MLB Player News

Buehler (elbow) will return as a traditional starting pitcher if he is able to make it back this season, manager Dave Roberts said Friday on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

The right-hander would be able to rejoin the Dodgers' staff more quickly if the goal was to use him initially in shorter stints, either as an opener or reliever, but Roberts said in this interview that the plan will be to build him up to four innings and/or 60 pitches. In his first time facing live hitters Wednesday since undergoing his second Tommy John surgery, Buehler touched 93 mph with his fastball during a one-inning sim game. He won't be ready at the beginning of September, but Roberts said a return sometime that month is still a viable option.

Irvin will have his workload managed for the remainder of the season as the Nationals deploy a six-man rotation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The 26-year-old right-hander has thrown 106.1 innings between Triple-A and the majors this season, which already tops the 103.1 frames Irvin worked the year before in his return from Tommy John surgery in October 2020. Shifting to a six-man rotation will cost the Nats' regular starters a turn or two over the remainder of the season, and if younger arms like Irvin or MacKenzie Gore show serious signs of fatigue in August, the team could re-evaluate the situation when rosters expand in September. Irvin has a 5.20 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 31:11 K:BB through 36.1 innings since the beginning of July.

Gore will have his workload managed for the remainder of the season as the Nationals deploy a six-man rotation, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

The 24-year-old southpaw has already thrown a career-high 117 innings this season, 30 more than he tossed across all levels in 2022. "I was hurt last year, I didn't throw many innings. So that's a real thing that we're going to have to deal with," Gore said Wednesday after his start against the Phillies. Shifting to a six-man rotation will cost the Nats' regular starters a turn or two over the remainder of the season, and if younger arms like Gore or Jake Irvin show serious signs of fatigue in August, the team could re-evaluate the situation when rosters expand in September. After wrapping up May with a 3.57 ERA, Gore has regressed to a 5.64 ERA over his last 59 innings, albeit with a strong 60:22 K:BB.

Nola did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on five hits and one walk over five-plus innings against Washington. He struck out six.

After clunkers in his previous two starts, Nola got back on track Thursday, working into the sixth inning before back-to-back singles led to his removal with the score tied 0-0. Phillies reliever Matt Strahm then allowed an RBI double to Ildemaro Vargas, saddling Nola with the only run on his line. In five outings since the All-Star break, the 30-year-old fantasy stalwart holds a 1-2 record with a 4.91 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 33:5 K:BB across 29.1 innings during that stretch. He is currently slated to face Toronto on the road next week.

Falter did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks over four innings against Atlanta. He struck out three.

It was an ugly start for Falter as the recently acquired lefty allowed runs in each of the first three innings to put the Pirates in an early 4-0 hole. He finally managed to pitch a scoreless inning in the fourth, but he would not return in the fifth after reaching 86 pitches. Falter did manage to avoid taking his eighth loss thanks to Pittsburgh's late comeback, but he has yet to collect his first win of the season. He's now allowed at least four earned runs in three of his last five outings.

Elder (8-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks over five innings against the Pirates. He struck out five.

Elder began struggling in the bottom of the third, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while also hitting Josh Palacios with a pitch. The right-hander managed to avoid any further damage over the next two frames but was again victimized by the Pirates' offense in the sixth before being relieved by Joe Jimenez. It was the fourth time in his last six starts that Elder allowed at least five runs, and he's now lost three of his last four decisions. He's surrendered 10 runs and 13 hits over 9.1 innings to open the month of August.

Corbin did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one unearned run on one hit and seven walks over five innings against Philadelphia. He struck out two.

Corbin turned in quite the interesting statline Thursday, allowing one hit -- a double -- through five scoreless innings on the mound, but he issued a season-high seven walks, throwing just 44 of 87 pitches for strikes. The 34-year-old lefty started the sixth inning, but he was removed after committing an error, and Nationals reliever Andres Machado immediately served up a two-run homer to Trea Turner, accounting for Corbin's sole run, albeit unearned. In five outings since the All-Star break, Corbin has a 4.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 17:11 K:BB across 28.2 innings during that stretch. He currently lines up to face Boston in his next outing.

Kershaw allowed one run on three hits and no walks while striking out four batters over five innings in a no-decision against Colorado on Thursday.

Kershaw made his return from the injured list after missing about six weeks due to left shoulder inflammation. The legendary southpaw looked good in his return, limiting the Rockies to one run on an Elehuris Montero solo shot in the fifth inning. Kershaw tossed 45 of 67 pitches for strikes and lowered his season ERA to 2.51. The Dodgers figure to allow Kershaw to ease back into things with an eye toward the postseason, though the future Hall of Famer has long had a knack for going deep into games without racking up a ton of pitches.

Liberatore (2-4) earned the win over Tampa Bay on Thursday, pitching eight scoreless innings during which he allowed two hits and struck out seven batters.

Liberatore had a 6.93 ERA coming into the contest, but he stifled the Rays' offense in the best start of his big-league career. The southpaw completed eight innings for the first time as a major-leaguer and allowed just two hits, both of which were singles. Liberatore has struggled thus far to get batters out at the highest level, so it remains to be seen if Thursday's gem will be a turning point. He's lined up for a prime matchup at home against Oakland in his next start.

The Dodgers reinstated Kershaw (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Thursday against the Rockies, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Kershaw has been on the IL since July 3 due to inflammation in his left shoulder. The 35-year-old lefty put up an incredible 1.09 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through 33 innings across his last five starts before getting injured, though it's possible Kershaw shows a little bit of rust after not pitching in over a month. Victor Gonzalez was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.