quality start of the season, tossing 56 of 97 pitches for strikes in a solid effort, but New York wasn't able to supply Megill with much run support. He's allowed three runs or less in six straight starts with a 3.13 ERA, but his 1.55 WHIP and 28:15 K:BB through 31.2 innings over that stretch suggest he still has some work to do to lock down a rotation spot for 2024. Megill's next outing lines up for a road series next weekend in Philadelphia.

Abbott came away with a no-decision Saturday in the Reds' 3-2 win over the Mets, giving up two runs on six hits and three walks over 3.2 innings. He struck out five.

The rookie southpaw tossed an inefficient 91 pitches (54 strikes) before getting the hook after serving up a pair of doubles in the bottom of the fourth inning, missing out on his ninth win of the season in the process. Abbott has failed to complete more than four innings in four of his last five starts, stumbling to a 6.33 ERA, 1.83 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB through 21.1 innings over that stretch, but the Reds don't have any better rotation options as they try to hang onto a wild-card spot in the NL. He lines up to take the mound next at home against the Pirates next weekend.

Mikolas (7-12) took the loss against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing five runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out two batters over six innings.

Mikolas hung tough through four frames and trailed just 2-1 entering the fifth. However, Kyle Schwarber tagged him for a three-run blast in that inning to mar the veteran right-hander's final line. Mikolas rarely helps himself with punchouts -- he's notched exactly two in each of his past four starts -- so he largely has to rely on good control and keeping the ball in the park. The latter hasn't been a strong suit of his of late, as Mikolas has given up six homers over his past three starts -- one more than he had surrendered over his previous eight outings combined.